Clay treatment apparatuses and methods for processing hydrocarbon products using clay treatment apparatuses are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, a clay treatment apparatus includes a vessel enclosing an interior space, an active clay material disposed within the interior space of the vessel, and a clay retention structure positioned above a bottom head portion of the vessel. The clay retention structure includes a wire mesh coupled with a perforated plate. In another exemplary embodiment, a method for processing a hydrocarbon product includes the steps of contacting the hydrocarbon product with an active clay material within an interior space of a vessel and passing the hydrocarbon product through a clay retention structure that includes a wire mesh and a perforated plate.

Provided is a gas-spouting liquid-sample injector, for supplying a mist of liquid sample into a container, including: a sample introduction tube having an outer tube for a nebulizer gas and an inner tube for a liquid, the inner tube having a projecting section protruding from the lower end of the outer tube; a branch tube provided in the container, having a main line allowing an insertion of the sample introduction tube and a bypass line branched from the main line; an inlet portion provided at the upper end of the main line, for making gas-tight contact with the lower end of the outer tube; an outlet portion provided at the lower end of the main line, for making gas-tight contact with the outer circumferential surface of the inner tube; and a blower tube extending from the lower end of the bypass line toward an area below the outlet portion.

An eluate-collecting mechanism is constructed, including: a collection passage and having an inlet to be inserted into and removed from the upper end of a trap column and an outlet to be inserted into and removed from a collection container; a support member for supporting the collection passage in such a manner that the inlet is fixed while the outlet is vertically movable; a contact part provided at the outlet to come in contact with the collection container when the outlet is inserted into this container; and an elastic member for pressing the outlet downward so that a tip of the outlet is lower than the tip of the inlet, the elastic member being compressed when the support member and the collection container are brought closer to each other while keeping the contact part in contact with the container.

The invention provides a high-performance liquid chromatography system, said system is controlled in temperature by running a fluid in sleeves that surround the different parts of the system. All parts in contact with the fluid are made in fluoropolymer, carbon-filled fluoropolymer, or carbon-fiber fluoropolymer. The system comprises at least one reagent reservoir; at least one mixing chamber, wherein the contents of the at least one reagent reservoir are combined; at least one pump that transfers the contents of the at least one reservoir to the mixing chamber; and at least one modular elution column, wherein the at least one modular elution column contains a temperature control means; a sample injection system connected to an injection loop or 3-way valve to inject the sample solutions in the modular elution columns, at least one manifold or X-Y moving stage to distribute the eluted volumes in different receptacles; at least one return line to automatically reinject selected elution fractions at the top of the column; wherein all moving components of the said system are fluid actuated.

The present invention relates to a device for preventing band broadening and remixing of separated fractions, and associated method, comprising a chromatographic column coupled to a flow selector, such as a rotary valve, wherein said flow selector is connected to the distal end of said column such that the sum of post-column swept volume and post-column dead volume is less than 10 L. Preferably, the column is directly plugged into the inlet port of the rotary valve and the sample is fractionated at the outlet port.

A separator (e.g. an impact centrifugal separator) is for use in collection of liquid portions of a bi-phasic flowstream in a supercritical fluid system. A separator chamber defines an interior space, surrounded by a spiral channel and that has an exit at a lower portion of the separator chamber. A flowstream director (e.g. an entry lube) focuses the flowstream so that the flowstream impacts a wail of the spiral channel at an angle that promotes coalescence of the liquid component. The spiral channel may promote further coalescence of the liquid portions within the constraining spiral channel after impact. A central director may be included in the interior space of the separator chamber to promote flow of the gaseous component toward the exit. A dripper may be included in fluid communication with the spiral channel, for example, in the exit and to direct the coalesced liquid into a collection vessel.

The present disclosure relates to an enhanced multi-dimensional chromatography system and method using selectable At-Column Dilution to improve compatibility of the interface and transfer between the multiple dimensions. The use of At-Column Dilution (ACD) with multi-dimensional chromatography can provide greater retention of the diverted components on subsequent stationary phases, and increase the sensitivity and peak shape of the component(s) separated on subsequent dimensions.

A fractionating liquid chromatograph (1) includes a liquid delivery pump (200), a sampler (300) connected to the liquid delivery pump (200), a separation column (400) connected to the sampler (300), and a detector (500) connected to the separation column (400) and the sampler. The sampler (300) includes a needle that suctions or discharges a sample, and a flow path switching valve connected to the needle. The fractionating liquid chromatograph (1) further includes a controller (100) that sets a state of the flow path switching valve to a first state and a second state, the first state being a state in which the needle is connected to a storage unit for storing the sample, the second state being a state in which the needle is connected to the detector.

Presteralized manifolds are provided which are designed for sterile packaging and single-use approaches. Disposable tubing and flexible-wall containers are assembled via aseptic connectors. These manifolds are adapted to interact with other equipment which can be operated by a controller which provides automated and accurate delivery of biotechnology fluid. The manifold also can be used in conjunction with one or more sensors such as pressure and conductivity sensors that interact with the controller or are connected to a separate user interface. An aseptic environment obtains avoiding or reducing cleaning and quality assurance procedures.

A preparative chromatograph system includes a sample injector that injects a sample into a separation flow path (8) through which a mobile phase flows, a separation column that is provided on the separation flow path and is to separate a sample injected into the separation flow path into components, a detector that is provided at a position farther downstream than the separation column on the separation flow path and is to detect sample components obtained by separation in the separation column, a collector having a plurality of collection containers for collecting part of an eluate eluted from the separation column and a switch mechanism configured to be capable of selectively connecting a downstream end of the separation flow path to any one of the collection containers, a collection setter configured to set a portion, to be collected in each of the collection containers, of an eluate eluted from the separation column using a pre-acquired chromatogram of a sample, and a collection setter configured to be capable of setting a portion, including a sample component, of an eluate eluted from the separation column, and a portion, between two sample components that are adjacent to each other on the chromatogram, of an eluate eluted from the separation column, as the portion to be collected, and a controller configured to control an operation of the switch mechanism of the collector and collect the portion, which is to be collected and is set by the connection setter, in the predetermined collection container.