High pressure degas assembly for chromatography system and method

Abstract

A degas assembly including a low pressure fluid channel for carrying a wash fluid at a first pressure, a pressurized channel for carrying eluent including a gas at a second pressure higher than the first pressure, and a degas separator defining a fluid barrier between the low pressure fluid channel and pressurized fluid channel, the separator configured to retain liquid in the pressurized fluid channel and allow gas to flow through the separator to the low pressure fluid channel. The pressurized fluid channel may extend along an outer periphery of the low pressure fluid channel. The eluent may be received from an eluent generator at a pressure of at least about 3300 psi, and in various embodiments up to about 5000 psi. A liquid chromatography system and method are also disclosed.

1 . A method of separating a gas from a liquid phase for liquid chromatography, the method comprising:
 flowing a high pressure liquid phase to a degas assembly, the degas assembly including an inner flow channel and an outer flow channel with a degas separator disposed therebetween, said degas separator being a gas permeable membrane;   flowing the liquid phase to the outer flow channel; and   separating the gas from the liquid phase into the inner flow channel but retaining liquid from the liquid phase in the outer flow channel via the degas separator;   wherein the high pressure liquid phase has a pressure of at least about 1000 psi.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising directing the separated liquid phase from an outlet of the outer flow channel to a liquid chromatography column. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising flowing regenerant through the inner flow channel thereby flushing the separated gas. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid phase is an eluent, the eluent being received from an eluent generator. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid phase inputted into the degas assembly is at a pressure of at least about 3300 psi. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid phase inputted into the degas assembly is at a pressure of between about 3300 psi and about 5000 psi. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the degas separator is an amorphous fluoropolymers tube. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , the outer flow channel at least partially enveloping the inner flow channel, wherein the flowing liquid phase to the outer flow channel is performed so as to place the inner flow channel in compression. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , in which a low pressure channel member defining the low pressure fluid channel and a pressurized channel member defining the pressurized fluid channel, each of the channel members comprising inert polymer tubing, wherein the low pressure channel member includes at least one flared end, and the at least one flared end is configured to form a fluid seal when engaged with a fluid inlet or outlet port. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one flared end is thermally formed. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the low pressure fluid channel is capped at one end, the method further comprising removing the separated gas from the inner flow channel. 
     
     
         12 . A degas assembly comprising:
 a low pressure fluid channel for carrying a wash fluid at a first pressure;   a pressurized channel for carrying eluent including a gas at a second pressure higher than the first pressure;   a degas separator defining a fluid barrier between the low pressure fluid channel and pressurized fluid channel, the separator configured to retain liquid in the pressurized fluid channel and allow the gas to flow through the separator to the low pressure fluid channel;   wherein the pressurized fluid channel extends along an outer periphery of the low pressure fluid channel,   wherein a low pressure channel member defines the low pressure fluid channel and a pressurized channel member defines the pressurized fluid channel, each of the channel members comprising inert polymer tubing,   wherein the low pressure fluid member is capped at one end.   
     
     
         13 . The degas assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the low pressure fluid channel member comprises amorphous fluoropolymer tubing. 
     
     
         14 . The degas assembly according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an inlet housing including:
 an eluent inlet for connecting to an eluent generator; and 
 a wash inlet for connecting to a wash source; and 
   an outlet housing including:
 an eluent outlet; and 
 a wash outlet.