Methods and Apparatus for Analyzing Samples and Collecting Sample Fractions

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for analyzing a sample using at least one detector are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of detecting and collecting one or more sample components within a first sample stream in a chromatography system comprising:
 separating one or more sample components from a fluid mixture during a chromatographic run using a chromatography column to form the first sample stream;   generating a second sample stream comprising a carrier gas;   moving a portion of the first sample stream to the second sample stream, which is in fluid communication with at least one destructive detector;   generating at least one signal during the chromatographic run from the destructive detector;   
       and
 collecting the one or more components from the first sample stream in a fraction collector in response to a change in the at least one signal. 
 
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said generating and collecting steps are performed during the chromatographic run. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , including at least one destructive detector selected from the group consisting of evaporative light scattering detectors (ELSD), mass spectrometers (MS), condensation nucleation light scattering detectors (CNLSD), and corona discharge detectors. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said chromatography system further comprises at least one non-destructive detector selected from the group consisting of optical absorbance detectors, refractive index detectors (RID), fluorescence detectors (FD), chiral detectors (CD), and conductivity detectors. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the non-destructive detector comprises at least one optical absorbance detector. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the optical absorbance detector observes two or more optical wavelengths so as to produce two or more detector response values. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the destructive detector comprises an evaporative light scattering detector. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of moving is performed with use of
 a splitter pump; 
 a shuttle valve; or 
 a combination of a splitter pump and a shuttle valve; 
 wherein the splitter pump, the shuttle valve, or the combination are in fluid communication with the at least one destructive detector. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of actively moving comprises moving an aliquot from first sample stream at a frequency of at least 1 aliquot every 10 seconds. 
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for detecting a sample using the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A chromatographic apparatus for detecting and collecting one or more components within a first sample stream comprising:
 a chromatography column in fluid communication with the first sample stream;   a second sample stream comprising a carrier gas;   a splitter that moves a portion of the first sample stream to a second sample stream, which is in fluid communication with at least one destructive detector to generate at least one response value during a chromatographic run;   a processor that is adapted to receive said at least one response value and to generate at least one signal from the at least one response value received from said destructive detector; and   a fraction collector adapted to collect at least one fraction corresponding to at least one of said components in response to a change said at least one signal.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said fraction is collected during the chromatographic run. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , including at least one destructive detector selected from the group consisting of evaporative light scattering detectors (ELSD), mass spectrometers (MS), condensation nucleation light scattering detectors (CNLSD), and corona discharge detectors. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said chromatography system further comprises at least one non-destructive detector selected from the group consisting of optical absorbance detectors, refractive index detectors (RID), fluorescence detectors (FD), chiral detectors (CD), and conductivity detectors. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the non-destructive detector includes at least one optical absorbance detector. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the destructive detector comprises an evaporative light scattering detector. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said splitter comprises
 a splitter pump;   a shuttle valve; or   a combination of a splitter pump and a shuttle valve;   
       wherein the splitter pump, the shuttle valve, or the combination are in fluid communication with the at least one destructive detector.