Extraction column for liquid chromatography
Technical Field
The invention relates to the field of liquid chromatographic columns, in particular to an extraction column.
Background
In solid phase extraction systems, on-line processing of samples is often performed using a chromatography column, typically an extraction column for sample processing. In two-dimensional liquid chromatography detection, extraction columns are mainly used for primary separation, purification and concentration of samples. In this process, the extraction column is subject to contamination from various impurities in the sample, which tend to accumulate at the inlet end, resulting in high pressure, which severely affects the useful life of the extraction column.
The mobile phase flows through the chromatographic column, and because a large amount of impurities exist in the sample, particularly the protein in the biological sample is subjected to a mass aggregation phenomenon after being intercepted by the sieve plate, the degree of sieve plate blockage is more and more serious as the sampling frequency of the chromatographic column is more and the time is longer, which is also the most common problem of the modern liquid chromatographic column. Extraction columns are typically subjected to a larger sample volume than conventional chromatography columns, and so the columns are more susceptible to plugging.
The existing solution is to perform ultrasonic cleaning on the extraction column or replace column head filler to repair the column head, but the existing solution needs high specialization and has limited capability of solving the problem.
The applicant has obtained a patent for a liquid chromatograph with on-line cleaning function, with the following publication numbers: CN104330502B, mainly aim at the online washing of two-dimensional liquid chromatogram's first chromatographic column and middle chromatographic column, have the back washing function. Of course, this is only one specific chromatographic system. The chromatographic column can be cleaned on line or off line in a reverse cleaning mode.
In addition, in the conventional on-line extraction column, after a sample enters a stationary phase along with a mobile phase, a target object can make regular motion at the early stage and enters a detector for analysis, and a relatively normal chromatogram can be obtained. With the continuous accumulation of protein and other impurities in the sample in the stationary phase, part of the stationary phase loses the adsorption capacity, and the target object starts to make various irregular motions in the stationary phase and enters a detector for analysis to obtain a particularly trailing chromatogram.
Therefore, it is important to develop a novel extraction column for liquid chromatography to solve the above problems.
Disclosure of Invention
The invention aims to provide an extraction column, which can solve the problem that the extraction column is easy to block, is easy to clean, prolongs the service life of a chromatographic column, improves the column efficiency and keeps a better peak shape for a long time.
(II) in order to realize the purpose of the invention, the technical scheme of the invention is as follows:
an extraction column for liquid chromatography takes the inflow end of a mobile phase as the upper end, and comprises a column cap, a front-end column cap, a column tube, a tail-end column cap and a column cap which are sequentially connected from top to bottom, wherein a stationary phase is filled in the column tube, the upper end of the front-end column cap is provided with a pressure-variable pore structure, the pressure-variable pore structure comprises an upper layer, a middle layer and a lower layer, and an elastic soft plate, a high polymer filter membrane and a support pore plate are sequentially arranged from top to bottom; the stationary phase is internally provided with a polymer liquid-tight membrane close to the inflow end of the mobile phase, the outer diameter of the polymer liquid-tight membrane is smaller than the inner diameter of the column tube, the central axis of the polymer liquid-tight membrane coincides with the central axis of the column tube, and the polymer liquid-tight membrane is arranged parallel to the cross section of the column tube.
Preferably, the flexible soft plate comprises a fixed ring and a flexible sieve plate positioned in the fixed ring.
Preferably, the material of the fixing ring is preferably PEEK ring, the material of the fixing ring is polyether-ether-ketone, and the material of the PE sieve plate is preferably polyethylene. The material has the characteristics of high strength, low dissolution and the like, and the thickness of the PE sieve plate is between 0.5mm and 8 mm.
Preferably, the thickness of the elastic soft plate is 0.5mm-8mm, and the pore diameter is 5 microns-10 microns.
Preferably, the thickness of the polymeric filter membrane is 0.1 mm-0.5 mm, and the material with molecular weight larger than 5000Da can be intercepted.
Preferably, the material of the polymeric filter membrane is a material which can resist organic and acid-base reagents, and can be polyether sulfone resin or polypropylene.
Preferably, the material of the polymer liquid-tight membrane can be any liquid-tight membrane, and can be a fluorine-containing polymer material, preferably a polyester film or a nylon film.
Preferably, the gap between the periphery of the polymer liquid-tight membrane and the inner wall of the column tube is smaller than 1/4 of the inner diameter of the column tube, and the control is reasonable in the range. Further preferably, the gap between the outer periphery of the polymer liquid-impermeable film and the inner wall of the column tube is 1 to 3mm, and according to a great deal of research by the inventors, the rectification effect is better when the gap is 1 to 3 mm.
Preferably, the metal sieve plate is arranged above the polymer liquid-tight membrane and used for supporting the polymer liquid-tight membrane and preventing the polymer liquid-tight membrane from deforming.
Preferably, the structure of the supporting orifice plate may be identical to that of the flexible plate.
Preferably, the column head is provided with a hole for flowing in or flowing out the mobile phase.
Preferably, the inlet end of the column tube is provided with a front-end column cap, the outlet end of the column tube is provided with a tail-end column cap, the inlet end of the column tube is arranged in a column head, internal threads are arranged in the column head, the outlet end of the column tube is arranged in the column head, the internal threads are arranged in the column head, and the column tube is connected with the column head through the threads.
(III) the principle of the invention is illustrated:
1. description of the principle of easy cleaning of extraction columns with pressure-swing pores to improve the lifetime of the extraction column:
the pressure-variable pore soft plate and the polymer filter membrane are arranged in the column head at the inlet end, the background pressure of the extraction column corresponding to the one-dimensional mobile phase is generally about 2MPa and is not enough to form high pressure, when the mobile phase enters at a high flow rate, the high pressure is formed and generally reaches more than 10MPa, the elastic soft plate shrinks downwards, the pore diameter is reduced, filter particles are intercepted, more fine impurities are intercepted and filtered by the polymer membrane, and the support pore plate supports the elastic soft plate and the polymer membrane; during on-line and off-line reverse cleaning, the pressure is reduced, the elastic soft plate is deformed and expanded, and impurities intercepted by the organic polymer filter membrane and the elastic soft plate are reversely eluted and discharged. The utility model provides an extraction column with press and become hole, can be easier go out extraction column entry end impurity reverse cleaning to promote extraction column's life.
2. The principle that the polymer liquid-impermeable film can shape the mobile phase so as to improve the column efficiency is explained as follows:
the invention relates to a normal chromatographic column, wherein a sample flows through a stationary phase along with a mobile phase, the stationary phase loses adsorption capacity along with the accumulation of impurities such as protein in the sample, so that a target object in the sample does various irregular motions, the flow velocity nearest to the center of the chromatographic column is the maximum, the flow velocity near the periphery of the chromatographic column is small, and the flow velocity is uneven.
Compared with the prior art, the invention has the advantages that:
1. the extraction column provided by the invention has a pressure-variable gap structure, and impurities at the inlet end of the extraction column can be more easily cleaned out in a reverse direction, so that the service life of the extraction column is prolonged to more than 1000 needles.
2. The extraction column with the rectification characteristic rectifies the flow shape and the flow velocity of fluid entering the chromatographic column, the flow velocity becomes uniform and the flow direction becomes regular, so that target objects in a sample are rearranged after rectification and move forward in a synchronous manner, the peak shape of the extraction column is obviously improved, a relatively normal peak shape can be maintained, and more than 1000 needles can be maintained.
The detailed structure of the present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description.
Drawings
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a split structure of an extraction column in example 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of an extraction column according to example 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of the flexible printed circuit board according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the present invention in example 1 with a metal sieve plate added;
FIG. 5 is a graph comparing the peak shape change of example 1 of the present invention with that of comparative example 1;
FIG. 6 is a graph of a 1000 pin peak contrast test for example 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a comparison graph of the spike shape of comparative example 1 test 200 of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a graph comparing the pressure change of example 1 of the present invention with that of comparative example 1;
wherein, 1 is column cap, 2 is macromolecule filter membrane, 3 is elastic soft board, 4 is front end column cap, 5 is column tube, 6 is end column cap, 7 is fixed phase, 8 is supporting pore plate, 9 is fixed ring, 10 is sieve plate, 11 is macromolecule liquid-tight membrane, 12 is metal sieve plate.
Detailed Description
Example 1: as shown in fig. 1-4, an extraction column, using the inflow end of the mobile phase as the upper end, from the top to the bottom, the extraction column comprises a column cap 1, a front end column cap 4, a column tube 5, a terminal column cap 6 and a column cap 1, which are connected in sequence, the front end of the front end column cap 4 is provided with an elastic soft plate 3, a polymeric filter membrane 2 and a support pore plate 8 from the top to the bottom in sequence (the elastic soft plate 3, the polymeric filter membrane 2 and the support pore plate 8 form a new pressure-variable pore structure). The column head 1 is internally provided with a hole for flowing in or flowing out the mobile phase. The column tube 5 is internally filled with a stationary phase 7. The inlet end of the column tube 5 is provided with a front-end column cap 4, the outlet end of the column tube 5 is provided with a tail-end column cap 6, the inlet end of the column tube is arranged in the column cap 1, internal threads are arranged in the column cap 1, the outlet end of the column tube 5 is arranged in the column cap 1, internal threads are arranged in the column cap 1, and the column tube 5 is in threaded connection with the column cap 1. A polymer liquid-tight membrane 11 is arranged in the stationary phase 7 near the inflow end of the mobile phase, and the outer diameter of the polymer liquid-tight membrane 11 is smaller than the inner diameter of the column tube 5. The central axis of the polymer liquid-tight membrane 11 is superposed with the central axis of the column tube 5. The gap between the outer periphery of the polymer liquid-impermeable film 11 and the inner wall of the column tube 5 is smaller than 1/4 of the inner diameter of the column tube 5, which is 1mm in example 1.
As shown in fig. 3, the flexible elastic plate 3 is composed of a PEEK ring and a PE sieve plate, the PEEK ring is made of polyetheretherketone, and the PE sieve plate is made of polyethylene. The material has the characteristics of high strength, easy dissolution and the like.
The material of the polymeric filter membrane 2 is polyether sulfone (PES) or polypropylene (PP), and the material has high strength, chemical resistance and thermal stability.
The support pore plate 8 can be a support mesh plate, or the support pore plate 8 is composed of a PEEK ring and a PE sieve plate, the PEEK ring is made of PEEK, and the PE sieve plate is made of polyethylene. The material has the characteristics of high strength, easy dissolution and the like.
The column tube 5 and the column cap 1 are both made of stainless steel.
The thickness of the elastic soft plate 3 is 0.5mm, the aperture is 5 microns, the thickness of the macromolecular filter membrane 2 is 0.1mm, and substances with molecular weight larger than 5000Da can be intercepted.
The top of the polymer liquid-tight membrane is provided with a metal sieve plate for supporting the polymer liquid-tight membrane and preventing the polymer liquid-tight membrane from deforming.
Description of the working principle: after being subjected to protein precipitation treatment, a blood sample with a complex matrix enters an extraction column along with a liquid chromatography mobile phase, impurities with large molecular weight in the sample are intercepted when passing through an elastic soft plate, substances with medium and small molecular weights pass through an elastic filter plate and then are intercepted and filtered for the second time when passing through an organic polymer filter membrane, finally, a measured object with small molecular weight and part of impurities in the sample enter an extraction column stationary phase through a second-stage elastic soft plate and an anti-blocking filter cap, the measured object is primarily separated from the sample under the chromatographic action force of the extraction column immobility, and the separated object flows into a pipeline through an outlet filter cap and enters other separation systems or detection systems. After the extraction column with the pressure-variable pore structure finishes complex sample treatment for multiple times or once, offline or online, the flow with certain elution strength can be used in reverse phase to perform reverse phase cleaning and purification on the extraction column, and impurities intercepted by the organic polymer filter membrane and the elastic soft plate can deform in the expansion and contraction elasticity of the elastic soft plate, so that the impurities are promoted to be discharged, and the self-purification of the extraction column is finished. Meanwhile, the invention shapes the fluid by adding a polymer liquid-impermeable film, the flow direction track of the fluid is changed after the fluid meets the polymer liquid-impermeable film, the fluid uniformly flows out from the periphery of the polymer liquid-impermeable film from the longitudinal cross line, the flow speed is uniform, the flow direction is regular, the sample is more uniformly dispersed after rectification, the separation of the sample is more facilitated, the column efficiency is improved, and the peak shape of the extraction column is better.
The following percentages are volume percentages, and the extraction column in example 1 and a conventional extraction column were used to determine carbamazepine in human blood. Blood samples were treated with 67% acetonitrile +33% ethanol. The test is carried out on a liquid chromatograph with an on-line cleaning function, and the mobile phase is 30% acetonitrile and 70% water. The flow rate is set to be 1.0mL/min, the auxiliary mobile phase is 0.5% formic acid solution, the auxiliary flow rate is 2.0mL/min, the auxiliary time duration is 1.0min, the wavelength is 282nmnm, the sample injection volume is 50 muL, and the column temperature is 40 ℃. Test 1000 needles, look for peak-type changes (see fig. 5).
Valproic acid in a human blood sample is extracted by using the extraction column in the example 1 and a conventional extraction column on a liquid chromatograph with an online cleaning function, the mobile phase is 30% acetonitrile and 70% water, the set flow rate is 1.0mL/min, the sample injection is tested for 1000 needles, and the pressure change is checked (see figure 6).
According to the test results, as shown in fig. 7 and fig. 8, when the conventional extraction column extracts a sample, the pressure is continuously increased, the pressure reaches 18MPa at 400 needles, and the tolerance pressure of the conventional liquid chromatography is generally 20 MPa. Meanwhile, when a sample is tested by the conventional extraction column, the peak shape is not shaped, so that the test sample is not focused and dispersed, and the peak collapse is serious when the sample is tested by 200 needles. The extraction column of the embodiment 1 has the advantages that the inlet end is additionally provided with the pressure-variable pore structure, molecules can be intercepted in time, impurities and protein attached to the inlet end can be washed out in time through reverse cleaning, and the pressure is not obviously increased. Meanwhile, the newly added molecular interception membrane can reshape the target substance on the stationary phase again without diffusion, and the peak shape is kept normal and can be maintained for more than 1000 needles.
The above description is for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, and any person skilled in the art can substitute or change the technical solution of the present invention and its conception within the technical scope of the present invention, and the technical solution and the concept of the present invention are also intended to be covered by the scope of the claims of the present invention.