Analysis of mobile phase supply from mobile phase container

Abstract

In a sample separation apparatus for separating a fluidic sample, a mobile phase container is identified by determining a weight and volume characteristic of the mobile phase container, and identifying the mobile phase container based on a comparison of the determined weight and volume characteristic of the mobile phase container with a pre-known reference weight and volume characteristic of one or more reference mobile phase containers with pre-known identity. A mobile phase is identified by determining a weight and volume reduction behavior according to which weight and volume of mobile phase in a mobile phase container are reduced during conveying mobile phase from the mobile phase container in the sample separation apparatus, and identifying the mobile phase based on a comparison of the determined weight and volume reduction behavior with pre-known reference weight and volume reduction behavior of one or more reference mobile phase materials with pre-known identity.

1 . In a sample separation apparatus for separating a fluidic sample using a mobile phase provided from at least one mobile phase container, a method of identifying a mobile phase container, the method comprising:
 determining a weight and volume characteristic of the mobile phase container; and   identifying the mobile phase container based on a comparison of the determined weight and volume characteristic of the mobile phase container with a pre-known reference weight and volume characteristic of one or more reference mobile phase containers with pre-known identity.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising one of the following features:
 providing an information about the identified mobile phase container to a user of the sample separation apparatus;   providing an information about the identified mobile phase container to a user of the sample separation apparatus, and further requesting the user to confirm that the identified mobile phase container matches or not with the actual mobile phase container.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 determining a weight and volume reduction behavior according to which weight and volume of mobile phase in a mobile phase container are reduced during conveying mobile phase from the mobile phase container in the sample separation apparatus.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , comprising determining a density of the mobile phase based on the determined weight and volume reduction behavior. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , comprising at least one of the following features:
 wherein the method comprises determining the weight and volume reduction behavior under consideration of a flow rate and a conveyance time according to which the mobile phase is driven from the at least one mobile phase container through the sample separation apparatus;   wherein the method comprises determining the weight and volume reduction behavior under consideration of a repeated measurement of a gross weight information and/or the weight reduction behavior.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3 , comprising at least one of the following features:
 wherein the method comprises measuring a gross weight information and/or the weight reduction behavior;   wherein the method comprises receiving a gross weight information from a user input;   wherein the method comprises determining a gross weight information based on at least one of an assumption, an experience, and a previous measurement.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 3 , comprising identifying the mobile phase based on a comparison of the determined weight and volume reduction behavior with pre-known reference weight and volume reduction behavior of one or more reference mobile phase materials with pre-known identity. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising at least one of the following features:
 the method comprises receiving an initial mobile phase volume from a user input;   the method comprises determining an initial mobile phase volume based on a comparison of the determined weight and volume characteristic of the mobile phase container with a pre-known reference weight and volume characteristic of one or more reference mobile phase containers with pre-known initial mobile phase volume.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises using the mobile phase from the at least one mobile phase container as carrier fluid for carrying the fluidic sample during sample separation. 
     
     
         10 . A sample separation apparatus for separating a fluidic sample, the sample separation apparatus comprising:
 a fluid drive for driving a mobile phase, provided from at least one mobile phase container, and the fluidic sample when injected in the mobile phase;   a sample separation unit for separating the fluidic sample in the mobile phase; and   a control device configured for carrying out or controlling the method according  claim 1 .   
     
     
         11 . The sample separation apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the sample separation apparatus comprises at least one of the following features:
 the sample separation apparatus is configured as an apparatus selected from the group consisting of: a chromatography sample separation apparatus; a liquid chromatography sample separation apparatus; a gas chromatography sample separation apparatus; and a supercritical fluid chromatography sample separation apparatus;   the sample separation apparatus comprises a detector configured to detect the separated fluidic sample;   the sample separation apparatus comprises a fractionating unit configured to collect separated fractions of the fluidic sample;   the sample separation apparatus comprises an injector configured to inject the fluidic sample in the mobile phase.   
     
     
         12 . In a sample separation apparatus for separating a fluidic sample using a mobile phase provided from at least one mobile phase container, a method of identifying a mobile phase comprising:
 determining a weight and volume reduction behavior according to which weight and volume of mobile phase in a mobile phase container are reduced during conveying mobile phase from the mobile phase container in the sample separation apparatus; and   identifying the mobile phase based on a comparison of the determined weight and volume reduction behavior with pre-known reference weight and volume reduction behavior of one or more reference mobile phase materials with pre-known identity.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising determining a density of the mobile phase based on the determined weight and volume reduction behavior. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising at least one of the following features:
 wherein the method comprises determining the weight and volume reduction behavior under consideration of a flow rate and a conveyance time according to which the mobile phase is driven from the at least one mobile phase container through the sample separation apparatus;   wherein the method comprises determining the weight and volume reduction behavior under consideration of a repeated measurement of a gross weight information and/or the weight reduction behavior.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising at least one of the following features:
 wherein the method comprises measuring a gross weight information and/or the weight reduction behavior;   wherein the method comprises receiving a gross weight information from a user input;   wherein the method comprises determining a gross weight information based on at least one of an assumption, an experience, and a previous measurement.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising at least one of the following features:
 the method comprises receiving an initial mobile phase volume from a user input;   the method comprises determining an initial mobile phase volume based on a comparison of a weight and volume characteristic of the mobile phase container with a pre-known reference weight and volume characteristic of one or more reference mobile phase containers with pre-known initial mobile phase volume.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the method comprises using the mobile phase from the at least one mobile phase container as carrier fluid for carrying the fluidic sample during sample separation. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 12  comprising identifying the mobile phase container based on a comparison of a weight and volume characteristic of the mobile phase container with a pre-known reference weight and volume characteristic of one or more reference mobile phase containers with pre-known identity. 
     
     
         19 . A sample separation apparatus for separating a fluidic sample, the sample separation apparatus comprising:
 a fluid drive for driving a mobile phase, provided from at least one mobile phase container, and the fluidic sample when injected in the mobile phase;   a sample separation unit for separating the fluidic sample in the mobile phase; and   a control device configured for carrying out or controlling the method according  claim 13 .