Abstract: Superficially porous silica particles are provided as well as a one-pot process for making the superficially porous particles, the process comprising hydrolyzing and condensing a silica precursor comprising a functional group to form superficially porous particles, the superficially porous particles comprising silica microparticles having silica nanoparticles bound to the surface of the microparticles. The nanoparticles provide a porous outer layer on the microparticles. The superficially porous particles are useful as a stationary phase in liquid chromatography and allow for fast mass transfer and separation of samples.

Abstract: An apparatus for reaction chromatography comprising: a chromatography column, the column having a fluid outlet for an eluate flow, wherein the fluid outlet is configured with two or more fluid ports, the two or more fluid ports comprising one or more reactant ports, wherein each reactant port is for connecting a reactant flow into the eluate flow to react with the eluate flow, and one or more product ports for receiving the reacted eluate flow; one or more reactant sources in fluid communication with the one or more reactant ports to provide the reactant flow; and one or more processing units in fluid communication with the one or more product ports to process the reacted eluate flow.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for column chromatography which provide improvements in separation resolution and detection sensitivity, comprising a chromatography column, the column having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the outlet is configured to split a flow of eluate as it leaves the column through the outlet into at least two separate portions, wherein the apparatus is configured to separately process the portions, for example to separately detect a portion or separately collect fractions of a portion with improved resolution. A split frit assembly is preferably configured to split the flow of eluate. The portions preferably emanate from different radial regions of the column. An end fitting for the column outlet may be provided having multiple ports to separately convey the portions.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for column chromatography, which provide improvements in separation resolution and detection sensitivity, comprising a chromatography column having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is configured to introduce a flow of mobile phase into the column carrying a sample, wherein the inlet is further configured to introduce the flow of mobile phase into the column in at least two separate portions which are independently controllable, and to introduce the portions into different radial regions of the column, such that the portions flow longitudinally through the column in different radial regions. The sample preferably is contained in one of the portions, especially a central portion, in a higher concentration than in the other portion(s). Preferably the flow velocities of the portions are independently controllable.

Abstract: A laboratory vial transfer device for automatically transferring laboratory vials from a transport package containing a plurality of said vials, comprising: a vial feeder configured to connect to the transport package after the package has been opened, so as to feed vials directly from the package without manual contact, wherein the vial feeder comprises a rotatable carousel having a plurality of vial receiving positions located on the carousel each for receiving a single vial and adapted to collect the vials from the opened package into respective vial receiving positions upon operation of the carousel, wherein the carousel is operable to feed the vials from their respective vial receiving positions to an exit position.

Abstract: A chromatography column (2) containing a bed of packed particles (22, 24, 26, 28, 30), wherein the packed particles comprise fused core particles and the particle diameters of the packed particles vary along the column. Preferably, the particles (2, 24, 26, 28, 30) are arranged according to their average particle diameter, in order of increasing average particle diameter from the inlet end (4) to the outlet end (6). The bed may comprise a plurality of bed sections and each bed section has an average particle diameter calculated from the particles in that section and there are at least two different average particle diameter bed sections, wherein the particles of each bed are separated from particles of an adjacent bed by a partition that is liquid permeable to allow through a flow of mobile phase. A high column efficiency can be provided with lower pressure drop per unit length of the column.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing droplets of liquid sample into an analysis device using a gas stream, the droplets being produced by the application of acoustic energy to a quantity of liquid sample. Acoustic energy may be applied to a quantity of liquid sample located on a solid surface of a sample support so as to eject a droplet of sample from the quantity of sample; the droplet of sample may be entrained in a gas stream; and the droplet of sample may be transported into the analysis device using the gas stream.

Abstract: A method for deriving a background-corrected portion of a measured optical emission spectrum comprising the steps of identifying two or more background correction points from the portion of the measured emission spectrum; deriving a background correction function fitted to the identified background correction points, and applying the background correction function to the portion of the measured emission spectrum so as to produce a background-corrected portion of the emission spectrum, wherein the background correction points are identified from the measured data points by consideration of the gradients between the measured data points.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mixing droplets of liquid sample and droplets of a diluent and/or a standard produced by droplet-on-demand generators for use with an analysis device. Two different liquids may be introduced to an analysis device for simultaneous analysis. The method preferably comprises using a first droplet-on-demand generator to provide a first stream of droplets of a first liquid; using a second droplet-on-demand generator to provide a second stream of droplets of a second liquid; and combining the first and second streams of droplets before they enter the analysis device.

Abstract: A chromatographic material comprising a zwitterionic ligand covalently bound to a substrate, the ligand preferably has a formula II: wherein R1, R2, R3 are independently selected from an oxygen atom that is configured to connect to a substrate atom in the substrate, an oxygen atom that is configured to connect to a silicon atom of an adjacent ligand, a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, an alkoxy group, a dialkylamino group, an acyl group, an alkyl group, or an aryl group; L1, L2 and L3 are independently hydrophobic moieties; each containing 2 to 30 carbon atoms, wherein there are at least 10 carbon atoms in the combined chain lengths of L1, L2 and L3; X is an O atom, S atom, amide group or sulfonamide group; n is 0 or 1; R4, R5 are independently selected from a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon moiety containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms; and Rf is a negatively charged moiety comprising a sulfonic, carboxylic, or phosphonic functional group.

Abstract: A particulate material for chromatographic use comprising silica particles is provided having a skeleton structure containing silsesquioxane cage moieties. The material is useful as a chromatographic material, for example in HPLC. The silica particles may be hybrid organo-silica particles wherein the silsesquioxane moieties comprise a cage structure having silicon atoms positioned at corners of the cage wherein one or more silicon atoms positioned at the corners of the cage carry an organic group. A preferred method of preparing the particulate material comprises hydrolysing a silsesquioxane as a co-component of a hydrolysis mixture, especially in a Stöber or modified Stöber process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mixing droplets of liquid sample and droplets of a diluent and/or a standard produced by droplet-on-demand generators for use with an analysis device. Two different liquids may be introduced to an analysis device for simultaneous analysis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing droplets of liquid sample into an analysis device using a gas stream, the droplets being produced by the application of acoustic energy to a quantity of liquid sample. Acoustic energy may be applied to a quantity of liquid sample located on a solid surface of a sample support so as to eject a droplet of sample from the quantity of sample; the droplet of sample may be entrained in a gas stream; and the droplet of sample may be transported into the analysis device using the gas stream.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for controlling the temperature of an inductively coupled or microwave induced plasma for optical emission spectrometry or mass spectrometry in which the intensities of two spectral lines of radiation emitted by the plasma are measured, and the power provided to sustain the plasma is adjusted so that the ratio of the intensities remains substantially constant.

Abstract: Methods are provided for conducting chemical analyses by combusting a sample in a combustion tube. A primary combustion chamber receives and combusts a sample to form first combustion products. A secondary combustion chamber receives and combusts the first combustion products to form second combustion products. The secondary chamber is disposed around the primary chamber and comprises a plurality of—preferably, three—combustion compartments. Each successive compartment is disposed around the preceding compartment and defines a respective gas flow channel having an inlet opening and an outlet opening at opposite ends. Each successive gas flow channel shares its inlet opening with the outlet opening of the preceding channel. The plurality of combustion compartments define a substantially continuous gas flow conduit from the inlet opening of the innermost compartment to the outlet opening of the outermost compartment. Static gas mixers may be employed to enhance mixing of the combustion products.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for controlling the temperature of an inductively coupled or microwave induced plasma for optical emission spectrometry or mass spectrometry in which the intensities of two spectral lines of radiation emitted by the plasma are measured, and the power provided to sustain the plasma is adjusted so that the ratio of the intensities remains substantially constant.