Abstract: A chromatographic interface for sample handling and manipulation between separations or analyses is provided. The interface has an interfacing unit, a sample acquisition unit, and a sample trapping unit. The sample acquisition unit includes an inflow selector valve, an outflow selector valve, and one or more collection loops. The sample trapping unit includes a trap in fluid communication with the loop and having a stationary phase. The stationary phase can trap an analyte of interest from a fraction of the chromatographic sample separation flow. The tapping unit also has a scavenging gas source and a vacuum source; both can be used to substantially dry the stationary phase.

Abstract: Process sample and dilution systems automatically draw sample from a reactor or other source of sample and prepare drawn sample for subsequent injection to a chromatographic column or a detector. The process sample and dilution system has an external pump valve assembly in fluidic communication with a process sample manager. The external pump valve assembly includes an external sampling valve, an external process valve, external pump and a mixing tee. The external sampling valve can be configured to automatically acquire sample from a reactor or other source of sample. The external pump discharges wash from the external process valve whereby sample is discharged from the external sampling valve to the mixing tee for quenching and dilution and subsequent processing by the process sample manager.

Abstract: An apparatus for chromatographic interfacing includes an interfacing unit, a sample acquisition unit, and a sample trapping unit. The interfacing unit includes (i) a chromatographic inflow valve adapted to receive a chromatographic sample separation flow, (ii) a chromatographic outflow valve adapted to allow discharge of the sample separation flow, (iii) a loop expulsion inflow valve adapted to receive an expulsion fluid flow, and (iv) a loop expulsion outflow valve in fluid communication with the loop expulsion inflow valve and adapted to allow discharge of a fluid. The sample acquisition unit includes (i) an inflow selector in selectable fluid communication with the chromatographic inflow valve or the loop expulsion inlet valve, (ii) an outflow selector in fluid communication with the loop expulsion outflow valve, and (iii) one or more collection loops, each loop being independently selectable to establish fluid communication between the inflow selector valve and the outflow selector valve.

Abstract: A method for covalent immobilization of a carbohydrate molecule with an oppositely charged surface, comprising the steps of adsorbing the carbohydrate molecule to the oppositely charged surface in proximity to reactive moieties bound to the charged surface; and next activating the bound moiety sufficiently for covalent attachment to the adsorbed carbohydrate molecule. Also disclosed is a hydrophobic microporous polymer membrane coated with a cross-linked, cationic polymer having fixed charges thereon, the coating having enhanced epoxide content for covalent immobilization of the oppositely-charged carbohydrate molecule. A novel method for sequencing carbohydrates by covalent attachment of a carbohydrate conjugate to the membrane, and subsequent treatment with glycosidases, is also presented.