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: 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: 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 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 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 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: 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.

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: 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.