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JP-7856649-B2 - Title of Invention: Cover for Thin-Layer Chromatography Developing Chamber

JP7856649B2JP 7856649 B2JP7856649 B2JP 7856649B2JP-7856649-B2

Inventors

  • オベルレ，ミヒャエラ
  • シュンダ，エリック
  • フィッシャー，ロベルト

Assignees

  • メルク パテント ゲゼルシャフト ミット ベシュレンクテル ハフツング

Dates

Publication Date
20260511
Application Date
20211112
Priority Date
20201116

Claims (17)

  1. A cover (4) for a thin-layer chromatography developing chamber (1) for developing a thin-layer chromatography plate (21) by introducing a liquid solvent onto the plate, wherein the solvent and the thin-layer chromatography plate (21) can be inserted into the developing chamber (1), and the opening (3) of the developing chamber (1) can be closed by the cover (4), and the cover (4) includes a data input unit (10) for inputting or collecting data related to the development process carried out in the developing chamber (1). The data input unit (10) of the cover (4) is characterized by including a bubble sensor device for detecting bubbles in the solvent (29) inside the deployment chamber (1) during the deployment process. The aforementioned cover.
  2. The cover (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (4) includes an information display unit (14) for displaying data input or collected by the data input unit (10).
  3. The cover (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it includes a data communication unit (16) that enables wireless data transmission of data input or collected by the data input unit (10) to the thin-layer chromatography data storage device (24).
  4. The cover (4) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the data input unit (10) of the cover (4) includes a timer device that can be set to indicate the time required for the unfolding process.
  5. The cover (4) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cover (4) includes a plate housing device (30) suitable for moving the thin-layer chromatography plate (21) between a storage position where the cover (4) does not come into contact with the solvent (29) in the solvent bath within the developing chamber (1) and a developing position where a portion of the thin-layer chromatography plate (21) is immersed in the solvent (29) in the solvent bath.
  6. The cover (4) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the data input unit (10) of the cover (4) includes a temperature sensor device (11) for detecting the temperature inside the deployment chamber (1) during the deployment process.
  7. The cover (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the data input unit (10) of the cover (4) includes a humidity sensor device for detecting the humidity inside the deployment chamber (1) during the deployment process.
  8. The cover (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the data input unit (10) of the cover (4) includes a pressure sensor device for detecting the pressure inside the deployment chamber (1) during the deployment process.
  9. The cover (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the data input unit (10) of the cover (4) includes a filling level sensor device for detecting the filling level of the solvent ( 29 ) in the solvent bath within the unfolding chamber (1).
  10. The cover (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the data input unit ( 10 ) of the cover (4) includes a solvent homogeneity sensor device (34) for detecting the homogeneity of the solvent (29) before or during the unfolding step.
  11. The cover (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , characterized in that the cover (4) includes a posture measuring device for measuring the posture of the cover (4) relative to a reference posture.
  12. The cover (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the cover (4) includes a compartment (8) for at least one sensitive part of a data input unit (10) and a data communication unit (16), which is sealed from the inside facing the deployment chamber ( 1 ) with a seal that is inert to the solvent.
  13. The cover (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the sealing includes an annular seal surrounding the glass plate, which allows the gap between the glass plate and the opening edge of the opening (3) of the unfolding chamber ( 1 ) to be sealed.
  14. The cover (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 13 , characterized in that the data communication unit (16) includes a data receiving device for receiving data related to a thin-layer chromatography plate (21) that is deployed during the deployment process.
  15. A system for developing and analyzing a thin-layer chromatography plate (21), comprising a developing chamber (1) for developing the thin-layer chromatography plate (21), and a thin-layer chromatography evaluation device (23) for collecting and analyzing the chromatography results on the thin-layer chromatography plate (21) developed using the developing chamber, wherein the developing chamber (1) includes a cover (4) as described in any of claims 1 to 8 . The aforementioned system.
  16. A system for unfolding and analyzing a thin-layer chromatography plate (21) according to claim 15, characterized in that the thin-layer chromatography evaluation device (23) includes a data communication unit that enables wireless data transmission of data related to the evaluation process to a thin-layer chromatography data storage device (24).
  17. A method for unfolding and analyzing a thin-layer chromatography plate (21), wherein the thin-layer chromatography plate (21) is unfolded in a thin-layer chromatography unfolding chamber (1) equipped with a cover (4) as described in any of claims 1 to 14 , and at least one piece of data related to the unfolding of the thin-layer chromatography plate (21), input or collected by a data input unit (10) of the cover (4) during a data transmission step, is transmitted during or after the unfolding step to a thin-layer chromatography evaluation device (23) for collecting and analyzing the chromatography results of the thin-layer chromatography plate (21). The aforementioned method.

Description

This invention relates to a cover for a thin-layer chromatography developing chamber that allows a thin-layer chromatography plate to be developed by introducing a liquid solvent onto the plate, thereby allowing the solvent and the thin-layer chromatography plate to be inserted into the developing chamber, and thereby closing the opening of the developing chamber with the cover. Background: Thin-layer chromatography is a chromatographic technique used to separate non-volatile mixtures within a sample, allowing for the identification and, in some cases, quantification of individual components of the sample. Thin-layer chromatography is typically performed on a thin-layer chromatography plate, which may be a glass or plastic plate, or aluminum foil, coated with a thin layer of adsorbent material such as silica gel, aluminum oxide, or cellulose. This layer of adsorbent is known as the stationary phase. After the sample is coated onto the plate, a solvent or solvent mixture, known as the mobile phase, is drawn onto the plate by capillary action. If the sample is coated in an area close to the plate boundary, and the solvent mixture is drawn up from the same plate boundary, the sample is drawn up along with the solvent mixture across the plate. Different components of the sample, i.e., different analytes, are drawn up the plate at different rates, thus achieving separation of the analytes and resulting in different spots along the paths of the solvent mixture being drawn up and moving across the plate. Following the development of the thin-layer chromatography plate, spots of different analytes in the sample are visualized. This can be done by illuminating the plate with visible light or ultraviolet light. It is also possible to visualize the spots by performing chemical processes. The position and size of the spots on the plate can be used for analyte identification and quantitative measurement of the amount of each analyte in the sample. To quantify the results, the migration distance of the analyte under consideration is divided by the total migration distance of the mobile phase, i.e., the solvent mixture. This ratio is called the retardation factor. The retardation factor is unique, but it will vary depending on the exact conditions of the mobile and stationary phases. Therefore, typically, before developing the plate and analyzing the results, samples of known compounds and one or more target samples are combined on the plate. Thin-layer chromatography can be used to monitor the progress of a reaction, identify compounds present in a given mixture, and determine the purity of a substance. Thus, thin-layer chromatography is an established method for analyzing samples in many different application environments, such as research and development, as well as monitoring and quality control of industrial production processes. However, in order to meaningfully compare different results of thin-layer chromatography measurements, many parameters, such as the plates and solvent mixtures used, as well as the time and conditions required during plate development, should be identical or at least known, and should be considered for the analysis and comparison of thin-layer chromatography results. Typically, these parameters must be determined and recorded by the person performing the thin-layer plate development. This is a tedious and error-prone task, and can, for example, hinder the evaluation of measurement results performed at different times or in different locations. Therefore, a thin-layer chromatography developing chamber is needed that allows thin-layer chromatography plates to be developed in a manner that facilitates meaningful comparison of different measurements taken at different times or locations. This invention relates to a cover for a thin-layer chromatography developing chamber, the cover including a data input unit for inputting or collecting data related to the developing process performed within the developing chamber. The data input unit may be incorporated into the cover in such a manner that it does not interfere with the operation of the cover. The data input unit may include, for example, an input device with mechanical input capabilities such as a push button, key, or rotary knob. Preferably, the data input unit includes several membrane keys or a touchscreen for manually inputting data before, during, or after a developing step using the thin-layer chromatography developing chamber. Therefore, the cover, used to close the thin-layer chromatography developing chamber and always used and operated during a developing step using the developing chamber, may also be used to input information related to the details of this development, such as information about the plate, about the solvent mixture, and about the sample or a number of samples on this plate. Furthermore, for example, sensors can be added to the data input unit, i.e., at any location inside or on the surface of the cover, to measure an