| abstract |
An automated isolation system and method for obtaining purified compounds from complex mixtures such as a complex mixture of crude natural products. The automated isolation system includes the sequential arrangement of a charge column, a primary HPLC separation column for performing a crude separation of the mixture, a primary set of trap columns arranged in parallel for capturing the crude fractions, one or more secondary HPLC separation columns for performing a fine separation of the resulting fine fractions. Each trap column includes a valve at each end, which valves control the ingress and egress of a flow of sample from a particular trap column. The valves are controlled by an automated software-driven controller, in a manner such that the crude and fine separations are performed concurrently, thereby reducing the time required for the overall separation of the crude mixture into fractions suitable for further use. |