System and method for analysing the composition of a quenched flow reaction liquid
The present invention relates to a system for analysing the composition of a quenched flow reaction liquid comprising a quenched flow reactor, and a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) apparatus; wherein the quenched flow reactor is in fluid communication with the HPLC apparatus.
1. A system for analyzing the composition of a quenched flow reaction liquid comprising a quenched flow reactor, and a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) apparatus; wherein the quenched flow reactor is in fluid communication with the HPLC apparatus, wherein the quenched flow reactor and the HPLC apparatus are connected by a bypass valve.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the quenched flow reactor comprises:
a first reagent release mechanism,
a second reagent release mechanism,
a reaction area,
a quenching reagent release mechanism, and
a quenching area.
3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the first reagent release mechanism is automated and/or wherein the second reagent release mechanism is automated and/or wherein the quenching reagent release mechanism is automated;
and/or wherein the first reagent release mechanism is a syringe and/or wherein the second reagent release mechanism is a syringe and/or the quenching reagent release mechanism is a syringe.
4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the HPLC apparatus comprises a HPLC injection valve and a column.
5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the HPLC injection valve comprises a HPLC injection valve loop for holding a proportion of the quenched flow reaction liquid prior to injecting the proportion of the quenched flow reaction liquid into the column.
6. The system according to claim 4 , wherein in a first position, the bypass valve directs a first proportion of the quenched flow reaction liquid to a non-HPLC apparatus location and wherein in a second position, the bypass valve directs a second proportion of the quenched flow reaction liquid into the HPLC injection valve.
7. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the reaction area comprises a tube, and/or wherein the quenching area comprises a mixer.
8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the length of the tube can be varied.
9. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the length of the tube can be selected from at least 2 predetermined lengths.
10. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the length of the tube or each tube is about 1 cm to about 30 cm.
11. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the tube comprises a bore and the diameter of the bore is about 0.2 mm to about 2 mm.
12. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the reaction area comprises a pathway extension valve, wherein adjusting the pathway extension valve varies the length of the tube.
13. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising an analysis apparatus in fluid communication with the HPLC apparatus.
14. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the first reagent release mechanism comprises a prereaction system.
15. A method for analyzing the composition of a quenched flow reaction liquid comprising:
(a) providing a first reagent,
(b) providing a second reagent,
(c) mixing the first reagent and the second reagent in a reaction area,
(d) allowing a reaction to take place between the first reagent and the second reagent in the reaction area for a predetermined reaction time,
(e) quenching the reaction in a quenching area to form a quenched flow reaction liquid,
(f) directly transferring a proportion of the quenched flow reaction liquid into a HPLC apparatus, and
(g) analyzing the quenched flow reaction liquid by HPLC to form an HPLC analyte, wherein the method is performed in a system according to claim 1 .