Modification of a Gel Permeation Chromatograph for Automatic Sample Injection and On-Line Computer Data Recording

Abstract

Gel permeation chromatograms are usually subjected to mathematical analyses of varying degrees of complexity to obtain molecular weight distribution and analytical data. Hand reduction of the recorder output data is difficult and time consuming even on an occasional basis. This paper describes in detail the modifications necessary to adapt the Waters Gel Permeation Chromatograph Model 200 for on-line data acquisition by a computer equipped with an analog to digital converter (IBM 1800). Since the operation is done in the background mode, time sharing with several other users or instruments is possible. Modifications to the auto injection unit are also described. This system has proven to remove all of the usual hand data reduction steps and to be extremely flexible for nonroutine analyses.