Apparatus and a method for treating a sample by planar separation using controlled pressurized flow

摘要

Apparatus for treating a sample by pressurized planar separation comprises a chamber (1) housing a stationary phase (2) provided at a first location (6) with a sample to be treated, pressurization means (8) for pressurizing a top face (5) of the stationary phase, dispenser means (10) for dispensing a moving phase at a second location (7) of the stationary phase, a feed inlet (13) for feeding the moving phase, and a removal outlet (18) for removing the moving phase from the chamber. The apparatus also comprises feed means (23) for feeding the inlet (13) with moving phase, a sensor (29) for measuring the pressure of the moving phase upstream from the inlet, a valve (31) placed downstream from the outlet to vary the flow rate of the moving phase leaving the chamber, and a module (25) for controlling the valve as a function of a comparison between the measured pressure and a selected threshold pressure, the valve (31) being opened when the measured pressure becomes greater than or equal to the threshold pressure.