High-performance modular spectrophotometric flow cell

Abstract

A high-performance modular flow cell is described, which can be used in photometric or spectrophotometric detector systems for analytical and preparative scale low-pressure liquid chromatography, flow injection and related techniques. The basic design is that of an inner absorption cell unit sandwiched between two rugged supports. The novel aspects of this sandwiched cell are the wide range of interchangeable flow cell units of different dimensions that can be used, and the way in which the fluid flow occurs, essentially eliminating problems with gas bubbles and giving rapid cell clearance. The cell is compact and its versatility is enhanced by using optical fibre bundles to transmit the light beam to the optical path of the cell and then from there to the detector.