A 3D-metal-printed UV detector specifically designed for real-time monitoring of an open column chromatography fraction

We developed a three-dimensional (3D)-metal-printed ultraviolet (UV) detector with an aluminum alloy housing that allows it to withstand low-polarity organic solvents. The detector can be attached to the lower end of an open chromatography column to realize real-time monitoring of the separated and eluted colorless fractions. Open column chromatography is commonly used for the separation and purification of mixtures. However, open column chromatography is never coupled with UV detectors. In the context of open chromatography column experiments, thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is typically employed for the qualitative analysis of separated products. Nevertheless, this approach is both cumbersome and time-consuming. Therefore, to reduce workload and save time, we developed a 3D-metal-printed UV detector, which exhibits good stability and linearity (R 2 > 0.99). The feasibility of real-time monitoring using this 3D-metal-printed UV detector was verified by subjecting the mixture to separation and monitoring. On elution of a substance exhibiting light-absorbing properties, a decrease in voltage is observed. At this point, the collection of the fractions may be initiated to achieve the effect of substance tracking. The utilization of the 3D-metal-printed UV detector for real-time monitoring enables the elimination of the time previously spent on the collection of all fractions and the subsequent determination of whether the fractions contain the substance by TLC. It is also capable of determining the separation effect of the mixture based on the curve monitored in real time. Moreover, the device can modify the dimensions of the interface, thereby facilitating its utilization in conjunction with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the real-time monitoring of the separation effect of the column. The device is characterized by low cost and small size.