adapter assembly and fig9 to 13 to providing access to the base assembly for maintenance fig3 is a schematic exploded front view of a column in accordance with the invention the column is made of strong inert materials such as stainless steel and other materials which are suitable for use in a gmp environment typical of the pharmaceutical industry the column 210 is supported on legs 204 having feet 206 which are adjustable in order to modify the height and or the level of the column the legs 204 support the column 210 which comprises a cylindrical housing or tube 212 separating a base assembly 263 at one end from an adapter assembly 215 at the other the tube 212 may typically be made from stainless steel or other strong inert materials adjacent to the adapter assembly 215 is a dispersion system comprising a nozzle 211 which includes a mobile phase pathway for the introduction of buffer or other suitable mobile phase liquids or chemicals materials to be separated and a liquid inlet 209 the tube 212 may be connected to the adapter assembly 215 and base assembly 263 by a drive system having one or more cylinders 234 the drive system may be a hydraulic system as shown or may be powered by other suitable means such as pneumatic or electrical means the.