JPH03249902A - Centrifugal concentrating machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an apparatus used for concentrating or drying biological substances, chemical substances, etc., in which the solvent is vaporized by reducing the pressure while applying centrifugal force to the sample solution. The present invention relates to a centrifugal concentrator for concentrating or drying a sample.

(Prior Art) A centrifugal concentrator is a centrifugal chamber that is sealed to form a centrifugal concentration chamber, and the centrifugal concentration chamber can be brought into a reduced pressure state using a vacuum pump or the like. By applying reduced pressure, the solvent of the sample solution can be evaporated and removed, allowing the sample to be concentrated and dried.

At this time, bumping of the sample solution can be prevented by applying centrifugal force. In addition, since the sample solution gathers at the bottom of the centrifuge tube due to centrifugal force, the sample can be easily collected.

4th [i! shows an example of a conventional centrifugal concentrator.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a centrifugal concentration chamber, which is surrounded by an outer wall 4 and a lid 6, and is connected to an exhaust system so that it can be brought into a reduced pressure state. A centrifugal rotor 8 is provided in the centrifugal concentration chamber 2.
A centrifugal tube 10 is attached to the. The centrifuge tube 10 contains a sample solution.

The centrifugal rotor 8 is rotationally driven by a motor 12 via a rotating shaft 14 . The rotating shaft 14 is rotatably supported on the outer wall 6 in an airtight manner.

When a sample solution is concentrated using such a centrifugal concentrator, the temperature of the sample decreases due to the heat of vaporization, and eventually freezes. In a frozen state, the rate of vaporization slows down.

Concentration takes time. Therefore, a heater 22 and a temperature sensor 24 are provided on the outer wall 4 of the centrifugal concentration chamber 2, so that the centrifugal concentration chamber 2 can be heated by a temperature adjustment section 26.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) Even if an attempt is made to heat the sample solution in the centrifuge tube 10 by heating the outer wall 4 with the heater 22, since the centrifugal concentration chamber 2 is in a reduced pressure state, the heat from the outer wall 4 is transferred to the rotating shaft. 14, and it is almost impossible to heat the sample.

If the centrifugal rotor 8 is sufficiently heated before reducing the pressure in the centrifugal concentration chamber 2, the temperature of the sample can be maintained for a while due to the heat capacity of the centrifugal rotor 8. However, preheating takes time. Once the centrifugal rotor 8 starts rotating, it cannot be heated, and if the centrifugal rotor 8 gets cold, the concentration efficiency will decrease, so it is necessary to preheat the centrifugal rotor 8 to a higher temperature than necessary. be. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the sample will cause bumping or denaturation.

It is technically difficult to provide a heater in the centrifugal rotor 8, and there are problems in terms of reliability and cost.

The present invention provides a centrifugal concentrator capable of efficiently concentrating or drying a sample solution by bringing the centrifugal concentration chamber into a reduced pressure state and heating the sample even when the centrifugal rotor is rotating. The purpose is to

The present invention also includes: The purpose of this is to detect the temperature of the centrifugal rotor and control the heating of the sample so as not to overheat the sample solution.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In the centrifugal concentrator of the present invention, the centrifugal concentrator chamber to be reduced in pressure is provided with a centrifugal rotor to which a centrifuge tube is attached,
Further, the centrifugal concentration chamber is provided with heating means for heating at least the sample in the centrifuge tube in a non-contact manner using electromagnetic waves.

In the present invention, the heating means heats the centrifugal rotor, and the centrifugal concentration chamber is further provided with a temperature sensor that non-contactly detects the temperature of the centrifugal rotor, and a detection signal from the temperature sensor is used to control the heating. Temperature regulating means are provided.

The heating means is a means such as an infrared lamp or an incandescent lamp that applies electromagnetic waves to a rotating part such as a centrifugal rotor, centrifugal tube, or sample solution to heat it in a non-contact manner.

When the sample in the centrifuge tube is heated by heating the centrifuge rotor with a heating means, the temperature of the centrifuge rotor can be detected in a non-contact manner by using a temperature sensor such as an infrared sensor.

(Function) When the centrifugal concentration chamber is reduced in pressure and the heating means generates electromagnetic waves while rotating the centrifugal rotor, the sample in the centrifugal tube can be heated via the centrifugal rotor or directly.

When a temperature sensor is provided to detect the temperature of the centrifugal rotor, the temperature can be adjusted so as not to damage the sample.

(Example) FIG. 1 represents one embodiment.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a centrifugal concentration chamber, which is surrounded by an outer wall 4 and a lid 6, and is connected to an exhaust system so that it can be brought into a reduced pressure state. A centrifugal rotor 8 is provided in the centrifugal concentration chamber 2.
A centrifugal tube 10 is attached to the. The centrifuge tube 10 contains a sample solution.

The centrifugal rotor 8 is rotationally driven by a motor 12 via a rotating shaft 14 . The rotating shaft 14 is rotatably supported on the outer wall 6 in an airtight manner.

A heater 22 and a temperature sensor 24 are installed on the outer wall 4 of the centrifugal concentration chamber 2.
is provided, and the centrifugal concentration chamber 2 is controlled by the temperature control section 26.
can be heated.

The centrifugal concentration chamber 2 is equipped with an infrared lamp 20 as a non-contact heating means.
is provided so that the sample solution in the centrifuge tube 10 can be heated by the infrared rays 21 from the infrared lamp 20 via the centrifugal rotor 8.

As an exhaust system, a vacuum pump 1 is connected via a cooling trap 16.
8 is provided. The cooling trap 16 is the vacuum pump 1
It is provided for the protection of 8.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

The centrifuge tube 10 containing the sample is attached to the centrifuge rotor 8, and the lid 6 is attached.
is closed, the centrifugal concentration chamber 2 is reduced in pressure by the vacuum pump 18, and the centrifugal rotor 8 is rotated by the motor 12. The temperature controller 26 maintains the temperature of the outer wall 4 at a constant temperature using the heater 22 and the temperature sensor 24, and turns on the infrared lamp 20 to heat the centrifugal rotor 8 and heat the sample solution in the centrifuge tube 10.

When the centrifugal concentration chamber 2 is in a reduced pressure state, the solvent of the sample solution evaporates and the heat of vaporization is taken away, and the temperature of the sample solution decreases, but since it is heated by the infrared lamp 20 via the centrifugal rotor 8. , the temperature of the sample solution is prevented from decreasing, and the solvent is efficiently vaporized.

The heater 22 for heating the outer wall 4 and the temperature sensor 24 for temperature control can be omitted.

An infrared lamp 20 is provided as a heating means.

In addition to infrared lights, other heat sources include incandescent lights (visible light)
, solar light (visible, ultraviolet), microwave, etc. can be used. When using microwaves, the centrifugal rotor 8 and the like must be made of non-metallic material.

FIG. 2 represents another embodiment.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the centrifugal rotor 8 has an irradiation hole 28 laterally opened for directly irradiating the sample solution in the centrifuge tube 10 with light.

A laser 30 is provided on the side of the centrifugal rotor 8 in order to irradiate a laser beam from the irradiation hole 28 to heat the sample solution. A protrusion 32 is provided on the lower surface of the centrifugal rotor 8, and a position sensor 34 such as a photo sensor is provided to detect the protrusion 32. 36 is a control unit which inputs the signal from the position sensor 34 and oscillates the laser 30 only when the centrifuge tube 10 comes to a position facing the laser 30, heating only the sample solution and not heating the centrifugal rotor 8. The laser 30 is controlled as follows.

FIG. 3 shows yet another embodiment.

Compared to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an infrared sensor 38 is provided facing the centrifugal rotor 8 to detect the surface temperature of the centrifugal rotor 8. Reference numeral 40 denotes a temperature control unit which inputs the detection signal of the infrared sensor 38 and controls the output of the infrared lamp 20 so that the temperature of the centrifugal rotor 8 reaches a set temperature.

By providing the infrared sensor 38, the temperature of the centrifugal rotor 8 can be detected and displayed, and the operator can be informed of the sample temperature and take appropriate measures.

Furthermore, by controlling the output of the infrared lamp 20, conditions for rapid concentration without damaging the sample can be automatically maintained.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, the centrifugal concentrator is equipped with a heating means for non-contactly heating at least a sample using electromagnetic waves such as infrared rays in the centrifugal concentrator chamber. A simple structure that can be added to reduce the temperature of the sample solution.
Samples can be quickly concentrated and dried while preventing freezing.

By providing a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the centrifugal rotor in the present invention, it becomes possible to inform the operator of the condition of the sample and to perform efficient concentration and drying without damaging the sample.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing one embodiment, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing main parts of another embodiment, FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing still another embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a conventional FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a centrifugal concentrator. 2...Centrifugal concentration chamber, 4...Outer wall, 6...
...Lid, 8...Centrifugal rotor, 10...
...Centrifugal tube, 12...Motor, 18...
...Vacuum pump, 20...Infrared light, 28...
...Irradiation hole, 30...Laser, 32...
...Protrusion, 34...Position sensor, 36...
...Control unit, 38...Infrared sensor, 40...
...Temperature control section.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) The centrifugal concentrating chamber to be depressurized is equipped with a centrifugal rotor to which a centrifuge tube is attached, and the centrifugal concentrating chamber is equipped with at least a heating means that non-contactly heats the sample in the centrifuge tube using electromagnetic waves. centrifugal concentrator. (2) The heating means heats the centrifugal rotor, and the centrifugal concentration chamber is further provided with a temperature sensor that non-contactly detects the temperature of the centrifugal rotor, and the temperature is controlled by the detection signal of the temperature sensor. The centrifugal concentrator according to claim 1, further comprising a regulating section.