JP2013160633A - Particle size distribution measuring apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a particle size distribution measuring apparatus capable of calculating particle size distribution of a particle group to be measured included in a specimen at a desired temperature.SOLUTION: A particle size distribution measuring apparatus 9 includes: a light source 1 for emitting measuring light; a detector 7 for detecting light intensity distribution; a sample cell arrangement part 30 for arranging a sample cell 5 in which a sample S including a particle group to be measured is stored between the light source 1 and the detector 7; a light intensity distribution acquisition part 41a for detecting and acquiring the light intensity distribution generated by applying measuring light from the light source 1 to the sample S by the detector 7; and a particle size distribution calculation part 41b for calculating particle size distribution of the particle group to be measured included in the sample S by using the light intensity distribution acquired by the light intensity distribution acquisition part 41a. Temperature adjustment members 31, 32 for adjusting a temperature of the sample cell 5 can be moved to a first position on an optical path around the sample cell 5 and a second position deviated from the optical path, and when applying measuring light from the light source 1 to the sample S, the temperature adjustment members 31, 32 are moved to the second position.

Description

  The present invention relates to a particle size distribution measuring apparatus using a sample cell, and more particularly to a laser diffraction particle size distribution measuring apparatus that measures the particle size distribution of a particle group in a small amount of sample containing the particle group at a high concentration.

  Laser diffraction particle size distribution analyzers detect the spatial intensity distribution of laser light diffracted and scattered by a group of particles by irradiating the group of particles dispersed in the medium with laser light (measurement light). The particle size distribution of the particle group is calculated by performing detection based on the Fraunhofer diffraction theory and Mie scattering theory from the measurement results. Such a calculation method based on Fraunhofer's diffraction theory or Mie's scattering theory is considered that the laser beam is scattered only once by particles. Therefore, if the concentration of the particle group in the medium is within an appropriate concentration range, the particle size distribution of the particle group can be calculated with high accuracy.

However, when the concentration of the particles in the medium is too high, the irradiated laser light is scattered by one particle to become scattered light, and multiple scattering that is scattered by another particle occurs. The error between the particle size distribution of the group and the particle size distribution of the actual particle group becomes large.
Thus, when measuring the particle size distribution of a particle group in a sample (specimen) containing the particle group at a high concentration such as paste or slurry, in order to reduce the generation of multiple scattered light, It is necessary to reduce the thickness.

Here, an example of a laser diffraction type particle size distribution measuring apparatus will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional particle size distribution measuring apparatus. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a sample cell. In FIG. 5, one direction horizontal to the ground is defined as an X direction, a direction horizontal to the ground and perpendicular to the X direction is defined as a Y direction, and an upward direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction is defined as a Z direction.
The particle size distribution measuring device 109 includes a sample cell 5 in which a sample (sample) S is accommodated, an installation table (sample cell arrangement unit) 130 having a laser light passage hole 130a, a laser light source 1, a collimator 2, and a transparent cover 3. A measurement optical system 120 having a condenser lens 6 and a ring detector (forward diffraction / scattered light sensor) 7, and a control unit 140 for controlling the entire particle size distribution measuring device 109 (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

A laser light source 1, a collimator 2, and a transparent cover 3 are arranged in order from the bottom as an irradiation optical system 110 under the particle size distribution measuring device 109.
An installation table 130 is disposed at the center of the particle size distribution measuring apparatus 109 in the vertical direction, and the sample cell 5 is mounted on the installation table 130.
In such a configuration of the irradiation optical system 110, the laser light generated by the laser light source 1 passes through the collimator 2 to become parallel light, and is irradiated onto the sample cell 5 so as to be directed upward (Z direction). . The parallel light has a circular cross section with a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the optical axis of about 1 cm ² . As a result, the laser light is diffracted and scattered by the particle group in the sample cell 5, and an intensity distribution pattern of the diffracted / scattered light is generated spatially.

On the upper part of the particle size distribution measuring device 109, a condenser lens 6 and a ring detector 7 are arranged as a measurement optical system 120 in order from the bottom. The ring detector 7 concentrically arranges a plurality of (for example, 64) photodetecting elements having ring-shaped or semi-ring-shaped light receiving surfaces with different radii so as to be centered on the optical axis of the condenser lens 6. It is arranged so that light having a diffraction / scattering angle corresponding to each position is incident on each light detection element. Therefore, the output signal of each light detection element represents the light intensity for each diffraction / scattering angle.
In such a configuration of the measurement optical system 120, the diffracted / scattered light within 60 ° with respect to the upward direction is condensed on the light receiving surface of the ring detector 7 via the condenser lens 6, and is diffracted in a ring shape.・ Become a scattered image.

The sample cell 5 includes a transparent glass plate (first substrate) 11 having a flat plate shape (thickness t, horizontal Y, vertical X) and a transparent glass plate (thickness t, horizontal Y, vertical X) ( A second substrate) 13. A concave portion (measuring concave portion) 12 for accommodating the sample S is formed in the central portion of the upper surface of the glass plate 11. The recess 12 has a circular shape with a cross-sectional area of about 1 cm ² in plan view, and the depth of the recess 12 is a set distance Δt (for example, 0.1 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less).

  Since the lower surface of the glass plate 13 is disposed so as to contact the upper surface of the glass plate 11, the distance between the lower surface of the glass plate 13 and the bottom surface of the recess 12 becomes the set distance Δt. Therefore, according to such a sample cell 5, if the sample S is accommodated in the recess 12, the thickness of the sample S can be set to a predetermined thickness Δt with respect to the optical axis of the laser beam. Generation of multiple scattered light can be suppressed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-72841

  Since the particle size distribution measuring apparatus 109 as described above can measure the particle size distribution of the particle group in the small amount of sample S containing the particle group at a high concentration, the protein such as biopharmaceuticals is a small amount and a high concentration sample. Since it is often S, it is conceivable to measure the protein dispersion / aggregation characteristics using the particle size distribution measuring device 109. However, the protein dispersion / aggregation characteristics vary depending on the temperature, and need to be evaluated at various preset temperatures (for example, 4 ° C. and human body temperature). However, in the particle size distribution measuring apparatus 109, even if a temperature adjusting member (metal plate having a Peltier element) is attached to the installation base 130, the cross-sectional area of the optical path (concave portion 12) through which the laser light or diffracted / scattered light passes is large Since the radiation of heat from 12 becomes large, the sample S such as protein cannot maintain the set temperature, and the problem that the dispersion / aggregation characteristics of the protein cannot be accurately evaluated arises.

Moreover, since the particle size distribution measuring apparatus 109 as described above measures a small amount of sample S containing a particle group at a high concentration, it is impossible to attach a stirring mechanism in the recess 12 of the sample cell 5. Therefore, since the sample S such as protein has viscosity, almost no convection occurs, so that the temperature of the entire sample S is not uniform and the temperature varies depending on the position of the sample S.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a particle size distribution measuring apparatus capable of calculating the particle size distribution of a group of particles to be measured included in a sample at a desired temperature.

  In order to solve the above problems, the particle size distribution measuring apparatus of the present invention includes a light source that emits measurement light, a detector that detects a light intensity distribution, and a sample cell that contains a sample containing a group of particles to be measured. A sample cell arrangement unit arranged on an optical path between a light source and a detector, and a light intensity distribution acquisition by detecting and acquiring a light intensity distribution generated by irradiating the sample with measurement light from the light source. A particle size distribution measuring apparatus comprising: a particle size distribution calculating unit that calculates a particle size distribution of a group of particles to be measured included in the sample using the light intensity distribution acquired by the light intensity distribution acquiring unit; A temperature adjusting member for adjusting the temperature of the sample cell is provided, and the temperature adjusting member is movable to a first position on the optical path around the sample cell and a second position not on the optical path. Irradiate the sample with the measurement light from the light source. When is possible to move the temperature adjusting member in the second position.

  According to the particle size distribution measuring apparatus of the present invention, when the sample is not irradiated with the measurement light from the light source, the temperature adjustment member having the desired set temperature is arranged at the first position, so that the sample is maintained at the desired set temperature. can do. When the sample is irradiated with the measurement light from the light source, the temperature adjustment member is moved to a second position that is not on the optical path either manually by the human or automatically by the control unit. Thereby, the particle size distribution of the particle group to be measured included in the sample at a desired set temperature can be calculated. Note that when the sample is irradiated with the measurement light from the light source, the temperature adjustment member is moved to the second position, but there is no problem because the measurement time (for example, several seconds) is short.

(Means and effects for solving other problems)
In the particle size distribution measuring apparatus of the present invention, the light intensity distribution acquisition unit may execute the movement of the temperature adjustment member to the second position.
According to the particle size distribution measuring apparatus of the present invention, when the sample is irradiated with the measurement light, the light intensity distribution acquisition unit automatically moves the temperature adjustment member to the second position.

In the particle size distribution measuring apparatus according to the present invention, the sample cell includes a flat plate-shaped transparent first substrate and a flat plate-shaped transparent second substrate, and the sample is placed on the upper surface of the first substrate. A recess for measurement is formed to be accommodated, and the lower surface of the second substrate is disposed so as to contact the upper surface of the first substrate, whereby the lower surface of the second substrate and the recess for measurement are arranged. The distance from the bottom surface may be the set distance.
Here, the “set distance” is an arbitrary distance determined in advance in consideration of the sample measured by the designer of the sample cell or the like, and is, for example, 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. The set distance is preferably substantially the same as the maximum particle diameter of the particles contained in the sample, or about several times (2 to 3 times) the maximum particle diameter.

  Further, in the particle size distribution measuring apparatus according to the present invention, the temperature adjusting member includes a flat plate-shaped substrate whose temperature can be adjusted, and the flat plate-shaped substrate is disposed so as to contact the first substrate or the second substrate. It may be possible to move between the first position and the second position arranged so as not to contact the first substrate or the second substrate.

The schematic block diagram which shows an example of the particle size distribution measuring apparatus which concerns on this invention. The front view of the sample cell arrangement | positioning part shown in FIG. The perspective view of the sample cell arrangement | positioning part shown in FIG. The schematic block diagram which shows an example of a sample cell. The schematic block diagram which shows the conventional particle size distribution measuring apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and includes various modes without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a particle size distribution measuring apparatus according to the present invention. 2 is a front view of the sample cell arrangement portion shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the sample cell arrangement portion shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, the right direction, which is one direction horizontal to the ground, is the Z direction, the direction horizontal to the ground and perpendicular to the Z direction is the Y direction, and the upward direction perpendicular to the Z direction and the Y direction is the X direction. And The same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as those in the particle size distribution measuring apparatus 109 described above.
The particle size distribution measuring device 9 includes a sample cell 5 in which a sample (sample) S is accommodated, a sample cell placement unit 30 for placing the sample cell 5, a laser light source 1, a collimator 2, and a transparent cover 3. A measurement optical system 20 having an optical system 10, a condenser lens 6 and a ring detector (forward diffraction / scattered light sensor) 7, and a control unit 40 that controls the entire particle size distribution measuring device 9 are provided.

On the left part of the particle size distribution measuring device 9, a laser light source 1, a collimator 2, and a transparent cover 3 are arranged in order from the left as the irradiation optical system 10. In such a configuration of the irradiation optical system 10, the laser light generated by the laser light source 1 passes through the collimator 2 to become parallel light, and is irradiated to the sample cell 5 so as to be directed in the right direction (Z direction). . The parallel light has a circular cross section with a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the optical axis of about 1 cm ² .

  A condenser lens 6 and a ring detector 7 are arranged in order from the left as the measurement optical system 20 on the right part of the particle size distribution measuring device 9. The ring detector 7 has a plurality of (for example, 64) photodetectors having ring-shaped or semi-ring-shaped light receiving surfaces with different radii arranged concentrically with the optical axis as the center, Light having a diffraction / scattering angle corresponding to each position is incident on each photodetecting element. Therefore, the output signal of each light detection element represents the light intensity for each diffraction / scattering angle. In such a configuration of the measurement optical system 20, the diffracted / scattered light within 60 ° from the optical axis is condensed on the light receiving surface of the ring detector 7 via the condenser lens 6 and is diffracted / scattered in a ring shape. It comes to tie a statue.

A sample cell arrangement unit 30 is arranged at the center in the left-right direction of the particle size distribution measuring apparatus 9. The sample cell placement unit 30 includes an attachment member 33 having a recess 33 a formed on the upper surface, and temperature adjustment members 31 and 32 that adjust the temperature of the sample cell 5.
The lower end of the sample cell 5 is inserted into the recess 33a of the mounting member 33. Thereby, the recess 12 of the sample cell 5 is arranged on the optical path between the laser light source 1 and the ring detector 7.

  The temperature adjustment members 31 and 32 include a flat plate-shaped (horizontal Y + β, vertical X + α) front plate 31 and a flat plate-shaped (horizontal Y + β, vertical X + α) rear plate 32. The front plate 31 is erected on the upper surface of the mounting member 33 so as to come into contact with the front (left) side of the glass plate (second substrate) 13 of the sample cell 5 inserted in the recess 33a of the mounting member 33. The rear plate 32 is erected on the upper surface of the mounting member 33 so as to come into contact with the rear surface (right) side of the glass plate (first substrate) 11 of the sample cell 5 inserted into the recess 33a of the mounting member 33. Yes.

The front plate 31 includes a flat plate-shaped upper fixed jacket portion 31b, and a flat plate shape (horizontal Y + β, vertical X ₁ ) that can move between a first position and a second position (flat plate substrate) 31a. And a flat plate-shaped lower fixed jacket portion 31c. The first position is a position on the optical path between the laser light source 1 and the ring detector 7, the second position is a position not on the optical path between the laser light source 1 and the ring detector 7, and the middle shutter portion 31a is The first position and the second position are slid in the Y direction by a control signal from the control unit 40.
Further, the temperature of the middle shutter portion 31a, the upper fixed jacket portion 31b, and the lower fixed jacket portion 31c can be adjusted to a desired temperature by a control signal from the control unit 40. For example, a Peltier element, various heaters, piping A metal plate or the like having a connected circulation thermostat or the like.

The rear plate 32 has a flat plate-shaped upper fixed jacket portion 32b, and a flat plate shape (horizontal Y + β, vertical X ₂ ) that can move between the first position and the second position (flat plate substrate) 32a. And a flat fixed lower jacket portion 32c. The first position is a position on the optical path between the laser light source 1 and the ring detector 7, the second position is a position not on the optical path between the laser light source 1 and the ring detector 7, and the middle shutter portion 32a is The first position and the second position are slid in the Y direction by a control signal from the control unit 40. Since the diffracted and scattered light is emitted from the concave portion 12 of the sample cell 5, the longitudinal X ₂ Middle shutter portion 32a is larger than the vertical X ₁ Middle shutter portion 31a.
Further, the temperature of the middle shutter portion 32a, the upper fixed jacket portion 32b, and the lower fixed jacket portion 32c can be adjusted to a desired temperature by a control signal from the control unit 40. For example, a Peltier element, various heaters, piping A metal plate or the like having a connected circulation thermostat or the like.

  The control unit 40 includes a CPU 41, and further includes a display device 43 having a monitor screen and an input device 42 having a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. Further, the functions processed by the CPU 41 will be described in block form. A light intensity distribution acquisition unit 41a that detects and acquires the light intensity distribution by the ring detector 7, and a particle size distribution calculation unit 41b that calculates the particle size distribution of the particle group to be measured. And have.

The light intensity distribution acquisition unit 41a emits light generated by irradiating the sample S with laser light from the laser light source 1 immediately after moving the middle shutter portions 31a and 32a of the temperature adjustment members 31 and 32 to the second position. Control to detect and acquire the intensity distribution by the ring detector 7 is performed.
For example, first, the middle shutter portion 31a of the temperature adjustment member 31 is disposed at the first position, and the middle shutter portion 32a of the temperature adjustment member 32 is disposed at the first position. Next, when the set temperature is input using the input device 42, the temperatures of the middle shutter portion 31a, the upper fixed jacket portion 31b, and the lower fixed jacket portion 31c are set to the set temperatures, and the middle shutter portion 32a and the upper portion are set. The temperature of the fixed jacket portion 32b and the lower fixed jacket portion 32c is set to a set temperature. Next, the lower end of the sample cell 5 is inserted. When the sample S reaches a desired set temperature, the middle shutter portion 31a of the temperature adjustment member 31 is slid to the second position and immediately after the middle shutter portion 32a of the temperature adjustment member 32 is slid to the second position. The sample S is irradiated with laser light from the laser light source 1. Thereby, the light intensity distribution is detected and acquired by the ring detector 7.

The particle size distribution calculation unit 41b performs control to calculate the particle size distribution of the measured particle group using the light intensity distribution acquired by the light intensity distribution acquisition unit 41a.
As described above, according to the particle size distribution measuring device 9, the particle size distribution of the particle group to be measured included in the sample S can be calculated at a desired set temperature.

<Other embodiments>
(1) In the particle size distribution measuring apparatus 9 described above, the temperature adjustment members 31 and 32 are provided on the front and rear sides of the sample cell 5, but the temperature adjustment member is provided only on one side of the sample cell 5. It is good.

(2) In the particle size distribution measuring apparatus 9 described above, the front plate 31 and the rear plate 32 are configured to have an upper fixed jacket portion, a middle shutter portion, and a lower fixed jacket portion, but the upper fixed jacket portion and the middle shutter. It is good also as a structure which unites a part and a lower fixed jacket part, and moves all the parts.
(3) In the particle size distribution measuring apparatus 9 described above, the light intensity distribution acquisition unit 41a has been configured to move the middle shutter portions 31a and 32a of the temperature adjustment members 31 and 32 to the second position. The middle shutter portions 31a and 32a of the temperature adjustment members 31 and 32 may be moved to the second position.

  The present invention can be used for a laser diffraction type particle size distribution measuring device for measuring the particle size distribution of a particle group in a sample.

1: Laser light source 5: Sample cell 7: Ring detector (detector)
9: Laser diffraction particle size distribution measuring device 30: Sample cell placement unit 31, 32: Temperature adjustment member 41a: Light intensity distribution acquisition unit 41b: Particle size distribution calculation unit

Claims (4)

A light source that emits measurement light;
A detector for detecting the light intensity distribution;
A sample cell placement unit for placing a sample cell containing a sample containing a group of particles to be measured on an optical path between a light source and a detector;
A light intensity distribution acquisition unit that detects and acquires a light intensity distribution generated by irradiating the sample with measurement light from the light source; and
A particle size distribution measuring apparatus comprising a particle size distribution calculating unit that calculates a particle size distribution of a group of particles to be measured included in the sample, using the light intensity distribution acquired by the light intensity distribution acquiring unit,
A temperature adjusting member for adjusting the temperature of the sample cell;
The temperature adjusting member is movable to a first position on the optical path around the sample cell and a second position not on the optical path,
When irradiating the sample with the measurement light from the light source, the temperature adjustment member is moved to the second position.   The particle size distribution measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light intensity distribution acquisition unit executes the movement of the temperature adjustment member to a second position. The sample cell includes a flat plate-shaped transparent first substrate and a flat plate-shaped transparent second substrate,
On the upper surface of the first substrate, a measurement recess for accommodating the sample is formed,
The lower surface of the second substrate is disposed so as to be in contact with the upper surface of the first substrate, so that the distance between the lower surface of the second substrate and the bottom surface of the measurement recess becomes a set distance. The particle size distribution measuring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The temperature adjusting member includes a flat plate-shaped substrate whose temperature can be adjusted,
The flat plate-shaped substrate has a first position arranged so as to contact the first substrate or the second substrate, and a second position arranged so as not to contact the first substrate or the second substrate. The particle size distribution measuring device according to claim 3, wherein the particle size distribution measuring device is movable.

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