JPH11183483A - Analyzing system for sample liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sample liquid-analyzing system which stabilizes a reaction line, facilitates change of analysis items and reduces a total cost. SOLUTION: A plurality of joint valves 120A-120D set at the upstream side and downstream side of a reaction unit 111 are switched, so that a reaction line can be switched without changing a set-up of the reaction line as in the prior art. A detector 130, an ink-jet valve 160, etc., not related to mixing, a chemical reaction of various reagents corresponding to various analysis items, a carrier solution and a sample liquid can be shared accordingly.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sample liquid analysis system for analyzing a sample liquid over a wide range of items.
For example, the present invention relates to a sample liquid analysis system in FIA.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The FIA is a technique in which various reagent solutions and a carrier solution are flowed at a constant flow rate in a thin tube (inner diameter is about 0.5 mm), and a small amount of a sample solution is injected into the carrier solution. In the process of flowing through the tube (reaction line), a mixing / chemical reaction of these various reagent solutions and a sample solution is performed, and this is led to a detector to quantify various components. In such an analysis system, the chemical reaction does not need to be detected at equilibrium, because the chemical reaction takes place in a regular liquid stream and is delivered to the detector in a very precise time. Measurement can be performed in a proper state, and quick measurement is possible.

FIG. 8 shows a unit configuration used for one reaction line in the analysis system. That is, in the unit shown in the figure, for example, a reagent liquid bottle 1, a carrier liquid bottle 2, and a waste liquid bottle 3 are prepared. The reagent liquid in the reagent liquid bottle 1 is sent to the three-way joint 30 via the tube 10, the pump head 21 of the double plunger pump 20, and the tube 11. The carrier liquid in the carrier liquid bottle 2 is supplied to the tube 12, the pump head 22 of the double plunger pump 20, the tube 1
3. It is sent to the three-way joint 30 via the injection valve 40 and the tube 14. Here, a sample liquid to be analyzed is injected into the carrier liquid via the injection valve 40 in a fixed amount, and the sample liquid injected into the carrier liquid is mixed at the three-way joint 30. The excess sample liquid injected by the injection valve 40 is sent to the waste liquid bottle 3 via the tube 18.

When the mixed liquid is sent to the constant temperature water tank 50 via the tube 15, the reaction is promoted at a predetermined temperature while passing through the reaction coil 51 of the constant temperature water tank 50,
After being sent to the detector 60 via the tube 16 and subjected to a predetermined analysis, it is sent via the tube 17 to the waste liquid bottle 3 side.

[0005]

In the unit configuration used for one reaction line in the analysis system as described above, it is possible to change the analysis item by changing the reaction line each time. ,
Such a rearrangement of the reaction line is not only time-consuming, but also involves a troublesome rearrangement operation, and it is difficult to stabilize the reaction line due to various conditions.

[0006] Such a problem can be solved by, for example, setting up a plurality of systems equipped with reaction lines dedicated to multiple items. However, every time the number of analysis items is increased, the entire system becomes large and the cost of the entire system is reduced. The problem that hinders is derived. The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and aims to stabilize a reaction line, easily change an analysis item, and reduce the cost of the entire system. An object of the present invention is to provide a sample liquid analysis system that can be designed.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object,
In the sample solution analysis system according to the present invention, various reagent solutions and a carrier solution are allowed to flow at a constant flow rate in a thin tube, and a certain amount of the sample solution is injected into the carrier solution and flows through the tube. It has a reaction unit for mixing and chemically reacting these various reagent solutions, carrier liquids and sample liquids in the process, and a detector for measuring a change in color of the mixed and chemically reacted liquid from the reaction unit. In the sample liquid analysis system, a plurality of joint valves having a plurality of tube connection ports are interposed on the upstream side and the downstream side of the reaction unit.

In the sample liquid analysis system according to the present invention configured as described above, by switching a plurality of joint valves provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the reaction unit, the conventional reaction line is connected. The switching of the reaction line is performed without performing the rearrangement. In addition, by connecting the reaction unit corresponding to each analysis item to the tube connection port of the joint valve via the tube, it is possible to mix / mix various reagent liquids, carrier liquids and sample liquids corresponding to various analysis items. It is possible to share a pump device detector or the like that is not involved in a chemical reaction. Furthermore, by making the communication hole of the valve body and the communication hole of the valve body coincide with each other by the rotation of the valve body, the tube connection port is switched, so that the analysis items can be easily changed. Become.

Furthermore, the reaction units corresponding to the respective analysis items are removably mounted on the reaction block mounted on the system body, so that not only the compactness can be achieved, but also the replacement of the reaction unit can be achieved. Is
This is possible by replacing the tube connected to the reaction unit with the tube connection port of the joint valve, and the exchange of the reaction unit is facilitated. It is possible to respond to multi-item analysis.

[0010] Further, since the reaction block is removably mounted to the system main body, in replacing the reaction block, the number of replacement of the tubes with respect to the tube connection port of the joint valve is reduced. This is effective when the number of reaction units corresponding to the analysis items to be changed is large, since the work of replacing the reaction block becomes easy. Further, by using the detector as an absorptiometer that detects the concentration of the analysis component as a color change, the concentration of the component of the mixture of the sample solution to be analyzed to be injected into the reagent solution is detected as the color change. be able to.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a sample liquid analysis system according to the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a reaction block of the analysis system, FIG. 3 is a front view showing a switching line system of the reaction block, and FIG.
5 is a perspective view showing the concept of the switching line system, FIG.
Is a partially cutaway sectional view showing details of the 8-way joint valve of the reaction block, FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the operation of the 8-way joint valve, and FIG. 7 is a view showing the operation of the 8-way joint valve. It is a timing chart shown.

A system main body 101 of an analysis system 100 shown in FIG.
A pressure gauge 140, a degassing device 150, an injection valve 160, pump devices 170 and 180, a photoreactor 190, a degassing device 200, and a tray 220 are provided. Here, the reaction block 110 is removably mountable to the system main body 101.

On the upper side of the system main body 101, an LED 102 for displaying various operations and a power button 10 are provided.
3, a wash button 104, a measurement button 105, a discharge end button 106, and a start button 107 are provided. Further, on the left side of the system main body 101, there is provided a selection button 108 operated when selecting an analysis item. Further, on the tray 220, for example, a reagent liquid bottle 221, carrier liquid bottles 222 and 223, and a waste liquid bottle 225 are placed.

A reaction block 110 shown in FIG. 2 includes, for example, eight reaction units 1 corresponding to a target analysis item.
11 are provided, and these reaction units 111
It is configured to be detachably attached to the reaction block 110. The carrier liquid and the reagent liquid from the reagent liquid bottle 221 and the carrier liquid bottles 222 and 223 are taken into the front part of the unit main body 112 of each reaction unit 111 via a tube (not shown), or the detector shown in FIG. Tube connectors 113a to 113h which are used as outlets to 130 are provided. Further, inside the unit main body 112, a temperature controller 114 and a reaction coil unit 115 are provided. The reaction coil unit 115 is provided with a heater 116 whose temperature is adjusted by the temperature controller 114 and a temperature detection sensor 117 for detecting a temperature heated by the heater 116. Further, inside the unit main body 112, reagent solutions from the reagent solution bottle 221 and the carrier solution bottles 222 and 223 which are taken in through the tube connector 113,
A three-way joint 118 is provided for mixing the carrier liquid and a sample liquid to be analyzed, which will be described later, and for sending the mixed liquid to the detector 130 side.

Further, the reaction block 110 includes:
For example, a disc-shaped 8-way joint valve 120A-12
0D is provided. At the center of the valve body 120a of each of these eight-way joint valves 120A to 120D,
As shown in FIG. 3, a reagent solution or a carrier solution from the reagent solution bottle 221 or the carrier solution bottles 222 and 223 or a sample solution to be described later is taken in via a tube 121 or sent to the detector 130 side. A tube connection port 122 is provided. In addition, around the eight-way joint valves 120A to 120D, eight tube connection ports 123 for selectively switching the flow paths of the reagent solution, the carrier liquid, and the sample solution taken in from the tube connection port 122. Is provided. The number of the tube connection ports 123 is not limited to eight, and may be seven or less or nine or more.

These eight-way joint valves 120A-1
Each tube connection port 123 of 20D is connected to a tube connector 113a to 113h corresponding to the tube connector 113 of the reaction unit 111 via a tube 124.

For the connection, for example, in the case of the 8-way joint valve 120A, the 8-way joint valve 120A
The first tube connection port 123 of A in A corresponds to (A-1) of the tube connector 113a, and the second tube connection port 123 of A in the tube connector 113a.
In (A-2) of (b), the third tube connection port 123 of (A) is connected to (A-3) of the tube connector 113c.
The fourth tube connection port 123 of A is placed in the tube connector 113d (A-4), and the fifth tube connection port 123 of A is placed in the tube connector 1d.
13e (A-5), the sixth tube connection port 123 of the A is connected to the (A-
6), the seventh tube connection port 123 of A is the (A-7) of the tube connector 113g, and the eighth tube connection port 123 of the A is (A-8) of the tube connector 113h. Respectively.

In the case of the eight-way joint valve 120B, the first tube connection port 123 of B of the eight-way joint valve 120B is connected to the tube connector 113a.
(B-1) shows the second tube connection port 1 of the above B
23 corresponds to (B-2) of the tube connector 113b,
The third tube connection port 123 of B is located at (B-3) of the tube connector 113c, and the fourth tube connection port 123 of B is located at the tube connector 113c.
In (B-4) of d, the fifth tube connection port 123 of B is connected to (B-5) of the tube connector 113e.
The sixth tube connection port 123 of B is located at (B-6) of the tube connector 113f, and the seventh tube connection port 123 of B is located at the tube connector 1f.
At 13 g of (B-7), the eighth tube connection port 123 of the C is connected to the (B-
8).

Further, in the case of the eight-way joint valve 120C, the first tube connecting port 123 of C of the eight-way joint valve 120C is connected to the tube connector 113a.
(C-1) shows the second tube connection port 1 of the above C
23 corresponds to (C-2) of the tube connector 113b,
The third tube connection port 123 of the C is located at (C-3) of the tube connector 113c, and the fourth tube connection port 123 of the C is located at the tube connector 113c.
In (C-4) of d, the fifth tube connection port 123 of C is connected to (C-5) of the tube connector 113e.
The sixth tube connection port 123 of the C is located at (C-6) of the tube connector 113f, and the seventh tube connection port 123 of the C is located at the tube connector 1f.
At 13 g of (C-7), the eighth tube connection port 123 of the C is connected to the (C-
8).

Furthermore, an eight-way joint valve 120D
In this case, the first tube connection port 123 of D of the eight-way joint valve 120D is connected to the tube connector 11.
3 (D-1), the second tube connection port 123 of D is connected to (D-2) of the tube connector 113b.
The third tube connection port 123 of D is located at (D-3) of the tube connector 113c, and the fourth tube connection port 123 of D is located at the tube connector 1c.
13D at (D-4), the fifth tube connection port 123 of D is connected to (D-
5), the sixth tube connection port 123 of D is the (D-6) of the tube connector 113f, and the seventh tube connection port 123 of the D is (D-7) of the tube connector 113g. In addition, the eighth tube connection port 123 of D corresponds to (D-8) of the tube connector 113h.

As described above, the 8-way joint valve 1
The combination of the reaction units 20A to 120D with the reaction units 111 corresponding to the target analysis items, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in the conceptual diagram of, the detector 130 and the injection valve 160 can be shared.

Here, the 8-way joint valve 120 is used.
For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the valve bodies 120a of A to 120D are provided with communication holes 125 extending radially so as to communicate with the tube connection ports 123. At the center of the valve body 120a, a valve body 127 attached to a drive shaft 126a of a stepping motor 126 is rotatably mounted. A center hole 128 communicating with the tube connecting port 122 of the valve body 120a is provided at a center portion of the valve body 127, and the valve body 127 communicates with the center hole 128 to communicate with the valve body 127. A communication hole 129 extending up to the side of is provided.

As shown in FIG. 6, the valve 127 is rotated by the driving of the stepping motor 126, and the communication hole 129 of the valve 127 coincides with one of the communication holes 125 of the valve body 120a. , Valve body 12
0a of the tube connection port 122 and the tube connection port 12
Communication with 3 is established. Next, the operation of the above-described analysis system 100 will be described.

First, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the reagent liquid bottle 221 filled with a reagent liquid and the carrier liquid bottle 222 (or 22) filled with various carrier liquids.
3) and a waste liquid bottle 225 are prepared. The reagent liquid in the reagent liquid bottle 221 is supplied to the tube 226 and the pump device 170.
(Or 180) through the pump head 171 (or 181) and the tube 121, for example, the tube connection port 1 of the valve body 120a of the 8-way joint valve 120A.
22 and further from the tube connection port 123 of the 8-way joint valve 120A through the tube 124 and the tube connection port 118a.
Sent to

On the other hand, the carrier liquid bottle 222 (or 2)
The carrier liquid in 23) passes through the tube 227, the pump head 172 (or 182) of the pump device 170 (or 180), the tube 228, the injection valve 160, and the tube 121, for example, the valve of the 8-way joint valve 120A. The tube 120 is sent to the tube connection port 122 of the body 120a, and further the tube 124 is connected to the tube connection port 123 of the 8-way joint valve 120A.
Then, it is sent to the three-way joint 118 via the central opening 118b. Here, the sample solution to be analyzed is
The injection liquid is injected into the carrier liquid by the injection valve 160.

Here, for example, between the eight-way joint valves 120A and 120B and the three-way joint 118, as described with reference to FIG. 3, the tube connection port 123 of each of the valve bodies 120a and the The tube connectors 113 a to 113 h of the respective reaction units 111 of the reaction block 110 are connected via tubes 124.

When connecting the tube connection port 123 of the valve body 120a to the tube connectors 113a to 113h of the respective reaction units 111, as described above, for example, the first tube connection A of the 8-way joint valve 120A is connected. The mouth 123 is connected to the tube connector 1.
13A at (A-1), the second tube connection port 123 of A is connected to (A-
2), the third tube connection port 123 of A is connected to (A-3) of the tube connector 113c, and the fourth tube connection port 123 of A is connected to (A-4) of the tube connector 113d. Then, the fifth tube connection port 123 of the above A is connected to the (A) of the tube connector 113e.
-5), the sixth tube connection port 123 of the A is connected to the tube connector 113f (A-6).
The seventh tube connection port 123 of (A-7) corresponds to (A-7) of the tube connector 113g, and the eighth tube connection port 123 of (A) corresponds to (A-8) of the tube connector 113h.

In the case of the eight-way joint valve 120B, the first tube connecting port 123 of the eight-way joint valve 120B is connected to the tube connector 113a.
(B-1) shows the second tube connection port 1 of the above B
23 to (B-2) of the tube connector 113b,
The third tube connection port 123 of B is connected to (B-3) of the tube connector 113c, and the fourth tube connection port 123 of B is connected to the tube connector 113c.
At (B-4) of d, the fifth tube connection port 123 of B is connected to (B-5) of the tube connector 113e.
The sixth tube connection port 123 of B is connected to (B-6) of the tube connector 113f, and the seventh tube connection port 123 of B is connected to the tube connector 1f.
At 13 g of (B-7), the eighth tube connection port 123 of the C is connected to the (B-
8).

Further, in the case of the 8-way joint valve 120C, the first tube connection port 123 of C of the 8-way joint valve 120C is connected to the tube connector 113a.
(C-1) shows the second tube connection port 1 of the above C
23 to (C-2) of the tube connector 113b,
The third tube connection port 123 of C is connected to (C-3) of the tube connector 113c, and the fourth tube connection port 123 of C is connected to the tube connector 113c.
In (C-4) of d, the fifth tube connection port 123 of C is connected to (C-5) of the tube connector 113e.
The sixth tube connection port 123 of C is connected to (C-6) of the tube connector 113f, and the seventh tube connection port 123 of C is connected to the tube connector 1f.
At 13 g of (C-7), the eighth tube connection port 123 of the C is connected to the (C-
8).

Further, an eight-way joint valve 120D
In this case, the first tube connecting port 123 of D of the eight-way joint valve 120D is connected to the tube connector 11.
3D, the second tube connection port 123 of D is connected to (D-2) of the tube connector 113b.
The third tube connection port 123 of D is connected to (D-3) of the tube connector 113c, and the fourth tube connection port 123 of D is connected to the tube connector 1c.
13D (D-4), the fifth tube connection port 123 of the D is connected to the (D-
5), the sixth tube connection port 123 of D is connected to (D-6) of the tube connector 113f, and the seventh tube connection port 123 of D is connected to (D-7) of the tube connector 113g. In addition, the eighth tube connection port 123 of D is connected to (D) of the tube connector 113h.
-8).

The eight-way joint valve 12
As described with reference to FIG. 5, the switching of the tube connection port 123 between 0A and 120D is performed by the stepping motor 1.
26, the valve body 127 is rotated, and the valve body 12 is rotated.
7 by matching the communication hole 129 of any one of the valve bodies 120a with the communication hole 125 of the valve body 120a.
The communication between the tube connecting port 122 and the tube connecting port 123 is performed.

Here, the rotation of the valve element 127 by the driving of the stepping motor 126 is controlled by the number of pulses given to the stepping motor 126 as shown in the time chart of FIG. It has become so. Therefore, by combining these pulses, the tube connection port 1 in the 8-way joint valves 120A to 120D can be used.
23 can be controlled arbitrarily and simultaneously.

Further, in FIG. 4, when the mixed solution of the reagent solution, the carrier solution and the sample solution mixed at the three-way joint 118 is sent to the reaction unit 111 side via the tube 229, Reaction unit 1
11 is heated to a predetermined temperature while passing through the reaction coil section 115 in the reaction coil 11 to perform a chemical reaction. That is, as described in FIG. 2, the reaction coil unit 115 is provided with a heater 116 that generates heat at a temperature controlled by the temperature controller 114, and the mixed liquid causes the reaction coil unit 115 to flow through the reaction coil unit 115. When passing the mixture, the mixture is heated to a predetermined temperature by the heat of the heater 116, so that the reaction of the mixed liquid is promoted.

Heated by the reaction coil unit 115,
The mixed solution whose reaction has been promoted is sent to, for example, the 8-way joint valve 120D via the tube 230 and the tube connection port 123, and further the 8-way joint valve 1
The sample is sent from the tube connection port 122 of the 20D to the detector 130 via the tube 121, subjected to a predetermined analysis, and then sent to the waste bottle 225 via the tube 231.

Here, the detector 130 detects, as a color change, the concentration of the components of the mixture of the sample liquid to be analyzed injected into the carrier liquid. And the amount of light transmitted (transmittance t
(%)) To the absorbance (the reciprocal of the transmittance is logarithmically converted E = −lo)
g (t)). Specifically, the lighter the color (analytical component), the lower the absorbance, and the higher the color (analytical component), the higher the absorbance. However, since there is no completely proportional relationship between the concentration of the analytical component and the absorbance, a calibration curve is used to convert the absorbance into a concentration.

As described above, in this embodiment, the rearrangement of the conventional reaction line is performed by switching the plurality of joint valves 120A to 120D provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the reaction unit 111. Without changing the reaction line, the pump device 170, the detector 130 and the injection valve 16 which are not involved in the mixing or chemical reaction of various reagent solutions, carrier solutions and sample solutions corresponding to various analysis items.
0 and the like can be shared, stabilizing the reaction line, easily changing the analysis item, and reducing the cost of the entire system.

Further, since the reaction unit 111 is detachably mounted on the reaction block 110, not only compactness can be achieved, but also, as shown in FIG. 120A
The reaction unit 111 can be exchanged only by exchanging the four tubes 124 connected to .about.D, and the analysis items can be selected with a high degree of freedom. Further, when replacing the entire reaction block 110, as shown in FIG.
Since the four tubes 121 connected to A to D need only be replaced, the reaction unit 11 corresponding to the analysis item to be changed is required.
This is effective when the number of 1s is large.

In the above embodiment, the case where the reaction unit 111 is vertically overlapped with the reaction block 110 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. 110 may be arranged side by side. Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the detector 130 is an absorptiometer has been described. In addition, the detector 130 which performs atomic absorption, electrochemical, and high-frequency inductively coupled plasma (ICP) -like detection is used. Can be used.

[0039]

As will be understood from the above description, according to the sample liquid analysis system of the present invention, by switching a plurality of joint valves provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the reaction unit, The reaction unit or the reaction block can be easily rearranged, and the reaction line can be switched without rearranging the reaction line as in the related art, so that various reagent solutions and carrier liquids corresponding to various analysis items can be obtained. In addition, since it is possible to share detectors that are not involved in mixing and chemical reactions of sample liquids, it is possible to stabilize the reaction line, easily change analysis items, and reduce the cost of the entire system. Can also be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a sample liquid analysis system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a reaction block of the analysis system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a switching line system of the reaction block in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the concept of the switching line system in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway sectional view showing details of an 8-way joint valve of the reaction block of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the operation of the eight-way joint valve of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing the operation of the eight-way joint valve of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a unit configuration used for one reaction line in a conventional analysis system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Analysis system 101 System main body 110 Reaction block 111 Reaction unit 112 Unit main body 113 a to h Tube connector 114 Temperature controller 115 Reaction coil unit 116 Heater 117 Temperature detection sensor 118 Three-way joint 120 a Valve body 120 A to D 8-way joint valve 122, 123 Tube connection port 125, 129 Communication hole 126 Stepping motor 126a Drive shaft 127 Valve body 128 Center hole 130 Detector 140 Pressure gauge 150 Degassing device 160 Injection valve 170, 180 Pump device 190 Photoreactor 200 Degassing device 220 Tray 221 Reagent bottle 222,223 Carrier bottle 225 Waste bottle

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A method in which various reagent liquids and a carrier liquid are flowed at a constant flow rate into a thin tube, a predetermined amount of a sample liquid is injected into the carrier liquid, and the various reagent liquids and the carrier liquid flow through the tube. A reaction unit for performing a chemical reaction of mixing the carrier liquid and the sample liquid,
A sample liquid analysis system comprising: a detector for measuring the mixed and chemically reacted liquid from the reaction unit; and a plurality of tube connection ports having a plurality of tube connection ports on the upstream side and the downstream side of the reaction unit. An analysis system for a sample liquid, wherein a joint valve is interposed. 2. The sample solution analysis according to claim 1, wherein the reaction unit corresponding to each analysis item is connected to the tube connection port of the joint valve via the tube. system. 3. The joint valve comprises a valve body having the plurality of tube connection ports and a valve body located at the center of the valve body, and the plurality of tube connection ports have the valve body. The valve body is provided with a single communication hole, and the rotation of the valve body matches the communication hole of the valve body with the communication hole of the valve body, whereby 2. The switching of the tube connection port is performed.
Or the sample liquid analysis system according to 2. 4. The reaction unit according to claim 1, wherein the reaction unit corresponding to each of the analysis items is detachably mounted on a reaction block mounted on a system body.
The sample liquid analysis system according to the above. 5. The sample liquid analysis system according to claim 4, wherein the reaction block is removably mounted on the system main body. 6. The sample liquid analysis system according to claim 1, wherein the detector is an absorptiometer, and detects the concentration of the analysis component as a color change.