JPS59179171A - Atomizer using ultrasonic oscillator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To atomize continuously a very small amt. of a sample soln. for a long time in a device for atomizing an eluate from a liquid chromatograph by providing a sample supplying means in a way as to contact with an ultrasonic oscillator grasped in a holder and providing an air layer on the rear of an atomizing region and a cooling means in the peripheral part. CONSTITUTION:An ultrasonic oscillator 1 having 1.7MHz resonance frequency is sandwiched by upper and lower holders 2, 3 made of copper in such a way that the oscillator can be oscillated via two O-rings 4, 5. An introducing hole 7 and discharging hole 8 for cooling water 6 are provided in the holder 3, and a cavity 14 is provided between the holders 2 and 3. The cooling water is filled in said cavity. An air layer is formed on the rear side in the atomizing region 10 of the oscillator 1 by a through-hole 13 provided in the holder 3 so that the generated ultrasonic energy can be reflected 100%. A very small amt. of a soln. 12 rides satisfactorily on the oscillator 1 through a sample supplying pipe 11 and is efficiently atomized to particles having small diameters.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to the improvement of an atomizer using an ultrasonic vibrator, and in particular, to the improvement of an atomizer using an ultrasonic vibrator. It relates to a structure suitable for atomization.

[Background of the invention]

For example, in a combined liquid chromatograph/mass spectrometer device, eluate from a liquid chromatograph is atomized using an ultrasonic transducer, ionized, and subjected to qualitative analysis.

Normally, conventional atomizers using general ultrasonic vibrators generate extremely fine liquid particles (particle size: 1 to 10 μm) by generating ultrasonic fountains or liquid columns when handling a large amount of solution.
m) can be obtained (for example, Ultrasoni
cs, 10.2 (1972) 127-133). However, with the atomization method described above, when trying to continuously atomize a small amount of solution such as the output of a liquid chromatograph, it is difficult to generate an ultrasonic fountain because the amount of bath liquid is small. Because there is not a large amount of solution that also serves to cool the ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic transducer generates heat, and as a result, the polarization of the ultrasonic transducer is destroyed in a short period of time, making it impossible to atomize. There is a problem that it cannot be used as is due to various reasons.

To deal with this problem, cooling the back side of the ultrasonic transducer with a large amount of water and trying to atomize the solution on the front side requires a considerable amount of ultrasonic energy, which can damage the ultrasonic vibrator, the bender, and the power source. The result is not desirable. Also,
Another example of an atomizer using an ultrasonic vibrator is one that uses a metal horn to improve purification efficiency (
For example, Japan Food Science, 7, 11 (19
68) 22-28) Since the frequency of the ultrasonic vibrator can only be raised to about 100 KHz due to its beak structure, there is a disadvantage that the liquid droplet size becomes thicker at 30 to 40 μm.

[Purpose of the invention]

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to continuously atomize a sample bath liquid at a flow rate of, for example, about 1 m4 per minute using an ultrasonic transducer of about 2 MH2 for a long time. Our goal is to provide the following.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes an ultrasonic vibrator held in a holder so as to be able to vibrate, and a sample container for supplying a sample solution to be atomized to the atomization area of the ultrasonic vibrator. a supply means, a reflection means provided at the back of the atomization region for reflecting the ultrasonic energy generated by the ultrasonic transducer, and a reflection means provided at the periphery of the atomization region for cooling the ultrasonic transducer. The present invention is characterized in that an atomizer using an ultrasonic vibrator is constructed from the cooling means and the cooling means.

This characteristic configuration of the present invention makes it possible to provide a purifier that can continuously obtain a mist with a small particle size over a long period of time using an ultrasonic vibrator even for a minute amount of sample solution. Ta.

[Summary of the invention]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional structure of an atomizer according to the present invention. In the figure, the atomizer is composed of an upper holder 2, a lower holder 3, and an ultrasonic vibrator 1. An ultrasonic transducer (material: lead zirconate titanate) 1 with a resonance frequency of 1.7 MH2 has upper and lower holders 2 made of copper,
3, it is clamped so that it can vibrate via two O-rings 4, 5. The lower holder 3 is provided with an inlet hole 7 and an outlet hole 8 for cooling water 6, and a cavity 14 for filling the cooling water 6 is provided between the upper and lower holders 2 and 3 to generate heat using ultrasonic vibrations. It is used to cool the child 1. Up.

The lower holders 2 and 3 are fixed via an O-ring 9. Only the central part (diameter: 4 m) limited by the upper holder 2 of the ultrasonic transducer 1, that is, the atomization area 10,
Cooling water 6 is not passed through the back side (rear side). For this reason, the ultrasonic transducer 1 is normally approximately 120° to 13° in an unloaded state.
Although the temperature rises to 0C, the temperature does not rise any further because the area around the atomization region 100 is cooled.

In the case of a loaded state, part of the heat of the ultrasonic transducer 1 is used to vaporize the sample solution 12 to be atomized, which is supplied by the sample supply pipe 11. The temperature remains at about 70° to 80°C. In either case, considering that the Curie point of lead zirconate titanate that constitutes the ultrasonic transducer 1 is about 350 C, there is no worry about destruction of polarization due to heat generation. By making the back side (rear surface) of the atomization area 10 of the child 1 into an air layer through the through hole 13 provided in the lower holder 3, the generated ultrasonic energy is 100% at the interface between the ultrasonic vibrator 1 and the air layer. %, the ultrasonic energy in the atomization area 10 on the front side of the ultrasonic transducer 1 is twice as much as when the back side (rear side) is made into a water layer with the cooling water 6. .Therefore, the ultrasonic transducer 1
The advantage is that the power of the ultrasonic energy applied to the device only needs to be halved.

For example, in a combined liquid chromatograph/mass spectrometer device, a very small amount of output from the liquid chromatograph, that is, an input device that continuously atomizes the eluate, is required. Atomizers can be used. In other words, if the sample supply pipe 11 from the liquid magnetograph is placed in contact with the ultrasonic transducer 1 as shown in FIG. It fits well on the Ω,
Efficiently atomized into small diameter particles. By using an atomizer with this type of configuration, it is possible to process samples continuously and over a long period of time, whether it is an aqueous solution or an organic solvent solution, at a flow rate of 0.1 mt/m to 1 mt/m. Become. -P Needless to say, such an atomizer can also be used as an atomizer for spectroscopic analysis equipment.

By the way, the material of the ultrasonic transducer may be other than the above-mentioned materials, and the cooling means may use a medium other than water. Furthermore, the reflection means is preferably an air layer, but other media may be used, and it is desirable that the backside chain acid corresponds to the atomization area in a 1=1 relationship, but it may be slightly larger or smaller. Needless to say, it's a good thing.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, continuous atomization of a small amount of bath liquid such as 0.1 to 1 mt/mix for a long time (1000 hours or more) is possible, so that liquid chromatograph/equal mass spectrometer coupled equipment can be used. By applying the present invention to evening misting means, it is possible to easily improve the performance of these devices.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of an atomizer using an ultrasonic vibrator according to the present invention.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An ultrasonic transducer held in a holder so as to be able to vibrate, and a sample supply means for supplying a sample solution to be atomized to an atomization region of the ultrasonic transducer; a reflecting means provided on the back surface of the atomization region to reflect the ultrasonic energy generated by the ultrasonic transducer; and a reflection means provided on the periphery of the atomization region to cool the ultrasonic transducer. An atomizer using an ultrasonic vibrator, characterized in that it is equipped with a cooling means. 2. The atomizer using an ultrasonic vibrator as set forth in item 1, wherein the reflecting means comprises an air layer. 3. The atomizer using an ultrasonic vibrator as set forth in item 1 or item 2, wherein the cooling means comprises a water cooling mechanism.