Ferromagnetic-particle manufacturing apparatus

Abstract

A ferromagnetic-particle manufacturing apparatus includes: a single mode cavity that resonates with a microwave of a predetermined wavelength; a microwave oscillator electrically connected to the single mode cavity and configured to introduce the microwave of a predetermined wavelength into the single mode cavity; a pipe disposed to pass through an inside of the single mode cavity, the pipe being formed of a dielectric material; a pump configured to introduce, from one end of the pipe, an alkaline reaction liquid containing metal ions of a ferromagnetic metal; an impedance measuring device configured to measure an impedance of the single mode cavity; and a pump-flowrate deciding unit configured to decide, based on a measurement result of the impedance measuring device, a pump flowrate by which the impedance of the single mode cavity becomes a predetermined value or more; wherein the pump is configured to introduce the reaction liquid at the pump flowrate decided by the pump-flowrate deciding unit; and wherein ferromagnetic particles are generated by reacting the reaction liquid.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a ferromagnetic-particle manufacturing apparatus.BACKGROUND ART[0002]Due to magnetic properties, ferromagnetic particles (nanoparticles) are recently used as active pharmaceutical ingredients for a magnetic resonance imaging method (MRI), a drug delivery system (DDS), a local hyperthermia treatment and so on.[0003]JP2006-28032A discloses a method of generating magnetite particles, which are one type of such ferromagnetic particles, by using a coprecipitation reaction. Specifically in this method, a predetermined amount of ferrous chloride (FeCl2) solution and a predetermined amount of ferric chloride (FeCl3) solution are put into a reaction container. While the solutions are heated and stirred in the reaction container, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution is added thereto. Thus, a coprecipitation reaction between ferrous ions (Fe2+) and ferric ions (Fe3+) occurs so that magnetite (Fe3O4) particles are generated.[0004]In such a conve...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a ferromagnetic-particle manufacturing apparatus that can efficiently manufacture ferromagnetic particles. The apparatus uses a microwave to heat the reaction liquid in a single mode cavity, which causes the reaction liquid to generate ferromagnetic particles. The generated particles are magnetically coupled with the microwave, which decreases the impedance of the cavity and increases the production efficiency of the particles. The apparatus also includes an impedance measuring device and a pump-flowrate deciding unit to optimize the pump flowrate and maintain the production efficiency of the particles. The inner surface of the pipe is treated with a corrosion protective covering to ensure smooth flow of the reaction liquid. The technical effects of the invention include improved production efficiency, reduced variation in particle composition and dimension, and easy observation of the production process.

Problems solved by technology

Thus, the reaction liquid is unlikely to vary in temperature and a mixed condition of the reaction liquid is unlikely to be non-uniform, so that variation of the generated ferromagnetic particles in composition and dimension is small.

However, at a pump flowrate beyond the threshold value, an unreacted reaction liquid outflows from the other end of the pipe, which in turn decreases the generation efficiency of ferromagnetic particles.

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