Ultrasonic enrichment and separation system and method

Abstract

The ultrasonic enrichment and separation system comprises a base, a container is mounted on the base, a lifting support is mounted on the base, a centrifugal tube is mounted at the top end of the lifting support, suspension liquid to be enriched and separated is contained in the centrifugal tube, and the lifting support is used for driving the centrifugal tube to ascend and descend in the container; an ultrasonic transducer is installed on the side face of the container and connected with a signal generator, and the signal generator is connected with a controller. A microscopic imaging module connected with the controller is arranged on one side of the container and used for monitoring the moving track and the moving speed of particles in the centrifugal tube, and the controller adjusts output parameters of the signal generator according to the moving track and the moving speed of the particles. The microimaging module is used for monitoring the utilization speed and the moving track of the particulate matters in the suspension in real time, and the frequency and the power of the signal generator are adjusted according to the utilization speed and the moving track of the particulate matters, so that the enrichment efficiency and the enrichment effect are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of ultrasonic enrichment and separation, and in particular to an ultrasonic enrichment and separation system and method. Background Art

[0002] In many industrial application fields, the enrichment and separation of suspended solids in fluid media is an important and indispensable process, and methods that can achieve the enrichment and separation of suspended solids, such as sedimentation and centrifugal separation, have been relatively maturely applied in many industrial fields. However, with the advancement of science and the continuous expansion of people's practical fields, the inherent defects of traditional methods have greatly limited their scope of application.

[0003] The use of ultrasound for the enrichment and separation of suspended matter in fluid media was proposed in the 1930s. Ultrasonic enrichment and separation technology has shown broad application prospects in the fields of food processing, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, biomedicine and sewage treatment. The principle of ultrasonic enrichment and separation is: when ultrasound propagates in a liquid medium, it can form a standing wave field under certain conditions. The sound pressure gradient generated by this standing wave field can exert different forces on particles of different densities and sizes, guiding them to the nodes or anti-node areas of the standing wave; the sound pressure gradient of ultrasound enables particles to be accurately separated and enriched in the sample according to their physical properties (such as density, size, etc.).

[0004] Current ultrasonic enrichment and separation systems generally set the ultrasonic output parameters in advance based on the force required for the particles to be driven by the standing wave field. However, in actual applications, since the particles are affected by various environmental factors (such as temperature) during the enrichment and separation process, the actual enrichment and separation speed and path of the particles in the solution will have a certain deviation from the theoretical values. If the ultrasonic output parameters are set only according to the theoretically required force, it is easy to lead to poor enrichment and separation effects of the particles in the solution. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention provides an ultrasonic enrichment and separation system and method, which solves the problem that the ultrasonic enrichment and separation system in the prior art only sets the ultrasonic output parameters according to the theoretically required force, which easily leads to poor enrichment and separation effects of particles in the solution.

[0006] The technical solution of the present invention is achieved in this way:

[0007] The first aspect of the present invention provides an ultrasonic enrichment and separation system, comprising a base, a container is installed on the base, a lifting bracket is installed on the base, a centrifuge tube is installed on the top of the lifting bracket, the centrifuge tube contains a suspension to be enriched and separated, and the lifting bracket is used to drive the centrifuge tube to rise and fall in the container; an ultrasonic transducer is installed on the side of the container, the ultrasonic transducer is connected to a signal generator, and the signal generator is connected to a controller; a microscopic imaging module connected to the controller is provided on one side of the container, which is used to monitor the moving trajectory and moving speed of particles in the centrifuge tube, and the controller adjusts the output parameters of the signal generator according to the moving trajectory and moving speed of the particles.

[0008] Preferably, a sound field intensity sensor is installed in the container, and the sound field intensity sensor is connected to the controller for monitoring the sound field intensity output by the ultrasonic transducer. The controller adjusts the output parameters of the signal generator according to the monitored sound field intensity.

[0009] Specifically, the container contains an ultrasonic coupling agent.

[0010] Preferably, two ultrasonic transducers are provided, and the two ultrasonic transducers are installed oppositely on two sides of the container.

[0011] Preferably, a refrigeration module is provided in the base for cooling the container.

[0012] The second aspect of the present invention provides an ultrasonic enrichment and separation method, comprising the following steps:

[0013] According to the physical parameters of the particles in the suspension, the frequency and power of the signal generator output signal source are set;

[0014] The signal source output by the signal generator drives the ultrasonic transducer to output a standing wave field, and the standing wave field is used to drive the particles in the suspension to enrich toward the wave nodes;

[0015] Control the lifting bracket to drive the centrifuge tube to rise continuously until all the particles are enriched at the bottom of the centrifuge tube;

[0016] During the enrichment process, the moving trajectory and speed of the particles are monitored in real time through the microscopic imaging module, and the frequency and power of the signal source output by the signal generator are adjusted according to the moving trajectory and speed of the particles.

[0017] Specifically, during the enrichment process, continuous frame images of the suspension are acquired through the microscopic imaging module, and the particle movement speed is calculated based on the coordinates of the particles on the continuous frame images, and the output power of the signal generator is automatically adjusted according to the particle movement speed; if the particle movement speed is less than the set minimum threshold, the output power of the signal generator is increased, and if the particle movement speed is greater than the set maximum threshold, the output power of the signal generator is reduced.

[0018] Specifically, during the enrichment process, images of continuous frames of the suspension are obtained through the microscopic imaging module, and the movement trajectory of the particles is obtained based on the coordinates of the particles on the continuous frame images. When the movement trajectory of the particles deviates from the target trajectory, it is determined whether the offset of the movement trajectory of the particles exceeds the allowable range. If the offset of the movement trajectory of the particles exceeds the allowable range, the adjustment range of the output frequency of the signal generator is set according to the offset. The output frequency of the signal generator is adjusted in sequence from small to large or from large to small within the set adjustment range until the offset of the movement trajectory of the particles remains within the allowable range.

[0019] Preferably, during the enrichment process, the sound field intensity in the suspension is monitored in real time by a sound field intensity sensor, and the controller adjusts the output power of the signal generator according to the difference between the monitored sound field intensity and the theoretical sound field intensity; if the actual monitored sound field intensity is less than the theoretical sound field intensity, the output power of the signal generator is increased; if the actual monitored sound field intensity is greater than the theoretical sound field intensity, the output power of the signal generator is reduced.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0021] (1) The present invention monitors the utilization speed and movement trajectory of particles in the suspension in real time through a microscopic imaging module, and adjusts the frequency and power of the signal generator according to the utilization speed and trajectory of the particles. When the particle movement speed is slow, the particle movement speed can be increased by increasing the output frequency of the signal generator, thereby improving the enrichment efficiency; when the particle movement trajectory deviates far from the target trajectory, the particle movement trajectory can be returned to the vicinity of the target trajectory by adjusting the output frequency of the signal generator, thereby improving the particle enrichment effect;

[0022] (2) The present invention monitors the sound field intensity in the suspension in real time through a sound field intensity sensor, and compares the monitored sound field intensity with the theoretical value of the sound field intensity. When the actual monitored sound field intensity deviates from the theoretical value, the output power of the signal generator is adjusted to make the actual sound field intensity consistent with the theoretical value, thereby ensuring that the particles can be enriched under the action of the sound pressure gradient of the standing wave field. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0024] Figure 1It is a structural schematic diagram of an ultrasonic enrichment and separation system of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the enrichment state of particles in the centrifuge tube before the centrifuge tube rises in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the enrichment state of particles in the lower layer of the centrifuge tube during the ascending process of the centrifuge tube in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the enrichment state of particles at the bottom of the centrifuge tube when the centrifuge tube rises to the bottom and exceeds the top of the ultrasonic transducer in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] In the figure: 1. base; 2. lifting bracket; 3. centrifuge tube; 4. suspension; 5. particulate matter; 6. ultrasonic transducer; 7. signal generator; 8. controller; 9. microscopic imaging module; 10. ultrasonic coupling agent. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] Reference Figure 1 In a first aspect, the present invention provides an ultrasonic enrichment and separation system, comprising a base 1, on which a container is mounted, on which a lifting bracket 2 (which can be driven to rise and fall by a motor, a cylinder, an oil cylinder, etc.) is mounted, a centrifuge tube 3 is mounted at the top of the lifting bracket 2, in which a suspension 4 to be enriched and separated is contained (in this embodiment, a biological particle suspension is taken as an example), and the lifting bracket 2 is used to drive the centrifuge tube 3 to rise and fall in the container; an ultrasonic transducer 6 is mounted on the side of the container, and the ultrasonic transducer 6 is connected to a signal generator 7, and the signal generator 7 is connected to a controller 8; a microscopic imaging module 9 connected to the controller 8 is provided on one side of the container, for monitoring the moving trajectory and moving speed of the particles 5 in the centrifuge tube 3, and the controller 8 adjusts the output parameters of the signal generator 7 according to the moving trajectory and moving speed of the particles 5.

[0031] Preferably, a sound field intensity sensor is installed in the container, and the sound field intensity sensor is connected to the controller 8 for monitoring the sound field intensity output by the ultrasonic transducer 6. The controller 8 adjusts the output parameters of the signal generator 7 according to the monitored sound field intensity.

[0032] Specifically, the container contains an ultrasonic coupling agent 10 to enhance the penetration ability of ultrasonic waves and reduce the energy attenuation of ultrasonic waves entering the centrifuge tube 3 from the ultrasonic transducer 6 .

[0033] Preferably, two ultrasonic transducers 6 are provided, and the two ultrasonic transducers 6 are relatively installed on two sides of the container. By arranging two relatively ultrasonic transducers 6, two groups of ultrasonic signals can be superimposed to enhance signal strength.

[0034] Preferably, a refrigeration module is provided in the base to cool the container. The refrigeration module adjusts the refrigeration power according to the feedback from the temperature sensor. The system adopts a uniform heat dissipation strategy to ensure that the temperature distribution in the entire system is uniform and the biological particles are always in a suitable temperature environment. The heat generated by the ultrasonic transducer is effectively reduced to prevent damage to the biological particles.

[0035] In this embodiment, a constant temperature module is provided inside the base 1, and the constant temperature module is connected to the controller 8 for heating or cooling the solution in the centrifuge tube 3 to keep the solution in the centrifuge tube 3 at a constant temperature to avoid the influence of temperature on the enrichment process of the particulate matter 5.

[0036] The second aspect of the present invention provides an ultrasonic enrichment and separation method, comprising the following steps:

[0037] According to the physical parameters of the particles 5 in the suspension 4 (such as particle type, particle size, etc.), the frequency and power of the output signal source of the signal generator 7 are set;

[0038] The signal source output by the signal generator 7 drives the ultrasonic transducer 6 to output a standing wave field, and the standing wave field is used to drive the particles 5 in the suspension 4 to enrich toward the wave nodes. The particles 5 are vertically distributed in the suspension 4, such as Figure 2 As shown;

[0039] The lifting bracket 2 is controlled to drive the centrifuge tube 3 to rise continuously. During the rising process of the centrifuge tube 3, the upper solution gradually escapes from the effect of the acoustic field, and the particles 5 in the solution will not move upward with the rising of the upper solution of the centrifuge tube 3 under the effect of the acoustic field. As the centrifuge tube 3 continues to rise, the particles 5 will be enriched in the lower layer of the centrifuge tube 3 (i.e., the overlapping area of ​​the centrifuge tube 3 and the ultrasonic transducer 6 in the vertical direction). Figure 3 As shown, until all the particles 5 are enriched at the bottom of the centrifuge tube 3, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown (at this time, the bottom of the centrifuge tube 3 exceeds the top surface of the ultrasonic transducer 6);

[0040] During the enrichment process, the moving track and moving speed of the particles 5 are monitored in real time by the microscopic imaging module 9 , and the frequency and power of the signal source output by the signal generator 7 are adjusted according to the moving track and moving speed of the particles 5 .

[0041] In this embodiment, the signal generator 7 is further configured with a signal amplifier for amplifying the intensity of the signal source generated by the signal generator 7. The output power of the ultrasonic wave can be adjusted by adjusting the amplification factor of the signal amplifier.

[0042] Specifically, during the enrichment process, the images of the continuous frames of the suspension 4 are obtained through the microscopic imaging module 9, and the moving speed of the particles 5 is calculated according to the coordinates of the particles 5 on the continuous frame images, and the output power of the signal generator 7 is automatically adjusted according to the moving speed of the particles 5; if the moving speed of the particles 5 is less than the set minimum threshold value (the minimum threshold value in this embodiment can be obtained based on multiple tests), the output power of the signal generator 7 is increased, and if the moving speed of the particles 5 is greater than the set maximum threshold value (the maximum threshold value in this embodiment can be obtained based on multiple tests), the output power of the signal generator 7 is reduced. Under the premise of not affecting the activity of the biological particles, the output power is increased to the maximum extent to improve the efficiency of enrichment.

[0043] Specifically, during the enrichment process, continuous frame images of the suspension 4 are obtained through the microscopic imaging module 9, and the moving trajectory of the particle 5 is obtained according to the coordinates of the particle 5 on the continuous frame images. When the moving trajectory of the particle 5 deviates from the target trajectory, it is determined whether the offset of the moving trajectory of the particle 5 exceeds the allowable range. If the offset of the moving trajectory of the particle 5 exceeds the allowable range, the adjustment range of the output frequency of the signal generator 7 is set according to the offset (such as ±10Hz), and the output frequency of the signal generator 7 is adjusted from small to large or from large to small in the set adjustment range until the offset of the moving trajectory of the particle 5 remains within the allowable range.

[0044] Preferably, during the enrichment process, the acoustic field intensity in the suspension is monitored in real time by an acoustic field intensity sensor, and the controller adjusts the output power of the signal generator according to the difference between the monitored acoustic field intensity and the theoretical acoustic field intensity; if the actual monitored acoustic field intensity is less than the theoretical acoustic field intensity, the output power of the signal generator is increased; if the actual monitored acoustic field intensity is greater than the theoretical acoustic field intensity, the output power of the signal generator is reduced. For example, the type of particles to be enriched and separated is cells with a diameter of 15 μm, and the solvent is PBS solution. The acoustic characteristics of PBS solution are similar to those of water, the speed of sound is about 1500 m / s, and the acoustic impedance Z≈1.5×10^6Pa\cdotps / m; the acoustic radiation force F is proportional to the acoustic field intensity p, and the relationship between the acoustic field intensity p and the output power P is:

[0045]

[0046] Wherein, P is the ultrasonic output power, Z is the acoustic impedance of the PBS solution, and p is the acoustic field intensity;

[0047] Through experiments (establishing a database), it is found that the theoretical acoustic field intensity value p required to generate sufficient acoustic radiation force to control cells with a diameter of 15 μm is approximately 150 KPa; substituting p and Z into the above formula, it can be calculated that the theoretical output power required is approximately 7.5 W; the output power of the signal generator is directly adjusted to 7.5 W, but due to the influence of the actual environment, there is a certain error between the actual acoustic field intensity p1 to which the cells in the PBS solution are subjected and the theoretical value p; in this embodiment, the acoustic field intensity p1 in the PBS solution is monitored in real time by an acoustic field intensity sensor. If p1 is less than p, the output power is increased so that the ultrasonic transducer can generate sufficient acoustic radiation force to drive the cells to enrich in the PBS solution.

[0048] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic enrichment and separation system, characterized in that: The invention comprises a base (1), a container is mounted on the base (1), a lifting bracket (2) is mounted on the base (1), a centrifuge tube (3) is mounted on the top of the lifting bracket (2), a suspension (4) to be enriched and separated is contained in the centrifuge tube (3), and the lifting bracket (2) is used to drive the centrifuge tube (3) to be lifted and lowered in the container; an ultrasonic transducer (6) is mounted on the side of the container, the ultrasonic transducer (6) is connected to a signal generator (7), and the signal generator (7) is connected to a controller (8); a microscopic imaging module (9) connected to the controller (8) is arranged on one side of the container, and is used to monitor the moving trajectory and moving speed of the particles (5) in the centrifuge tube (3), and the controller (8) adjusts the output parameters of the signal generator (7) according to the moving trajectory and moving speed of the particles (5).

2. An ultrasonic enrichment and separation system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: A sound field intensity sensor is installed in the container, and the sound field intensity sensor is connected to a controller (8) and is used to monitor the sound field intensity output by the ultrasonic transducer (6). The controller (8) adjusts the output parameters of the signal generator (7) according to the monitored sound field intensity.

3. An ultrasonic enrichment and separation system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The container contains an ultrasonic coupling agent (10).

4. An ultrasonic enrichment and separation system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two ultrasonic transducers (6) are provided, and the two ultrasonic transducers (6) are installed oppositely on two sides of the container.

5. The ultrasonic enrichment and separation system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base (1) is provided with a refrigeration module for cooling the container.

6. An ultrasonic enrichment and separation method, based on the ultrasonic enrichment and separation system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: According to the physical parameters of the particles (5) in the suspension (4), the frequency and power of the output signal source of the signal generator (7) are set; The signal source output by the signal generator (7) drives the ultrasonic transducer (6) to output a standing wave field, and the standing wave field is used to drive the particles (5) in the suspension (4) to be enriched toward the wave nodes; Controlling the lifting support (2) to drive the centrifuge tube (3) to continuously rise until all the particles (5) are enriched at the bottom of the centrifuge tube (3); During the enrichment process, the moving trajectory and moving speed of the particles (5) are monitored in real time through the microscopic imaging module (9), and the frequency and power of the signal source output by the signal generator (7) are adjusted according to the moving trajectory and moving speed of the particles (5).

7. An ultrasonic enrichment and separation method as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that: During the enrichment process, continuous frame images of the suspension (4) are obtained through the microscopic imaging module (9), and the moving speed of the particles (5) is calculated based on the coordinates of the particles (5) on the continuous frame images, and the output power of the signal generator (7) is automatically adjusted according to the moving speed of the particles (5); if the moving speed of the particles (5) is less than a set minimum threshold, the output power of the signal generator (7) is increased, and if the moving speed of the particles (5) is greater than a set maximum threshold, the output power of the signal generator (7) is reduced.

8. An ultrasonic enrichment and separation method as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that: During the enrichment process, continuous frame images of the suspension (4) are obtained through the microscopic imaging module (9), and the moving trajectory of the particle (5) is obtained based on the coordinates of the particle (5) on the continuous frame images. When the moving trajectory of the particle (5) deviates from the target trajectory, it is determined whether the offset of the moving trajectory of the particle (5) exceeds the allowable range. If the offset of the moving trajectory of the particle (5) exceeds the allowable range, the adjustment range of the output frequency of the signal generator (7) is set according to the offset, and the output frequency of the signal generator (7) is adjusted from small to large or from large to small in the set adjustment range until the offset of the moving trajectory of the particle (5) remains within the allowable range.

9. The ultrasonic enrichment and separation method according to claim 6, characterized in that: During the enrichment process, the sound field intensity in the suspension (4) is monitored in real time by a sound field intensity sensor, and the controller (8) adjusts the output power of the signal generator (7) according to the difference between the monitored sound field intensity and the theoretical sound field intensity; if the actual monitored sound field intensity is less than the theoretical sound field intensity, the output power of the signal generator (7) is increased.

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