Flask, rotary evaporator device including the flask, and method for concentrating solution

Abstract

To provide a flask and a rotary evaporator device that accelerate concentration speed of a solution.SOLUTION: A flask (10) includes: a shank part (1) including a bottom wall (2) and a cylindrical sidewall (4); and a cylindrical neck part (5) continuing to the shank part (1). At least part of the sidewall (4) is provided with a helical groove (44) reaching a side of the neck part (5) from a side of the bottom wall (2). The flask (10) rotates with receiving external drive and can raise the solution toward the side of the neck part (5) from the side of the bottom wall (2) in the shank part (1).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a flask, a rotary evaporator device including the flask, and a method for concentrating a solution. [Background technology]

[0002] A rotary evaporator is a widely used piece of scientific equipment, particularly in the chemical field, that efficiently evaporates solvents through rotation, allowing for concentration and evaporation to dryness. A typical example is a pear-shaped flask. The rotating flask is immersed in a heat transfer medium (hot water or oil), creating a negative pressure inside the flask. This increases the heating area through rotation, increasing the efficiency of heating and evaporation, and the negative pressure further enhances this efficiency. In addition to heat transfer mediums (hot water or oil), heating using heaters or air heaters is also known.

[0003] In such an apparatus, which heats the solvent in the rotating flask over a wide area and creates a negative pressure environment to efficiently concentrate and evaporate to dryness, measures are sometimes taken to suppress bumping of the solution in the flask. For example, there are methods using a small hole, as described in Patent Document 1, and methods of adjusting the degree of vacuum.

[0004] Furthermore, even if the process involves the same concentration and evaporation to dryness, the challenge in the production of radiopharmaceuticals, etc. is how to extract radioisotopes (RI) in high yield in a short time after removing the solvent. Patent Documents 2 and 3, which focus on achieving high yields in a short time, provide a partition with through holes in the flask to limit the range of solution diffusion (scattering) due to bumping. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-180002 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-271479 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-84246 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As in Patent Documents 2 and 3, preventing leakage to a vacuum system using fine holes or providing a partition with through holes in the flask is insufficient to suppress bumping and the resulting scattering of fine solvent particles over the entire inner surface of the flask. Therefore, ultimately, the yield is determined by whether or not the entire inner surface of the flask can be washed out. In particular, when extracting a highly concentrated radioisotope (RI) solution from a large-volume flask using a relatively small amount of washing solution, there is a problem in that a sufficient yield cannot be obtained.

[0007] The inventors have been working to improve the concentration rate of solutions containing radioisotopes (RI) and other substances in a rotary evaporator using the above-mentioned flask, and have completed the present invention by focusing on the heating area of ​​the solution in the flask.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention aims to provide a flask that improves the concentration rate of a solution by increasing the heating area of ​​the solution, a rotary evaporator device equipped with the flask, and a method for concentrating a solution. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, one embodiment of the flask of the present invention is a flask comprising a body portion having a bottom wall and a cylindrical side wall, and a cylindrical neck portion connected to the body portion, and at least a portion of the side wall is provided with a spiral groove extending from the bottom wall side to the neck side.

[0010] In order to solve the above problem, a rotary evaporator device according to one aspect of the present invention includes the above-mentioned flask, a rotating device that rotates the flask around a central axis, and a heating device that heats the flask.

[0011] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a solution concentrating method according to one embodiment of the present invention is a solution concentrating method for concentrating a solution using the above-mentioned rotary evaporator device, and includes a rotation step of rotating the flask containing the solution around a central axis, and a heating step of heating the flask rotated by the rotation step to evaporate the solvent from the solution and concentrate the solution. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a flask that improves the concentration rate of a solution by increasing the heating area of ​​the solution, a rotary evaporator device including the flask, and a method for concentrating a solution. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are three-view diagrams of a flask according to one embodiment of the present invention, with the center being a front view, the left side being a top view, and the right side being a bottom view. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the mechanism by which the solution in the flask is lifted by the flask in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] This is a photograph showing how the solution in the rotary evaporator spreads along the central axis to the screw section using the flask in Figure 1. [Figure 4] An example of the flask in FIG. 1 is shown. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a side view of a rotary evaporator apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, including the flask of FIG. 1. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a top view of the rotary evaporator device shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the main part of the rotary evaporator device shown in FIG. 5, viewed from the rear side. [Figure 8] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operational flow of a solution concentrating method according to one embodiment of the present invention, using the rotary evaporator device shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a comparative configuration. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a comparative configuration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] 〔flask〕 The flask according to one embodiment of the present invention is used to concentrate or dry a solution, and is specifically mounted on a rotary evaporator.

[0015] Here, an example of a solution to be concentrated or dried is a radioisotope (RI)-containing solution used in the process of manufacturing a radiopharmaceutical. In the case of a radioisotope (RI)-containing solution, the rotary evaporator of this embodiment can be used in the solvent substitution process of the solution. Note that the solution handled by the rotary evaporator of this embodiment is not limited to a radioisotope (RI)-containing solution.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a three-view diagram showing the appearance of flask 10 of this embodiment. The center of FIG. 1 is a front view, the left side is a top view, and the right side is a bottom view. Flask 10 has a spiral cylindrical shape. Flask 10 can rotate about central axis 10C when driven to rotate from the outside, and can move a fluid (solution) along spiral grooves on the inner surface across the entire inner surface of the flask, pumping it toward opening 3 at the top, due to centrifugal force generated by the rotation or frictional force due to viscosity acting between the fluid and an object in contact with the fluid.

[0017] Specifically, flask 10 includes a body 1 having a bottom wall 2 and a cylindrical side wall 4, and a cylindrical neck 5 connected to body 1. Flask 10 is configured so that a solution can be introduced into flask 10 through opening 3, which is the open end of cylindrical neck 5. As will be described later, flask 10 is supported during use so that central axis 10C is inclined relative to the horizontal plane. Therefore, most of the solution introduced into flask 10 is retained on bottom wall 2 during concentration and drying.

[0018] Flask 10 is made of glass and has an integral structure of body 1 and cylindrical neck 5 connected to body 1. However, flask 10 is not limited to being made of glass and may be made of, for example, resin, as long as it exhibits the effects and functions described below.

[0019] The bottom wall 2 is capable of storing a solution and has a conical shape. In one example, the bottom wall 2 has a shape equivalent to the lower half (the bottom half) of a pointed-point pear-shaped flask.

[0020] The cylindrical neck 5 has a large opening at the opening 3 and tapers toward the body 1. Appropriate plugs and various piping are installed at the opening 3, which will be described later.

[0021] A spiral groove 44 (spiral groove) is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical side wall 4 (hereinafter referred to as side wall 4). The groove 44 extends spirally around the central axis 10C over a predetermined length along the central axis 10C and opens toward the central axis 10C of the flask 10. As shown in the center of FIG. 1, the spiral groove 44 is provided in multiple layers along the central axis 10C, and the grooves 44 are provided without any gaps along the central axis 10C. In other words, the groove 44 is a spirally wavy portion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical side wall 4.

[0022] A liquid contact surface 40 is provided on the inner surface of the spiral groove 44. In accordance with the extension form of the groove 44 described above, it can be said that the liquid contact surface 40 extends spirally around the central axis 10C toward the opening 3. The liquid contact surface 40 has a portion that comes into contact with the solution stored in the bottom wall 2. The portion that comes into contact with the solution is located on the bottom side of the liquid surface of the solution stored in the bottom wall 2. It can also be said that the portion of the liquid contact surface 40 that comes into contact with the solution is part of the bottom wall 2.

[0023] As the flask 10 rotates about the central axis 10C, the liquid-contacting surface 40 can lift a portion of the solution stored in the bottom wall 2 toward the opening 3. This principle will be explained using Figure 2. Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the principle of pumping a solution by the liquid-contacting surface 40 of the spiral groove 44. For ease of explanation, in Figure 2, the solution being pumped is illustrated as a ball 500.

[0024] The state (i) at the top of Figure 2 is the state at the start of pumping. In state (i), flask 10 is maintained in a state in which central axis 10C is inclined at a predetermined angle θ with respect to horizontal axis Ho. Although not shown, the liquid level of the solution stored in bottom wall 2 is located above point A (the portion in contact with the solution), which is the lowest position of spiral groove 44. As a result, the solution (ball 500) is located at point A, which is the lowest position of spiral groove 44.

[0025] In this way, ball 500, which is at point A when pumping begins, gradually reverses its height from point A to point B as flask 10 rotates, and is at point B when flask 10 has rotated 180 degrees (state (ii)). Similarly, ball 500 at point B is at point C when flask 10 has rotated another 180 degrees (state (iii)). In this way, side wall 4 can push up ball 500 by utilizing the height (potential energy) that accompanies the rotation.

[0026] 2 is explained using one ball 500, but as long as the level of the solution stored in the bottom wall 2 is located above point A (the portion in contact with the solution), which is the lowest position of the spiral groove 44, continuous rotation of the flask 10 realizes a mechanism in which part of the stored solution rises toward the opening 3. The state in which part of the stored solution rises toward the opening 3 is, for example, the state in the lower state (iii) of FIG. 2 where the solution is present at points C, E, G, I, K, M, O, and Q of the spiral groove 44.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows the state in which the colored liquid rises into each groove 44 according to the principle shown in FIG. 2. Note that FIG. 3 shows the state in which the rotation of the flask 10 is stopped. Therefore, the solution that rises into each groove 44 is shown pooling vertically (downward in the drawing). However, as will be described later, in the solution concentration (drying) process, the flask 10 rotates during the process. Therefore, the solution rises while coming into contact with the spiral liquid-contacting surface as the flask 10 rotates, and a liquid film of the solution is formed on the liquid-contacting surface except for the portion located vertically downward. In other words, the entire inner surface of the side wall 4 of the flask 10 is wetted with the solution during rotation. Note that the formation of such a liquid film is also the same on the bottom wall 2.

[0028] The inner surface of the recessed groove 44, specifically the liquid contact surface 40, has a round (R) shape so as to be able to hold the solution.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, no groove 44 is formed in the portion of the side wall 4 closer to the opening 3. The area on the opening 3 side where no groove 44 is formed has a tapered section 45 (FIG. 1) whose inner surface is tapered so that the diameter gradually decreases toward the opening 3. The solution that rises to the top of the groove 44 during the solution concentration (drying) process can be retained at that position in the tapered section 45. Furthermore, the tapered section 45 allows the evaporated solvent to be collected toward the opening 3. Furthermore, when a washout solution (described later) is introduced into the flask 10 from the opening 3 side, the tapered section 45 allows the washout solution to be gently introduced to the top of the groove 44, which contributes to improving washout efficiency.

[0030] Side wall 4 has a structure in which spirally extending groove 44 opens toward central axis 10C, allowing solvent vaporized from the solution to pass toward opening 3. Specifically, solvent vaporized from the solution stored in bottom wall 2, solvent vaporized from the liquid film formed on the inner surface of bottom wall 2, solvent vaporized from the solution accumulated at various points in groove 44, and solvent vaporized from the liquid film formed in groove 44 all flow toward opening 3 through the space in side wall 4 near central axis 10C.

[0031] As an example, the allowable amount of solution stored in flask 10 may be 100 mL or less. Here, the allowable amount of solution stored in flask 10 refers to the initial amount of solution added to flask 10. It is not limited to 100 mL or less, and may be 50 mL or less, 20 mL or less, 10 mL, 5 mL, etc. In other words, it can be used for small amounts of solution. As described above, when concentrating and drying, the initial amount of solution added to flask 10 should be such that the level of the stored liquid is positioned above the lower end of liquid contact surface 40 of side wall 4.

[0032] As described above, according to flask 10, the side wall 4 allows a portion of the solution stored on bottom wall 2 to be lifted from bottom wall 2. This allows the evaporation area of ​​the solution within flask 10 to be increased compared to the evaporation area of ​​the solution when the solution is stored only on bottom wall 2. This contributes to the concentration of the solution in a short period of time.

[0033] Here, like a flask installed in a general rotary evaporator, the flask 10 of this embodiment also promotes evaporation of the solvent by external heating. Therefore, the flask 10, which is configured so that the solution also accumulates on the side wall 4 and forms a liquid film, has a larger heating area than an eggplant-shaped cylindrical flask that does not have a side wall 4. In other words, without the side wall 4, only the bottom wall 2 is heated, whereas with the flask 10, both the bottom wall 2 and the side wall 4 can be heated. This promotes evaporation by heating and contributes to concentrating the solution in a short period of time.

[0034] 2, by rotating flask 10 in the opposite direction to the rotation during pumping, concentrated solution accumulated at each point in spirally extending groove 44 can be returned to bottom wall 2 along spiral liquid contact surface 40. In this way, concentrated solution can be accumulated simply by controlling the rotation direction.

[0035] Furthermore, by expanding the heating area, the heating density can be reduced when the same amount of heat is applied as in the case where only the bottom wall is heated. In other words, it can be said that heating can be performed more mildly than before. This contributes to suppressing bumping. In other words, the amount of heat applied to the flask 10 can be increased compared to before, which contributes to improving the concentration speed.

[0036] As mentioned above, when concentrating by heating using a typical rotary evaporator, measures are taken to prevent the solution from bumping. For example, in the past, the heating temperature was adjusted to a low level or the degree of vacuum was adjusted. However, when concentrating short-lived radioisotopes (RIs), these measures pose a problem in terms of radioisotope (RI) decay (loss of the radioisotope). In contrast, by using flask 10, the amount of heat applied to flask 10 can be increased, thereby increasing the concentration speed and suppressing RI loss due to the long concentration time.

[0037] Here, in addition to the loss due to the long concentration time, the loss due to the low recovery rate after the concentration process can be considered. In contrast, the flask 10 can also solve the RI loss due to the low recovery rate. Regarding this, the low recovery rate will first be explained using the comparative configuration shown in Figure 9.

[0038] 9 and 10 are schematic diagrams of a flask 900 for a rotary evaporator that has been used to concentrate and dry solutions containing mainly radioisotopes (RI). This flask 900 is a rotating version of a so-called pear-shaped flask.

[0039] When attempting to concentrate a solution 905 containing a radioisotope (RI) by heating under negative pressure using a flask 900 with a comparative configuration as shown in FIG. 9 , bumping may occur (907 in FIG. 9 ), causing minute solvent particles 901 containing the radioisotope (RI) to scatter over the entire inner surface of the flask 900 as shown in FIG. 10. In this case, even if a washout liquid is used, it is difficult to ensure that the washout liquid reaches the entire inner surface of the flask 900. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, regions 904 may be created where the washout liquid 920 cannot or does not easily come into contact with the liquid, significantly reducing the yield of minute solvent particles 901, and therefore the yield of the radioisotope (RI). Furthermore, increasing the amount of liquid in order to ensure that the washout liquid comes into contact with the entire inner surface is not in line with the original purpose of concentration.

[0040] On the other hand, with the flask 10 of this embodiment, even if the solution stored on the bottom wall 2 bumps, the resulting solvent microparticles adhere to the grooves 44 in the side wall 4. The solution pumping mechanism shown in FIG. 2 described above can reverse the rotation of the flask 10 to send the liquid introduced from the opening 3 side down the spirally extending grooves 44 toward the bottom wall 2. Therefore, by using this liquid sending mechanism to send the washout liquid, the solvent microparticles adhering to the grooves 44 can be recovered with high efficiency. Furthermore, the amount of washout liquid used can be relatively small.

[0041] Furthermore, since flask 10 can recover fine solvent particles with such high efficiency, it can be said that there is no need to suppress the occurrence of bumping, and therefore it is possible to set conditions such as heating conditions, heating temperature, and degree of vacuum that emphasize achieving concentration in a short period of time.

[0042] As described above, the groove 44 is formed over a predetermined length along the central axis 10C. A longer predetermined length is preferable because it increases the area that can be heated by pumping the solution, but it also increases the size of the flask 10 and the rotary evaporator apparatus equipped therewith. Therefore, it is preferable that the groove 44 be provided within the predetermined length in a range where fine solvent particles scatter due to bumping of the solution. The solid angle of the solution scattering can be calculated from the solid angle of the bottom wall 2.

[0043] In the flask 10 of this embodiment, the solution pumped to the upper points shown in FIG. 2 (for example, points O and Q in FIG. 2) is unlikely to bump.

[0044] Furthermore, when comparing the risk of suctioning out scattered microsolvent particles by vacuuming, based on the solid angle of scattering of microsolvent particles due to bumping of the solution, using flask 900 of Figure 9 with the same capacity, the relative risk of flask 10 can be reduced to approximately 0.4 to 0.2 times.

[0045] Here, a specific example of flask 10 is shown in Figure 4. Figure 4 shows the dimensions of each part of flask 10 of the embodiment shown in Figure 1. Note that flask 10 in Figure 4 can accommodate both 50 mL and 10 mL of solution to be concentrated. In Figure 4, R3 is, for example, a radius of 3 mm, and R5 is, for example, 5 mm.

[0046] It is preferable that the inner surface of flask 10, i.e., the surface that comes into contact with the liquid, is configured to suppress adsorption of the solution to the inner surface. This makes it possible to suppress loss due to adhesion to the inner surface even when handling small amounts of solution. One example of a configuration that suppresses adsorption of the solution is to surface treat the inner surface of flask 10 with a hydrophobic coating. Another method is to set the manufacturing conditions of flask 10 so that the surface roughness of the inner surface of flask 10 is smooth.

[0047] <Modified Flask> The flask 10 in FIG. 1 has a spiral cylindrical shape, and a space is provided in the center of the cylinder (the center portion along the central axis 10C) from the bottom wall 2 through the side wall 4 to the opening 3. However, this is not the only possible embodiment. For example, as a modified example, instead of the side wall 4 of the flask 10 in FIG. 1, a tubular structure is arranged in a spiral shape, and a liquid-contact surface is provided inside the tube. Even when a negative pressure is applied inside the tube, the solvent vaporized from the solution on the bottom wall 2 and the solvent vaporized from the solution in contact with the liquid-contact surface inside the pipe pass toward the opening 3 without sucking up the solution.

[0048] [Rotary evaporator device] A rotary evaporator device according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 5 to 7. In Figures 5 to 7, size indicators for each component are also shown as an example.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 5, the rotary evaporator device 100 includes a flask 10, a support mechanism 110 for supporting the flask 10, a rotation device 120, a heating device 130, a vacuum device 140, a recovery mechanism 150, and a washout liquid supply device 160 (FIG. 6).

[0050] The support mechanism 110 supports the flask 10 so that the central axis 10C can maintain an orientation in which it is tilted relative to the horizontal axis. The support mechanism 110 can have the configuration of a conventional device for supporting a flask for a rotary evaporator. The angle θ (FIG. 7) between the central axis 10C and the horizontal axis Ho is 30° or more, preferably more than 30°, and is 60° or less, preferably 40° or less, and more preferably 35° or less.

[0051] As described above, a stopper to which various pipes are connected is installed at the opening 3 of the flask 10, and the stopper seals the opening 3. The various pipes are pipes provided in the vacuum device 140, the recovery mechanism 150, and the wash-out liquid supply device 160, which will be described below.

[0052] The rotation device 120 rotates the flask 10 around the central axis 10C. The rotation device 120 is installed on the opening 3 side of the flask 10.

[0053] The rotation device 120 is equipped with a control device (not shown), which controls the rotation device 120 so that the solution is pumped into the flask 10. The control device can also control the rotation device 120 so that the pumped solution returns to the bottom wall 2 of the flask 10. The rotation direction of the flask 10 is opposite (reverse rotation) when pumping and when returning to the bottom wall 2.

[0054] The heating device 130 is, for example, an air heater. The heating range of the heating device 130 is the flask 10. Specifically, the heating device 130 heats the flask 10 from the bottom wall 2 to the side wall 4 (body portion 1 in FIG. 1). As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the heating device 130 is equipped with a cylindrical windbreak 131. This windbreak 131 allows hot air to spread from the bottom wall 2 side to the side of the side wall 4 near the opening 3 so as to cover the entire flask 10, thereby heating the solution on the side wall 4 and the solution on the bottom wall 2. As with the pumping mechanism described above, as the rotation is performed by the rotation device 120, the solution forms small liquid pools along the length of the flask 10 (FIG. 3). This allows for heating of a larger area than conventional rotary evaporators.

[0055] The vacuum device 140 creates a negative pressure inside the flask 10. The negative pressure inside the flask 10 promotes evaporation of the solvent in the solution. The vacuum device 140 may include a vacuum gauge and may also include an adjusting device for adjusting the degree of vacuum.

[0056] The recovery mechanism 150 recovers the entire amount of the concentrated solution or the mixture of the concentrated solution and the washout liquid stored on the bottom wall 2. The recovery mechanism 150 includes a suction tube slide mechanism and a tube. The suction tube slide mechanism inserts the tube from the opening 3 side of the flask 10 to the bottom wall 2. The recovery mechanism 150 recovers the entire amount of the concentrated solution or the mixture of the concentrated solution and the washout liquid stored on the bottom wall 2 by using a vacuum or pressurized gas.

[0057] The washing liquid supply device 160 introduces the washing liquid into the flask 10 from the opening 3 side of the flask 10 .

[0058] According to the rotary evaporator device 100 described above, since it is equipped with the flask 10, it is possible to concentrate a solution in a short time, as described above.

[0059] [Solution concentration method] A solution concentrating method according to one embodiment of the present invention is carried out using the above-described rotary evaporator apparatus 100 equipped with a flask 10. The solution concentrating method according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the operational flow of the solution concentrating method S1 according to this embodiment.

[0060] The solution concentration method S1 includes a preparation step S11, a rotation step S12, a heating step S13, a reverse rotation step S14, and a recovery step S15.

[0061] In the preparation step S11, the solution stored on the bottom wall 2 of the flask 10 is brought into contact with the liquid-contact surface 40. Specifically, the pumping mechanism described above is realized. The solution may be introduced into the bottom wall 2 while the flask 10 is inclined as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. Alternatively, the solution may be introduced into the bottom wall 2 of the flask 10 at a location other than the rotary evaporator 100, and then the flask 10 may be attached to the support mechanism 110 of the rotary evaporator 100. The amount of solution stored on the bottom wall 2 is as described above.

[0062] The rotation step S12 is performed after the preparation step S11, and involves rotating the flask 10 containing the solution around the central axis 10C. As described above, the rotation step S12 involves rotating the flask 10 using the rotation device 120. The rotation direction at this time is controlled by the control device of the rotation device 120 so that a portion of the solution stored on the bottom wall 2 is pumped up to the side wall 4.

[0063] The rotation speed of the flask 10 in the rotation step S12 can be set appropriately depending on the contents of the solution (liquidity (viscosity)). If the rotation speed is too fast, the pumped solution cannot flow along the spirally extending liquid contact surface 40, and a liquid film cannot be formed around the entire circumference of the side wall 4. Therefore, the rotation speed is preferably set to a speed at which the solution can flow along the spirally extending liquid contact surface 40. From this perspective, it is sufficient to slow down the rotation speed, but in the case of a solution containing a short-lived radioisotope (RI) as described above, for example, it is necessary to concentrate the solution in a short time. Therefore, it is desirable to rotate the flask 10 as fast as possible, provided that the solution flows along the spirally extending liquid contact surface 40.

[0064] In the heating step S13, the flask 10 rotated in the rotation step S12 is heated by the heating device 130. This allows the solvent to be evaporated from the solution and concentrated. Here, the heating step S13 and the rotation step S12 are carried out in parallel for at least a portion of the time. The heating temperature and heating time are set appropriately depending on the contents of the solution (liquid amount, solvent, etc.), but it is possible to heat at a higher temperature than with conventional rotary evaporators. This is because, as mentioned above, the use of the flask 10 allows a high yield of the solvent that is scattered even if bumping occurs.

[0065] In the rotation step S12 and the heating step S13, the efficiency of concentration is improved by creating a negative pressure inside the flask 10 using a vacuum device 140. The degree of vacuum can be set appropriately.

[0066] The process up to this point is the concentration process of the solution. From here on, the concentrated solution (including the mixture with the washout liquid) is collected.

[0067] In the reverse rotation step S14, the flask 10 is rotated in the direction opposite to the rotation direction in the rotation step S12. In the reverse rotation step S14, the concentrated solution concentrated on the side wall 4 is returned to the bottom wall 2.

[0068] Here, the reverse rotation step S14 may include a washing step. In the washing step, a washing liquid is introduced into the flask 10 from the opening 3 side of the flask 10 by the washing liquid supply device 160. In the washing step, the flask 10 may be rotated in the same direction as the rotation direction used to recover the concentrated solution in the reverse rotation step S14, or in the same direction as the rotation step S12. Since the purpose is concentration, it is preferable to use a small amount of washing liquid. In this embodiment, even a small amount of washing liquid can come into contact with the liquid-contacting surface of the side wall 4 and rise toward the opening 3 or flow down toward the bottom wall 2, thereby recovering the solution on the side wall 4, the liquid film formed on the side wall 4, and the scattered solvent adhering to the side wall 4 with the washing liquid. In other words, the reverse rotation step S14 is a process of returning the concentrated solution concentrated on the side wall 4 to the bottom wall 2 together with the washing liquid. In the step of returning the concentrated solution together with the washing-out liquid to the bottom wall 2, rotation and reverse rotation may be repeated to ensure that the scattered solvent is collected by the washing-out liquid.

[0069] The recovery step S15 is performed after the reverse rotation step S14, and recovers the solution from the flask 10. In the recovery step S15, the recovery mechanism 150 is used to recover the entire amount of the concentrated solution or the mixture of the concentrated solution and the washout liquid stored on the bottom wall 2.

[0070] According to the solution concentration method S1 described above, the rotary evaporator device 100 equipped with the flask 10 is used, so that the solution can be concentrated in a short time, as described above.

[0071] The configuration of this embodiment can contribute to the production of radiopharmaceuticals, and such effects also contribute to the achievement of Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocated by the United Nations, "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages."

[0072] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims, and these modifications are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0073] 〔summary〕 [1] A flask having a body portion with a bottom wall and a cylindrical side wall, and a cylindrical neck portion connected to the body portion, wherein at least a portion of the side wall has a spiral groove extending from the bottom wall side to the neck side.

[0074] [2] The rotary evaporator described in [1], wherein the spiral groove is a concave groove that opens toward the central axis of the flask.

[0075] [3] A rotary evaporator according to [1] or [2], wherein the spiral groove is provided in multiple layers from the bottom wall side to the neck side.

[0076] [4] A rotary evaporator according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the bottom wall has a conical shape.

[0077] [5] A rotary evaporator according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the solution capacity is 100 mL or less.

[0078] [6] A rotary evaporator device comprising the flask described in any one of [1] to [5] above, a rotating device that rotates the flask around its central axis, and a heating device that heats the flask.

[0079] [7] The rotary evaporator device described in [6], further comprising a control device that controls the rotation device to reverse the rotation direction of the flask.

[0080] [8] The rotary evaporator device according to [6] or [7], wherein the heating device heats the body portion.

[0081] [9] The rotary evaporator device according to any one of [6] to [8], further comprising a vacuum device that creates a negative pressure inside the flask.

[0082]

[10] A rotary evaporator device according to any one of [6] to [9], further comprising a recovery mechanism for removing the liquid stored in the flask from the flask.

[0083]

[11] A rotary evaporator apparatus according to any one of [6] to

[10] , further comprising a washing liquid supplying device that supplies a washing liquid to the flask for washing the bottom wall and the cylindrical side wall of the flask.

[0084]

[12] A method for concentrating a solution using the rotary evaporator apparatus described in any one of [6] to

[11] above, comprising: a rotation step of rotating the flask storing the solution around a central axis; and a heating step of heating the flask rotated by the rotation step to evaporate the solvent from the solution and concentrate the solution.

[0085]

[13] The solution concentrating method described in

[12] , further comprising a reverse rotation step of rotating the flask in a direction opposite to the rotation direction in the rotation step after heating the flask for a predetermined period in the heating step.

[0086]

[14] The solution concentrating method according to

[13] , further comprising a recovery step of recovering the solution from the flask after the reverse rotation step. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 1: Body, 2: Bottom wall, 3: Opening, 4: Cylindrical side wall, 5: Neck, 10: Flask, 40: Liquid contact surface, 44: Groove, 45: Tapered portion, 100: Rotary evaporator device, 110: Support mechanism, 120: Rotating device, 130: Heating device, 131: Windshield, 140: Vacuum device, 150: Recovery mechanism, 160: Liquid supply device

Claims

1. A flask comprising a body portion having a bottom wall and a cylindrical side wall, and a cylindrical neck portion connected to the body portion, The flask has a spiral groove formed in at least a portion of the side wall, the groove extending from the bottom wall side to the neck side.

2. The spiral groove is a concave groove that opens toward the central axis of the flask.

2. The flask of claim 1.

3. The spiral groove is provided in multiple layers from the bottom wall side to the neck side.

3. The flask according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The bottom wall has a conical shape.

3. The flask according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The solution volume is 100 mL or less.

3. The flask according to claim 1 or 2.

6. A flask according to claim 1; a rotating device that rotates the flask around a central axis; a heating device for heating the flask; A rotary evaporator device comprising:

7. Further provided is a control device that controls the rotation device to reverse the rotation direction of the flask. The rotary evaporator apparatus of claim 6.

8. The heating device heats the trunk portion as a heating range. The rotary evaporator device according to claim 6 or 7.

9. Further provided with a vacuum device that makes the internal pressure of the flask negative; The rotary evaporator device according to claim 6 or 7.

10. The device further includes a recovery mechanism for removing the liquid stored in the flask from the flask. The rotary evaporator device according to claim 6 or 7.

11. The flask further includes a washing liquid supply device that supplies a washing liquid to the flask for washing the bottom wall and the cylindrical side wall of the flask. The rotary evaporator device according to claim 6 or 7.

12. A method for concentrating a solution using the rotary evaporator apparatus according to claim 6, comprising: a rotating step of rotating the flask containing the solution around a central axis; a heating step of heating the flask rotated by the rotating step to evaporate the solvent from the solution and concentrate the solution; Including, Solution concentration method.

13. The method further includes a reverse rotation step of rotating the flask in a direction opposite to the rotation direction in the rotation step after heating the flask for a predetermined period of time in the heating step. The method for concentrating a solution according to claim 12.

14. The method further comprises recovering the solution from the flask after the counter-rotation step. The method for concentrating a solution according to claim 13.

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