Systems and containers for analysis and / or sample preparation.

Abstract

The objective is to provide a system and apparatus for analysis and / or sample pretreatment that reduces the influence of bubbles on measurement results without using heating and stirring, vacuum degassing using an aspirator, vacuum degassing using a gas-liquid separation membrane, or a degasser (degassing device). [Solution] The problem is solved by an apparatus or system for analysis and / or sample pretreatment that supplies a sample from a sampler and / or reagents from a reagent container from below to an analytical apparatus and / or sample pretreatment device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for analysis and / or pretreatment of an analysis sample and a storage container.

Background Art

[0002] In analyzers that flow liquid through tubes, such as HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatograph), IC (Ion Chromatograph), ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer) devices, etc., when bubbles contained in the liquid pass through the detector, it may affect the measurement results. If the bubbles are fine, the effect can be ignored. However, when the liquid and fine bubbles flow through the flow path in the tube, there is a problem that if the bubbles combine and grow, they will have an unacceptable impact on the measurement results. To solve such problems, methods such as heating and stirring, vacuum degassing using an aspirator, vacuum degassing using a gas-liquid separation membrane, a degasser (degassing device), etc. are used to remove the bubbles contained in the liquid flowing through the tube (see, for example, Patent Document 1, Non-Patent Document 1, etc.).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Non-Patent Documents

[0004]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, the conventional techniques described above are time-consuming and involve complex / expensive equipment, thus creating a need for analytical systems or devices that can more easily solve the problem of air bubbles affecting measurement results. Similarly, in sample preparation devices that involve flowing liquid through tubes, air bubbles in the liquid can affect the accuracy of the sample preparation.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention aims to provide a system and apparatus for analysis and / or pretreatment of analytical samples that reduces the influence of bubbles on measurement results without using heating and stirring, vacuum degassing using an aspirator, vacuum degassing using a gas-liquid separation membrane, a degasser (degassing device), etc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the present invention includes the following embodiments.

[0008] [1] A system for analysis and / or pretreatment of analytical samples, wherein a sample from a sampler and / or a reagent from a reagent container are supplied from below to an analytical instrument and / or analytical sample pretreatment device.

[0009] [2] The system according to [1], comprising the analytical apparatus and / or a pretreatment device for analytical samples, and a storage container for the sampler and / or the reagent container.

[0010] [3] A storage container for storing a sampler and / or reagent containers, wherein the upper surface of the storage container is provided with connection parts between each of the sampler and / or reagent containers stored in the storage container and an analytical device and / or a pretreatment device for analytical samples.

[0011] [4] The containment vessel according to [3], further comprising a clean gas inlet and a gas outlet.

[0012] [5] A storage container for storing a sampler and reagent containers, wherein a region for storing the sampler and a region for storing the reagent containers are separated by individual partitions, as described in [3] or [4].

[0013] [6] A system for analysis and / or pretreatment of an analytical sample, comprising the analytical apparatus and / or pretreatment device for an analytical sample, and a storage container according to any one of [3] to [5]. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, a system and apparatus for analysis and / or pretreatment of analytical samples can be provided that reduces the influence of bubbles on measurement results without using heating and stirring, vacuum degassing using an aspirator, vacuum degassing using a gas-liquid separation membrane, a degasser (degassing device), etc. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This figure shows a schematic configuration of a system for analysis and / or sample preparation according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure shows a schematic configuration of a system for analysis and / or pretreatment of analytical samples according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This diagram schematically illustrates the upward flow of a liquid containing fine bubbles through a pipeline. [Figure 4] This graph shows the results of measuring the baseline of the analytical instrument in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This diagram schematically illustrates how bubbles combine and grow larger as liquid and tiny bubbles flow through a pipe. [Figure 6] This graph shows the results of measuring the baseline of the analytical instrument in a comparative example of the present invention. [Figure 7] This diagram schematically shows the arrangement of the sampler, reagent containers, and analytical instrument in a conventional analytical system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] In the process of studying to solve the above problems, the inventor focused on the positional relationship between the analyzer and the sampler and / or the reagent container. As shown in FIG. 7, usually, the analyzer 4, the sampler 2 and / or the reagent container 3 are arranged side by side on the same table 7. Therefore, the flow path in the pipeline connecting the sampler 2 and / or the reagent container 3 to the sample and / or reagent introduction part of the analyzer may be curved, or may have a portion flowing in the horizontal direction or a portion flowing from above to below. In such a pipeline configuration, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the fine bubbles 5 contained in the liquid flow through the pipeline, they combine with each other over time to form large bubbles 6. The arrow in FIG. 5 indicates the direction of the liquid flow. FIG. 5 shows the state where the fine bubbles grow with time at the apex where the pipeline is curved in an inverted U shape. Similarly, when the liquid in the pipeline flows from above to below and when it flows in the horizontal direction, the fine bubbles grow with time when flowing through the pipeline. Therefore, the inventor arranged the sampler 2 and / or the reagent container 3 below the table 7, and configured the pipeline so that the sample from the sampler 2 and / or the reagent from the reagent container 3 flow from below to above in the flow path in the pipeline to these introduction parts of the analyzer. As a result, the inventor found that such a configuration can reduce the influence of bubbles on the measurement results. This is because, as shown in FIG. 3, when the liquid flows through the flow path in the pipeline in the direction indicated by the arrow, that is, from below to above, the fine bubbles 5 flow without staying, so the possibility of combining with each other and growing larger is reduced. This is the same not only for the analyzer but also for the relationship between the pretreatment device for the analysis sample flowing the liquid in the tube and the sampler and / or the reagent container. That is, the system according to one aspect of the present invention is a system for analysis and / or pretreatment of an analysis sample, in which a sample from a sampler and / or a reagent from a reagent container are supplied to the analyzer and / or the pretreatment device for the analysis sample from below to above.

[0017] Also, one aspect of the present invention relates to a storage container for a sampler and / or a reagent container for supplying a sample from the sampler and / or a reagent from the reagent container upward from below to an analyzer and / or a pretreatment apparatus for an analysis sample. That is, the storage container according to one aspect of the present invention is a storage container for storing a sampler and / or a reagent container, and on the upper surface of the storage container, there are provided connection parts between each of the sampler and / or the reagent container stored in the storage container and the analyzer and / or the pretreatment apparatus for the analysis sample.

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications are possible within the described scope, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. All academic documents and patent documents described in this specification are incorporated herein by reference. Also, unless otherwise specified in this specification, "A~B" representing a numerical range is intended to mean "A or more (including A and greater than A) and B or less (including B and less than B)".

[0019] [1] Embodiment 1 A system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a system for analysis and / or pretreatment of an analysis sample, in which a sample from a sampler and / or a reagent from a reagent container is supplied upward from below to an analyzer and / or a pretreatment apparatus for an analysis sample, and the system includes the analyzer and / or the pretreatment apparatus for the analysis sample and a storage container for storing the sampler and / or the reagent container.

[0020] (Storage container) The storage container is a storage container for storing a sampler and / or a reagent container, and on the upper surface of the storage container, connection parts between each of the sampler and / or the reagent container stored in the storage container and the analyzer and / or the pretreatment apparatus for the analysis sample are provided.

[0021] By using the aforementioned containment container, the influence of bubbles generated when the sample from the sampler and / or the reagent from the reagent container flow through the pipeline to the introduction section of the analytical instrument and / or the pre-treatment device for the analytical sample can be reduced without using heating and stirring, vacuum degassing using an aspirator, vacuum degassing using a gas-liquid separation membrane, or a degasser (degassing device). Therefore, the aforementioned containment container is also included in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Furthermore, conventional configurations, in which the analytical device and / or sample pretreatment device and the sampler and / or reagent container are arranged side by side on a table or the like, have the problem of requiring a large amount of space. Therefore, another object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a system or apparatus for analysis and / or sample pretreatment that can be installed in a smaller space, including the analytical device and / or sample pretreatment device and the sampler and / or reagent container. By using the system and storage container according to one embodiment of the present invention, the analytical device and / or sample pretreatment device can be placed above the storage container, thus solving this problem as well.

[0023] Furthermore, various substances such as dust, fumes, and mist are suspended in the atmosphere of the analysis laboratory, contributing to contamination. For example, when measuring a sample using ICP-OES or ICP-MS as an analytical instrument, contamination by aluminum, zinc, iron, copper, lead, etc., present as dust, fumes, etc., in the atmosphere of the analysis laboratory affects the analytical values ​​and causes errors. Also, when measuring a sample using ion chromatography, flow analysis methods, etc., contamination by ammonia-derived fumes, etc., present in the atmosphere of the analysis laboratory affects the analytical values ​​and causes errors. Therefore, another object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a system or apparatus for analysis and / or pretreatment of analytical samples that can reduce contamination by dust, fumes, and mist, etc., present in the atmosphere of the analysis laboratory. By using the system and storage container for analysis and / or pretreatment of analytical samples according to one embodiment of the present invention, the sampler and / or reagent containers are stored inside the container, so this object can also be resolved.

[0024] Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1(a) shows a schematic configuration of the system 10 for analysis and / or pretreatment of analytical samples according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0025] [System for analysis] The following explanation will use the analysis system 10 as an example, based on Figure 1(a). The analysis system 10 includes an analyzer 4 and a storage container 1 that houses an autosampler 2 and a reagent container 3. The storage container 1 is a storage container for storing the autosampler 2 and the reagent container 3, and a connection part 8 is provided on the upper surface of the storage container 1 between the autosampler 2 and the reagent container 3, which are stored in the storage container 1, and the analyzer 4.

[0026] (Autosampler) The autosampler 2 comprises a sample container holder on which multiple sample containers containing liquid samples are placed, a nozzle for aspirating the liquid samples contained in the sample containers, a drive mechanism for moving the nozzles horizontally and vertically, and a pump connected to the nozzles for aspirating the liquid samples. The sample container holder may be a rack, tray, rotary table, etc. The autosampler 2 may also be equipped with a drive mechanism for moving the sample container holder horizontally and vertically, instead of, or in addition to, the drive mechanism for moving the nozzles horizontally and vertically. These drive mechanisms allow the nozzles and the sample container holder to move relative to each other, enabling the aspirator of liquid samples from desired sample containers. The sample container holder may also be equipped with a heating device, cooling device, temperature control device, etc. This allows the liquid samples contained in the sample containers to be heated, cooled, or kept warm. Alternatively, the sample container holder may be equipped with a vibrator. This allows the liquid samples contained in the sample containers to be stirred. Furthermore, the autosampler 2 may also be capable of pretreatment by adding a reagent to a liquid sample, mixing and heating the liquid sample to which the reagent has been added as needed, and / or dilution by adding a diluent to a liquid sample, and mixing the liquid sample to which the diluent has been added as needed. In such a case, in addition to the multiple sample containers containing liquid samples, a diluent container containing the diluent, a reagent container containing the reagent, etc., are placed on the sample container mounting section. The autosampler 2 may also be equipped with a control device for controlling the drive mechanism, heating device, cooling device, temperature control device, vibration device, etc.

[0027] (Reagent container) Reagent container 3 is a container that holds liquid reagents. Examples of reagents include reagents for pretreatment by adding to a sample, diluents for diluting a sample, reagents for detection in an analytical instrument, reagents as internal standards, reagents for use as a mobile phase in chromatography, reagents for oxidizing and / or reducing a sample, reagents for developing color in a sample for spectrophotometric analysis, reagents for masking metal particles, and reagents for adjusting pH. The liquid reagents contained in reagent container 3 may be liquid reagents, solutions obtained by dissolving liquid or solid reagents in a solvent, or mixtures containing two or more types of reagents.

[0028] Examples of reagents used for pretreatment by adding them to a sample include acids such as hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrofluoric acid, perchloric acid, and phosphoric acid; and alkalis such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and sodium peroxide.

[0029] Examples of diluents for diluting a sample include water, dilute hydrochloric acid, dilute nitric acid, and phosphate buffer.

[0030] Examples of reagents used for detection in analytical instruments include molybdic acid, naphthylethylenediamine, and diphenylcarbazide.

[0031] Examples of reagents used as internal standards include beryllium, yttrium, indium, thallium, and cobalt.

[0032] Examples of reagents used as the mobile phase in chromatography include solutions of acetonitrile, methanol, formic acid, acetic acid, and trifluoroacetic acid dissolved in water.

[0033] In the example shown in Figure 1(a), three reagent containers 3 are stored in the storage container 1. However, the number of reagent containers 3 stored in the storage container 1 is not limited to this and can be changed according to the number of reagents required for the target analysis. The number of reagent containers 3 may be, for example, 1 to 20, 1 to 10, or 1 to 5.

[0034] Furthermore, the three reagent containers 3 in Figure 1(a) may each contain the same reagent, or they may each contain different reagents.

[0035] (Connection part) The upper surface of the storage container 1 is provided with connection parts 8 between the autosampler 2 and reagent container 3, each stored in the storage container 1, and the analyzer 4. The connection part 8 may be a simple hole through which conduits for delivering the sample from the autosampler 2 and the reagent from the reagent container 3 to the analyzer 4 pass, or it may be a connector that connects the conduit for delivering the sample from the autosampler 2 and the reagent from the reagent container 3 to the connection part 8 and the conduit for delivering them from the connection part 8 to the analyzer 4. Alternatively, the connection part 8 may include the hole and connecting pipes passing through the hole that connect the autosampler 2 and the reagent container 3 to the analyzer 4. Or, the connection part 8 may include the connector and conduits connected by the connector for delivering the sample from the autosampler 2 and the reagent from the reagent container 3 to the connection part 8, and conduits for delivering them from the connection part 8 to the analyzer 4. Hereinafter, the connecting tubes that connect the autosampler 2 and reagent container 3 to the analyzer 4, the pipelines for transporting the sample from the autosampler 2 and the reagent from the reagent container 3 to the connection section 8, and the pipelines for transporting these from the connection section 8 to the analyzer 4 will be referred to as "connecting tubes, etc."

[0036] The connecting pipes and the like that make up the connection section 8 are configured so that the sample from the sampler 2 and the reagent from the reagent container 3 flow from bottom to top through the pipeline to the introduction section of the analyzer 4. This reduces the influence of air bubbles generated when the sample from the autosampler 2 and / or the reagent from the reagent container 3 flow through the pipeline to the introduction section of the sample and / or reagent in the analyzer 4 on the measurement results.

[0037] The connecting pipes, etc., are connected to the autosampler 2 and reagent container 3, respectively, and the analyzer 4, without including horizontal sections or sections that curve vertically (in other words, sections that curve in an inverted U-shape, as shown in Figure 5), so that the sample and reagents flow from bottom to top through the conduits to their respective inlets in the analyzer 4. The connecting pipes, etc., may be straight, curved as shown in Figure 3, or bend in the middle, as long as they do not include horizontal sections or sections that curve vertically (in other words, sections that curve in an inverted U-shape, as shown in Figure 5). The connecting pipe, etc. does not need to include a horizontal portion, but more preferably, in all portions of the connecting pipe, etc., the angle between the connecting pipe, etc. portion and the horizontal direction is 5 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less, or 15 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less, 25 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less, 35 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less, 40 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less, 45 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less, or 50 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less.

[0038] The material of the connecting pipe, etc., is not particularly limited as long as it is a material that does not react with the liquid flowing through the pipeline. The material of the connecting pipe, etc., may be, for example, resins such as PFA (tetrafluoroethylene perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PEEK (aromatic polyether ketone), PP (polypropylene); synthetic rubber; silicone, etc. The inner diameter and length of the connecting pipe, etc., are not particularly limited, but the inner diameter is, for example, 0.1 mm to 3.0 mm and the length is, for example, 20 cm to 100 cm.

[0039] The sample introduction section in the analyzer 4 may, for example, be a sample introduction tube for introducing the sample and a sample introduction pump for applying suction to the sample introduction tube. Similarly, the reagent introduction section in the analyzer 4 may, for example, be a reagent introduction tube for introducing the reagent and a reagent introduction pump for applying suction to the reagent introduction tube. The sample introduction pump and the reagent introduction pump are not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a peristaltic pump, a plunger pump, a double plunger pump, etc.

[0040] The sample introduction pump provided at the sample introduction section of the analyzer 4 and the reagent introduction pump provided at the reagent introduction section allow the sample and reagent to flow from bottom to top through the flow path in the connecting tube, etc., by suction.

[0041] Since a connection part 8 is provided on the upper surface of the storage container 1, the analyzer 4 can be positioned above the storage container 1, allowing the sample and reagents flowing through the pipeline to flow from bottom to top. Therefore, the influence of air bubbles generated as the sample from the sampler and / or reagents from the reagent container flow through the pipeline to the introduction parts of the analyzer can be reduced.

[0042] (Analyzer) The analytical instrument 4 is not particularly limited as long as it is an analytical instrument that flows a liquid through a tube, but examples include HPLC, ion chromatograph, ICP-OES instrument, ICP-MS instrument, flow analyzer, capillary electrophoresis instrument, etc.

[0043] (Other components of the containment vessel) The storage container 1 may or may not be sealed, except for the connecting portion 8.

[0044] The containment vessel 1 may have openings on at least one of its top, side, and bottom surfaces. If the containment vessel 1 is not sealed, contamination by dust, fumes, and mist from the outside may occur. From the viewpoint of reducing contamination by dust, fumes, and mist present in the atmosphere inside the analysis chamber, it is more preferable to reduce the total area of ​​the openings to an extent that does not adversely affect the reduction of such contamination.

[0045] If the containment vessel 1 is sealed except for the connection part 8, or if the degree of sealing is high, contamination from outside the containment vessel 1 can be prevented well, but problems may occur due to dust, mist, fumes, etc. generated inside the containment vessel 1. For example, if the sample contains high concentrations of volatile substances such as mercury or ammonia, contamination of other samples may occur due to fumes derived from the volatile substances and ammonia that have evaporated. Alternatively, if the sample and / or reagents are acidic, such as nitric acid or hydrochloric acid, the inside of the containment vessel 1 will become an acidic fume atmosphere, which can cause corrosion of the metal parts of the device.

[0046] To solve this problem, the containment vessel 1 may further be provided with a clean gas inlet (not shown) and a gas outlet (not shown). That is, the containment vessel according to one embodiment of the present invention may further be provided with a clean gas inlet and a gas outlet. By using the clean gas introduced from the clean gas inlet to push out dust, mist, fumes, etc. generated inside the containment vessel toward the gas outlet, contamination and / or corrosion of metal parts by the dust, mist, fumes, etc. can be reduced.

[0047] In the example storage container 1 shown in Figure 1(a), the area for storing the autosampler 2 and the area for storing the reagent container 3 are separated separately. That is, a storage container according to one embodiment of the present invention is a storage container for storing a sampler and a reagent container, and the area for storing the sampler and the area for storing the reagent container may be separated separately. With such a configuration, if dust, mist, fumes, etc. are generated from the sample and / or reagents inside the storage container, contamination between the sample and the reagents and / or corrosion of metal parts can be prevented. For example, if dust, mist, fumes, etc. are generated only from the reagents, contamination of the sample by these can be prevented. The area for storing the autosampler 2 and the area for storing the reagent container 3 are separated separately, for example, by a partition plate.

[0048] In the example shown in Figure 1(a), the area for storing the autosampler 2 and the area for storing the reagent container 3 are separated by partitions. However, the area for storing the autosampler 2 and the area for storing the reagent container 3 may not be separated, and the autosampler 2 and the reagent container 3 may be contained within a single space.

[0049] In the example shown in Figure 1(a), if the storage container 1 is provided with a clean gas inlet and a gas outlet, the clean gas inlet and the gas outlet may be provided in both the area for storing the autosampler 2 and the area for storing the reagent container 3, or they may be provided in either area.

[0050] The clean gas inlet and gas outlet may be provided on any side of the containment vessel, but from the viewpoint of efficiently carrying out the inlet and outlet of gas, it is more preferable that they be provided on the side of the containment vessel, and more preferably on different side surfaces of the containment vessel, and even more preferably on opposing side surfaces of the containment vessel. However, in the containment vessel 1 shown in Figure 1(a), if the clean gas inlet and gas outlet are provided on opposing side surfaces of the containment vessel, the two opposing side surfaces are preferably perpendicular to the surface where the area for storing the autosampler 2 and the area for storing the reagent container 3 are in contact.

[0051] In the storage container 1 shown in Figure 1(a), at least one clean gas inlet and gas outlet may be provided in the area where the autosampler 2 is stored and / or in the area where the reagent container 3 is stored, but multiple outlets may be provided in each area. Also, even if the area where the autosampler 2 is stored and the area where the reagent container 3 is stored are not separated, at least one clean gas inlet and gas outlet may be provided, but multiple outlets may be provided.

[0052] Furthermore, from the viewpoint of efficiently discharging dust, mist, fumes, etc. generated from the sample and / or reagent inside the containment container, it is more preferable that the clean gas inlet and gas outlet are located at a vertically higher position than the surface of the sample in the sampler and / or the surface of the reagent in the reagent container.

[0053] The clean gas inlet can have any configuration as long as it can draw in clean gas from outside the containment vessel. For example, the clean gas inlet may be equipped with a fan for drawing in the gas. When drawing in air from outside the containment vessel, a filter such as a HEPA filter, activated carbon, or PTFE membrane filter may be used to draw in clean air from which contamination factors such as dust, mist, and fumes have been removed.

[0054] In the example of the analysis system 10 shown in Figure 1(a), the storage container 1 is a storage container that stores the autosampler 2 and the reagent container 3. However, the analysis system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention may include a storage container 1' that stores only the autosampler 2, as shown in the example of the analysis system 10' shown in Figure 1(b). The analysis system 10' is used, for example, when it is not necessary to add reagents other than the sample from the autosampler 2.

[0055] Alternatively, the analytical system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention may be a storage container 1'' that stores only the reagent container 3, as shown in the example of the analytical system 10'' in Figure 1(c).

[0056] [System for pre-treatment of analytical samples] In the above example, the systems shown in Figures 1(a) to 1(c) were explained using analysis systems 10, 10', and 10'' as examples. However, the systems shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(c) may also be systems 10 and 10'' for pre-treatment of analytical samples, which include a pre-treatment device 4 for analytical samples instead of the aforementioned analysis device 4. In this case, the "autosampler 2", "reagent container 3", and "storage container 1" that houses them are as described above. Furthermore, regarding the "connection part" described for the analysis system, "analysis device 4" should be read as "pre-treatment device 4 for analytical samples", and "sample and / or reagent introduction part in analysis device 4" should be read as "sample and / or reagent introduction part in pre-treatment device 4 for analytical samples". Also, the sample introduction part in the pre-treatment device 4 for analytical samples may be, for example, a sample introduction tube for introducing the sample and a sample introduction pump that applies suction to the sample introduction tube. Similarly, the reagent introduction part in analysis device 4 may be, for example, a reagent introduction tube for introducing the reagent and a reagent introduction pump that applies suction to the reagent introduction tube. As described in the explanation of the analytical system, these pumps are of a certain type, and by aspirating the sample and reagents with these pumps, they can cause the sample and reagents to flow from bottom to top through the flow path in the connecting tube, etc.

[0057] The following explanation will use the system 10'' for sample pretreatment as an example, based on Figure 1(c). The system 10'' for sample pretreatment includes a sample pretreatment device 4 and a storage container 1 for storing reagent containers 3. The storage container 1 is a storage container for storing reagent containers 3, and a connection portion 8 is provided on the upper surface of the storage container 1 between each of the reagent containers 3 stored in the storage container 1 and the sample pretreatment device 4.

[0058] The sample pretreatment device 4 is, for example, a reagent dispenser that holds solid and / or liquid samples in a container, adds reagents drawn from the reagent container 3 to the sample container, and then performs stirring, heating, cooling, etc. The sample pretreatment device 4 may also have a function to make up the dilution with dilution water. The sample pretreatment device 4 may be used when performing acid decomposition, alkaline decomposition, or sample dilution.

[0059] The sample pretreatment device 4 may include, for example, a sample container holder on which a plurality of containers containing solid and / or liquid samples are placed, a nozzle for adding reagents aspirated from the reagent container 3 to the samples contained in the containers, a drive mechanism for moving the nozzles horizontally and vertically, and a pump connected to the nozzles for aspirating the reagents. The sample container holder may be a rack, tray, rotary table, etc. The sample pretreatment device 4 may also include a drive mechanism for moving the sample container holder horizontally and vertically, instead of, or in addition to, the drive mechanism for moving the nozzles horizontally and vertically. These drive mechanisms allow the nozzles and the sample container holder to move relative to each other, enabling the addition of liquid reagents to desired containers. The sample container holder may also include a heating device, cooling device, temperature control device, etc. This allows the liquid samples contained in the containers to be heated, cooled, or kept warm. Alternatively, the sample container holder may include a vibrator. This allows the liquid sample contained in the container to be stirred. The sample pretreatment device 4 may also be capable of adding reagents drawn from the reagent container 3 to the sample, and mixing and heating the sample with the added reagents as needed. The sample pretreatment device 4 may also be equipped with a control device for controlling the drive mechanism, heating device, cooling device, temperature control device, vibration device, etc.

[0060] In the example of system 10'' for pretreatment of analytical samples shown in Figure 1(c), the storage container 1'' is a storage container that stores only the reagent container 3. However, the system for pretreatment of analytical samples according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention may include a storage container 1 that stores the autosampler 2 and the reagent container 3, as shown in the example of analytical system 10 shown in Figure 1(a).

[0061] [2] Embodiment 2 Figure 2 shows a schematic configuration of a system for analysis and / or sample pretreatment according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. As shown in Figure 2, the system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is configured such that the sample from the autosampler 2 and / or the reagent from the reagent container 3 are supplied to the analyzer and / or sample pretreatment device 4 from bottom to top, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2. This differs from the system for analysis and / or sample pretreatment according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention in that it does not include the aforementioned storage container included in Embodiment 1, but otherwise they are the same. Therefore, the description of Embodiment 1 can be used to refer to the configuration of the system for analysis and / or sample pretreatment according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Note that the arrows in Figure 2 indicate the direction of liquid flow (flow from bottom to top) (the arrows in Figure 1 are the same).

[0062] In the system for analysis and / or pretreatment of analytical samples according to Embodiment 2 of the Invention, the configuration is not particularly limited as long as the sample from the sampler and / or the reagent from the reagent container are supplied to the analyzer from below to above, for example, the sampler and / or reagent container are installed below the analyzer. [Examples]

[0063] The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited by these examples.

[0064] [Example 1] As the analytical instrument, we used the MiSSion flow analyzer (manufactured by BLTECH Co., Ltd.), which employs the absorbance spectrophotometric method for detection.

[0065] First, pure water was aerated in a container to generate fine bubbles in the pure water, and the container was then placed at the bottom of the analyzer. A PFA tube (1.59 mm inner diameter, 1.1 m length) was used as a tube to carry the pure water containing the fine bubbles drawn from the container. This PFA tube was connected to the suction tube that draws the pure water from the container and the sample introduction section of the analyzer, and the liquid was pumped using a peristaltic pump. At this time, the flow path for the pure water containing the fine bubbles was formed so that the water flowed upwards from the container towards the analyzer throughout the entire flow path. Specifically, the PFA tube, excluding any horizontal sections, had an angle of 80 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less between the PFA tube and the horizontal direction in all sections.

[0066] Subsequently, the pump in the sample introduction section of the analyzer pumped the pure water containing fine bubbles, which had been drawn from the container, upward towards the analyzer, and the baseline was confirmed using the analyzer. Furthermore, smoothing was performed through software processing, and the peaks in the noise level were averaged.

[0067] The obtained baseline is shown in Figure 4. As shown in Figure 4, no influence on the measurement from minute bubbles in the solution was observed.

[0068] [Comparative Example 1] Except for placing the sampler on the stand on which the analyzer was mounted, next to the analyzer, the solution was transferred from the sampler to the analyzer and the baseline was confirmed in the same manner as in Example 1.

[0069] In Comparative Example 1, the same channel as in Example 1, i.e., the PFA tube described above, was used as the channel for flowing the solution aspirated from the sample container of the sampler. The PFA tube included a horizontal section and a section that curved vertically between the sampler and the analyzer, which were placed side by side.

[0070] Figure 6 shows the results of baseline verification performed in the same manner as in Example 1. As shown in Figure 6, the influence of fine bubbles in the solution on the measurement due to the growth of bubbles was observed. [Industrial applicability]

[0071] According to one aspect of the present invention, a system and apparatus for analysis and / or pretreatment of analytical samples can be provided that reduces the influence of bubbles on measurement results without using heating and stirring, vacuum degassing using an aspirator, vacuum degassing using a gas-liquid separation membrane, a degasser (degassing device), etc. Therefore, it has extremely high industrial value in the field of analytical technology. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0072] 1, 1', 1'' containment vessel 2 Samplers, Autosamplers 3 Reagent containers 4. Analytical equipment, sample preparation equipment 5. Tiny bubbles 6. Large bubbles 7 units 8 Connection part 10, 10', 10'' System for analysis and / or sample preparation

Claims

1. A system for analysis and / or pretreatment of analytical samples, A system in which a sample from a sampler and / or a reagent from a reagent container are supplied from below to above to an analyzer and / or a sample pretreatment device.

2. The system according to claim 1, comprising the analytical apparatus and / or a pretreatment device for analytical samples, and a storage container for the sampler and / or the reagent container.

3. A storage container for storing a sampler and / or reagent containers, wherein the upper surface of the storage container is provided with connection parts between each of the sampler and / or reagent containers stored in the storage container and an analytical device and / or a pre-treatment device for analytical samples.

4. The storage container according to claim 3, further comprising a clean gas inlet and a gas outlet.

5. A storage container for storing a sampler and reagent containers, wherein the area for storing the sampler and the area for storing the reagent containers are separated by individual partitions, as described in claim 3.

6. A system for analysis and / or pretreatment of an analytical sample, comprising the analytical apparatus and / or pretreatment device for an analytical sample and the storage container according to any one of claims 3 to 5.

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