DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MIXING A LIQUID BY TRANSFERING THE LIQUID BETWEEN A PUMP AND A MEASURING CELL AND FOR PERFORMING PHYSIO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE LIQUID SO MIXED - Patent application

Abstract

The present invention relates to a microfluidic device and method for mixing liquids by reciprocating said liquids between the chamber (10) of a piston (5) pump (1) and the cavity (18) of a spectrophotometric measurement cell (3). The present invention also relates to the physicochemical analysis of the mixture thus obtained directly in said cell (3). The present invention also relates to a device and method for remotely sampling liquids.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of devices and methods for sampling and mixing liquids.

[0002] The invention is particularly directed to the field of analytical chemistry, in particular for preparing solutions to be analysed.

[0003] The invention is not limited to this particular field of application: the invention can be implemented in any field of industry and scientific research. [Background technology]

[0004] Physicochemical analysis of a liquid generally requires premixing this liquid with a reagent.

[0005] A traditional analytical technique, called sequential injection, consists of injecting liquid samples and reagents into a circuit filled with a carrier liquid. Injection is performed using a syringe pump by forcing these products through a spiral mixing tube. The thus mixed solution is then expelled by means of a pump towards a passing spectrophotometric cell where the spectroscopic analysis is carried out sequentially.

[0006] Compared to conventional benchtop analysis, this technique can reduce the volume of sample analyzed (approximately 10 μL per sample, compared to approximately 5 mL at the bench), reduce the volume of waste generated (approximately 1.5 mL per sample analyzed, compared to approximately 60 mL at the bench), and reduce analysis time (approximately 2 minutes and 30 seconds per sample, compared to over 20 minutes at the bench).

[0007] Nonetheless, this technique has drawbacks.

[0008] On the other hand, mixing in a spiral tube produces a non-homogeneous solution.

[0009] On the other hand, the spectrophotometric cell configuration allows only temporary measurements to be performed.

[0010] Furthermore, because the sample is thoroughly mixed with the carrier liquid, unused portions of the sample cannot be reconstituted for subsequent analysis. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] The present invention is intended to provide devices and methods that can improve mixture homogeneity, provide a mixture adapted to be analyzed during an independent, non-transient analytical step, and further reduce the amount of waste generated.

[0012] The present invention is also intended to increase the automation of the analytical process. Indeed, automation can reduce sources of error in the measurements and increase the speed of the analysis.

[0013] The present invention is also contemplated to allow for reduced volumes of liquid samples to be sampled at significant distances. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] To this end, the object of the invention is a device for mixing liquids, comprising a piston pump, a multi-way valve, a container, a first duct for connecting the valve to a chamber of the pump, a second duct for connecting the cavity of the container to a transfer passage of the valve, and several inlet ducts connected respectively to each inlet passage of the valve, the valve being: - sampling positions each establishing fluid communication between a respective one of said inlet ducts and a chamber, and wherein the action of moving said piston in a first direction can move a respective one of said liquids from said inlet duct towards the chamber; - a transfer position that establishes fluid communication between the chamber and the cavity such that said fluid can be transferred from the chamber to the cavity by the action of moving the piston in a second direction, and from the cavity to the chamber by the action of moving the piston in said first direction, via a first connecting duct and a second connecting duct; can be selectively occupied.

[0015] According to the invention, in at least one use configuration of the device, the cavity defines a low point and said second connecting duct is connected to a container so that said liquid can be introduced into or removed from the cavity via said low point.

[0016] The concepts of "low point" and "high point" should be understood as generally accepted in fluid mechanics. Thus, the low point of the cavity is the lowest position of the cavity when the device is in said use configuration, i.e., when the valve is in the transfer position, in a configuration in which liquid can be transferred from the chamber to the cavity by the action of the piston moving in the second direction, and from the cavity to the chamber by the action of the piston moving in said first direction.

[0017] Positioning the second connecting duct at a low point of the cavity allows most, if not all, of the liquid contained in the cavity to be removed via this duct.

[0018] It is therefore possible to perform a mixing step by recirculating the liquid within the device after its initial introduction into the cavity, more specifically, this mixing step comprises at least one movement of the liquid from the cavity to the chamber and then from the chamber to the cavity, i.e. at least one back and forth movement of the liquid between the cavity and the chamber.

[0019] During such a mixing step, the liquid is subjected to stresses resulting from the section changes between the cavity, the duct and the chamber: indeed, the duct has a section smaller than the section of the cavity and the section of the chamber, for example about 1 / 10 smaller.

[0020] In a testing context in which this device was used to mix aqueous solutions for spectrophotometric analysis, it was surprisingly found that with just one or two shuttle passes of the liquid between the cavity and the chamber it was possible to obtain a homogenous solution capable of providing measurement results with both very low standard deviation and bias.

[0021] The present invention allows for improved and automated mixing of liquids and cleaning of the device while simplifying the device.

[0022] Positioning the second connecting duct at a low point of the cavity makes it possible to automate the cleaning of the device, in particular the cavity of the container, by introducing a cleaning liquid into the device through one of the inlet ducts.

[0023] The effectiveness of such cleaning in eliminating traces that may affect new measurements was also observed during the aforementioned tests.

[0024] The invention therefore allows most of the steps, including cleaning of the device, to be automated and in particular allows a homogenous mixture of liquids to be obtained in a fast, reliable and simple manner without resorting to mechanical mixing devices such as magnetic stirrers, vibrating plates or pump stirring mechanisms.

[0025] Preferably, the cavity is open at one end of the container opposite the low point.

[0026] Thus, the cavity may be exposed to ambient pressure, such as atmospheric pressure.

[0027] In particular, this makes it possible to avoid under- or over-pressure phenomena in the cavities and fluid circuits during implementation of the device.

[0028] In one embodiment, the cavity may have a narrowing section towards a low point.

[0029] Such narrowing of the cavity makes it possible to avoid stagnation of the liquid therein, to improve the mixing of the liquid during extraction from the cavity through the second connecting duct, and to improve the efficiency of cleaning of the cavity.

[0030] If the container is a spectrophotometric measurement cell, narrowing the cavity in this manner can also reduce the volume of this cell while still defining a height sufficient to perform suitable spectrophotometric measurements.

[0031] Preferably, at least when the device is in said use configuration, the chamber may define a low point, and said connecting duct may be connected to a pump via this low point so that said liquid can be introduced into or extracted from the chamber.

[0032] Thus, when both air and liquid are introduced into the chamber, the air can rise in the chamber relative to the piston, while the liquid can occupy the space located vertically between the volume of air and the low point of the chamber.

[0033] When the piston is moved in the second direction, the air present in the chamber pushes the liquids out of the chamber, which in particular can displace all of these liquids up to the cavity of the container and, if possible, injects air bubbles into the liquid present in the cavity. For this purpose, the device can be dimensioned such that, when all of the liquid coming from the chamber has been introduced into the cavity of the container, a residual amount of air is still present in the chamber, causing air bubbles to form in the liquid in the cavity at the end of the stroke of the piston.

[0034] The container can be a container used only for mixing liquids or a container used both for mixing and for analyzing them, in other words the container can form a measurement cell.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment, the container may be a spectrophotometric cell.

[0036] Of course, the mixing device is compatible with other detection techniques such as colorimetry, atomic absorption spectrometry, inductively coupled mass spectrometry, refractometry, chemiluminescence, or electrochemistry.

[0037] Preferably, the mixing device as defined above is a microfluidic device.

[0038] In one embodiment, the valve referred to above may be a main valve and the mixing device may comprise a sampling device comprising a sampling valve and a sampling duct connected to the sampling passage of the sampling valve. Preferably, the sampling valve comprises: - a liquid sampling position establishing fluid communication between a sampling duct and a first one of the inlet ducts, whereby when the main valve is in the first sampling position establishing fluid communication between the first inlet duct and a chamber, an action of moving a piston in a first direction can move liquid from the sampling duct towards the chamber; - an air sampling position establishing fluid communication between an open passage of a sampling valve and the first inlet duct, the open passage being exposed to ambient air, such that when the main valve is in the first sampling position, an action of moving the piston in the first direction can move ambient air towards the chamber; Selectively occupy.

[0039] Such a sampling device allows sampling of relatively small amounts of liquid over relatively large distances by transporting the relatively small amount of liquid between two volumes of sampled air via the open passageway.

[0040] Additionally in the context of the present invention, the sampling device may relate to a device different from the mixing device mentioned above.

[0041] The invention also relates to a device for the physicochemical analysis of liquids, said analysis device comprising a mixing device as defined above.

[0042] The analytical device may comprise a system implementing any one of the aforementioned detection techniques.

[0043] Thus, the analytical device includes, for example, a spectrophotometric detector.

[0044] According to another aspect, the object of the present invention is a method for mixing liquids using a mixing device as defined above, comprising the steps of: - a sampling step in which the liquid is respectively moved from the inlet duct towards a chamber of the pump, the sampling step comprising positioning a valve in each of the sampling positions; - filling the container, the filling step including displacing at least a portion of the liquid from the chamber to the cavity, the filling step including positioning the valve in the transfer position; - a mixing step comprising transferring at least a portion of the liquid from the cavity to the chamber and then from the chamber to the cavity; Includes.

[0045] This mixing method offers the same advantages as those set out above with reference to the mixing device.

[0046] The present invention also relates to a method for carrying out a physicochemical analysis of a liquid using an analytical device as defined above, said analytical method comprising a mixing method as defined above.

[0047] Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed, non-limiting description.

[0048] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0049] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a mixing device according to the invention comprising a piston pump with the piston in a first position. [Diagram 2] 2 is a schematic diagram of the device of FIG. 1 with the pump piston in a second position. [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a spectrophotometric measuring cell according to the invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram of a sampling device according to the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0050] In figures 1 and 2 the device according to the invention is shown in a schematic and simplified manner.

[0051] The device comprises a pump 1, a valve 2 and a container 3 interconnected to allow for the movement and mixing of liquids therein.

[0052] The pump 1 comprises a body 4 and a piston 5 .

[0053] In this example, the body 4 forms a cylindrical housing extending along a longitudinal axis A1 along which the piston 5 is able to slide.

[0054] In Figures 1 and 2 the device is in the so-called use configuration.

[0055] In this use configuration, the longitudinal axis A1 is substantially parallel to the vertical, i.e. to the direction in which gravity F1 is applied.

[0056] The body 4 of the pump 1 comprises a lower vertical end 7, an upper vertical end 8, and a side wall 9 connecting the lower end 7 and the upper end 8 to one another.

[0057] The expressions "lower" and "upper", or "vertically lower" and "vertically upper", are defined relative to the direction of gravity F1. Thus, when an element comprises a lower part and an upper part, a liquid subjected to gravity F1 will, under the action of this force, move in a direction from the upper part towards the lower part.

[0058] 2, the piston 5 and the lower end 7 of the body 4 vertically define between them a chamber 10. Radially, the chamber 10 is defined by a side wall 9 of the body 4 of the pump 1.

[0059] In Figure 1, the piston 5 is in a first position in which the chamber 10 has zero volume. The piston 5 is represented in Figure 2 in a second position in which the chamber 10 has a positive volume.

[0060] When the piston 5 is in the second position, the volume defines the total filling volume of the chamber 10, which in this example corresponds to a volume of about 1000 μL.

[0061] Pump 1 is a piston pump known as a "syringe pump."

[0062] Referring to FIG. 1, in this example the valve 2 is a multi-way rotary valve.

[0063] This valve 2 has a common distribution point V0 connected to the chamber 10 of the pump 1 by a first connecting duct 15.

[0064] 1 and 2 show the pump 1, the valve 2 and the duct 15 in the form of separate elements. Nevertheless, the duct 15 can be molded into the body of the valve 2 and can be connected to the chamber 10 of the pump 1 via a threaded connection (not shown). The common dispensing point V0 is in this case formed by one end of the duct 15. More generally, the pump 1, the valve 2 and the duct 15 can form a single product, such as the product known as the "XCalibur Cavro pump" (registered trademark).

[0065] In all cases, the first connecting duct 15 is configured to establish fluid communication between a common dispensing point V0 and the chamber 10.

[0066] Generally, the valve 2 should comprise at least one inlet passage for leading liquids into the device and one passage connected to the container 3. In this minimal embodiment, the discharge of liquids can be performed via this same inlet passage. However, it is preferred to lead different liquids into the device via each inlet passage and to discharge them via a dedicated outlet passage. For this reason, the valve 2 preferably comprises at least four passages, namely at least two inlet passages, one outlet passage and one passage connected to the container 3.

[0067] In the example of FIG. 1, the valve 2 has twelve passages V1 to V12.

[0068] Since passages V8 to V12 are not used in this example, they are provided with plugs represented by a cross.

[0069] Regardless of the number of passages and the mechanism for changing the position of the valve 2, the valve 2 is configured so that it can be selectively positioned in a variety of positions, in each of which the common distribution point V0 and one of the passages V1-V12 are arranged in fluid communication with each other.

[0070] A first connecting duct 15 is connected to the pump 1 so that liquid can be led into or extracted from the chamber 10 via a low point 16 of the chamber 10 .

[0071] In this example, the low point 16 of the chamber 10 is located vertically at the lower end 7 of the body 4 of the pump 1 .

[0072] For this purpose, the lower end 7 is provided with an opening forming this low point 16, allowing fluid communication to be established between the chamber 10 and the first duct 15, and finally between the chamber 10 and the common dispensing point V0.

[0073] Thus, the first connecting duct 15 is connected to the pump 1 so that liquid can be led to the chamber 10 or extracted from the chamber 10 via a low point 16 .

[0074] As can be deduced from the following description, when the chamber 10 is filled with both a predetermined amount of air and a predetermined amount of liquid, which are considered to be immiscible, the connection of the first duct 15 at the low point 16 of the pump 1 results in the air occupying the upper part of the chamber 10 and the liquid being in the lower part of the chamber 10, and therefore the predetermined amount of liquid being discharged through the first duct 15 before the predetermined amount of air.

[0075] With regard to the container 3, the container 3 includes a cavity 18 configured to receive a liquid.

[0076] In the example of figures 1 and 2, the cavity 18 is formed by an opening that traverses the container 3 along the entire longitudinal axis A2.

[0077] In the use configuration of the device, this longitudinal axis A2 is in this example substantially parallel to the vertical and to the longitudinal axis A1.

[0078] The vessel 3 comprises a body 20 defining a lower vertical end 21 and an upper vertical end 22 .

[0079] In this example, the opening forming the cavity 18 has a variable section along the axis A2.

[0080] Moving along axis A2 from upper end 22 downward to lower end 21 of body 20, cavity 18 comprises a substantially cylindrical first section 23, a substantially conical second section 24, and a substantially cylindrical third section 25. The diameter of first section 23 is greater than the diameter of third section 25.

[0081] A first section 23 of the cavity 18 is open at the outer surface of the upper end 22 of the container 3 and the cavity 18 is therefore exposed to atmospheric pressure or, in any case, to the pressure of the environment in which the container 3 is placed.

[0082] A third section 25 of the cavity 18 is open at an outer surface of the lower end 21 of the container 3 and defines a low point 26 of the cavity 18, at least in the use configuration.

[0083] In Figures 1 and 2, the respective dimensions of cavity 18 and other elements of the device are not to scale and these figures are merely intended to illustrate the principles of the invention.

[0084] As a non-limiting example, a container 3 actually designed in the context of the present invention is shown in FIG.

[0085] Container 3 in FIG. 3 is a spectrophotometric cell.

[0086] The cell 3 in FIG. 3 is merely depicted according to its differences relative to the container 3 in FIG.

[0087] The cavity 18 of the cell 3 comprises a fourth substantially cylindrical section 28 that is open at the outer surface of the lower end 21 of the vessel 3 , which defines said low point 26 of the cavity 18 .

[0088] The fourth section 28 is configured to cooperate with a duct via a threaded connection (not shown) to convey liquid through said duct into the cavity 18 .

[0089] Preferably, the third section 25 has a section having a diameter substantially the same as the inside diameter of such duct.

[0090] The first section 23 is formed into a part-cylindrical opening that is machined to form two surfaces 29 that are parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis A2.

[0091] The surfaces 29 are polished and separated from each other by a distance D1 that defines an optical path, in this example optical path D1 is 10 mm.

[0092] The surfaces 29 are each arranged on opposite sides of a housing 40 intended to receive a collimating lens (not shown) capable of optimizing the optical path.

[0093] Such a cell 3 is capable of performing spectrophotometric measurements on a mixture of liquids received within the cavity 18 at least partially in the first section 23 .

[0094] In one embodiment, the container 3 of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 is a spectrophotometric measuring cell such as that depicted in FIG.

[0095] With reference to FIG. 1, the device comprises a second duct 27 connecting the cavity 18 of the container 3 to the passage V1 of the valve 2, the passage V1 also being called the transfer passage.

[0096] When the vessel 3 is the cell of FIG. 3, said duct mentioned above in the description relating to FIG.

[0097] More generally, the second connecting duct 27 is configured to establish fluid communication between the transfer passage V 1 of the valve 2 and the cavity 18 of the container 3 .

[0098] A second connecting duct 27 is connected to the container 3 so that liquid can be led into or extracted from the cavity 18 via said low point 26 of this cavity 18 .

[0099] 1 or 2, when the cavities 18 contain liquids, these liquids tend to move towards the second connecting duct 27 under the effect of gravity F1.

[0100] In particular, this configuration makes it possible to extract most, or even all, of the liquid contained in the cavity 18 via this second connecting duct 27 .

[0101] In the example of FIG. 1, the device comprises five inlet ducts 31-35 and one outlet duct .

[0102] The inlet ducts 31 to 35 are each connected by one of their ends to a passage V2 to V6, referred to as an inlet passage.

[0103] In this example, the other end of each of the inlet ducts 31 and 32 is intended to be connected to a sampling point (not shown) and establishes fluid communication between this sampling point and the inlet passage V2 or V3, respectively.

[0104] In this example, the device comprises four vials 41-44, including three vials 41-43 each containing a respective liquid, and one vial 44 intended to receive liquid waste.

[0105] The inlet ducts 33 to 35 have their other ends immersed in the vials 41 to 43, respectively, to enable sampling of the liquid contained in these vials.

[0106] The outlet duct 36 is connected by one of its ends to a passage V7 called the outlet passage, the other end being placed in a vial 44 so that the liquid waste can be poured into it.

[0107] As indicated above, valve 2 can be placed in a variety of positions, each of which places one of passages V1-V12 in fluid communication with a common dispense point V0.

[0108] In particular, the valve 2 is capable of selectively occupying sampling positions, each of which establishes fluid communication between a respective one of the inlet ducts 31 - 35 and the chamber 10 of the pump 1 .

[0109] Considering the example of the inlet duct 33, the valve 2 can occupy a sampling position in which it establishes fluid communication between the passage V4 and the dispensing point V0, and thus between the inlet duct 33 and the chamber 10 of the pump 1. Such a sampling position samples a portion of the liquid contained in the vial 41 and displaces this portion of the liquid towards the chamber 10 by the action of the movement of the piston 5 in the first direction S1.

[0110] The first direction S1 corresponds to the movement of the piston 5 from the first position shown in FIG. 1, or from an intermediate position (not shown), towards the second position shown in FIG.

[0111] The liquids contained in vials 42 and 43 can be sampled according to the same principle and led into the chamber 10 of the pump 1 via the inlet ducts 34 and 35, respectively, by placing the valve 2 in the corresponding sampling position.

[0112] Sampling of liquids can also be performed in a similar manner using inlet ducts 31 or 32, for example by immersing the free end of one of these inlet ducts, i.e. the end opposite to the end connected to valve 2, in a cell (not shown) containing such liquid and placing valve 2 in a sampling position establishing fluid communication between distribution point V0 and passage V2 or V3.

[0113] Another position of the valve 2, called the transfer position, makes it possible to establish fluid communication between the dispense point V0 and the transfer passage V1, and thus between the chamber 10 of the pump 1 and the cavity 18 of the container 3.

[0114] Such a transfer position makes it possible to transfer liquid previously led into the chamber 10 via the connecting ducts 15 and 27 from this chamber 10 into the cavity 18 of the container 3 .

[0115] For this purpose, the piston 5 of the pump 1 is moved in the second direction S2.

[0116] The second direction S2 corresponds to moving the piston 5 from the second position shown in FIG. 2, or from an intermediate position (not shown), towards the first position shown in FIG.

[0117] To avoid overflow of the liquid thus introduced into the cavity 18, the cavity 18 defines a volume larger than the total filling capacity of the chamber 10.

[0118] The transfer position can also be achieved by moving the liquid contained in the cavity 18 from this cavity 18 into the chamber 10 of the pump 1, via the connecting ducts 27 and 15, by moving the piston 5 in a first direction S1, usually after directing the liquid therein according to the principle described above.

[0119] Thus, when the valve 2 is in the transfer position, liquids can be moved by reciprocating motion between the chamber 10 of the pump 1 and the cavity 18 of the container 3, in particular to mix these liquids and improve the homogeneity of the mixture.

[0120] To precisely control the movement of the piston 5 and the volume of liquid displaced by the piston 5, the pump 1 may include an encoder attached to its motor (not shown).

[0121] Said use configuration of the device is so named because it specifically enables its implementation for mixing liquids, and thus allows liquid to be transferred from chamber 10 to cavity 18 and from cavity 18 to chamber 10 when valve 2 is in the transfer position.

[0122] It is clear that in another configuration in which the container 3 is positioned in another vertical direction, i.e. in which the point 26 forms a high point rather than a low point and the end 22 forms a lower end rather than an upper end, the liquid reaching the cavity 18 through the second duct 27 will be expelled out of the cavity by the action of gravity F1, since the opening of the cavity 18 is on the outer surface of the end 22 of the container 3.

[0123] Valve 2 may also be placed in the discharge position, in this example, to establish fluid communication between dispense point V0 and outlet passage V7, and thus between chamber 10 of pump 1 and outlet duct 36.

[0124] Such an emptying position makes it possible to expel the liquid present in the chamber 10 and / or the first connecting duct 15 towards the vial 44 by moving the piston 5 in the second direction S2.

[0125] The device of FIG. 1 therefore forms a mixing device.

[0126] By way of non-limiting indication, the various ducts 15, 27 and 31-36 may have an outer diameter of about 16 mm and an inner diameter of about 500 μm.

[0127] In embodiments in which the inlet ducts 31 and / or 32 are intended to sample one or several liquids at a relatively large distance from the valve 2, for example several meters, the internal diameter of these inlet ducts should be increased in order to reduce the pressure drop. For example, the internal diameter of the inlet ducts 31 and / or 32 can in this case be equal to 800 μm.

[0128] FIG. 4 shows a device 50 capable of sampling a relatively small volume of liquid over a relatively large distance.

[0129] This sampling device 50 may be connected to the mixing device of FIG. 1 in the manner described below, or to any other device in which it is necessary to perform such remote sampling while limiting the volume of liquid sampled.

[0130] The device 50 of FIG. 4 comprises a multi-way rotary valve 51 and a sampling duct 52 .

[0131] In this example, the valve 51 comprises a common dispense point V21, a sampling passage V22, and a passage V23 exposed to the surrounding air, also called the open passage.

[0132] Valve 51 is configured so that it can be selectively positioned in either a liquid sampling position in which dispense point V21 is placed in fluid communication with sampling passage V22, or an air sampling position in which dispense point V21 is placed in fluid communication with open passage V23.

[0133] In this example, the inlet duct 31 of the device of FIG. 1 is connected by its end opposite to the end connected to the inlet passage V2 of the valve 2 to a distribution point V21.

[0134] The sampling duct 52 is connected by one of its ends to the sampling passage V22. The other end of the free duct 52 is immersed in the liquid to be sampled, at a sampling point located at a relatively short distance from the valve 51 compared to the distance separating the valves 2 and 51 from each other. In other words, the length of the inlet duct 31 is much greater than the length of the sampling duct 52.

[0135] 1 comprises one or several magnetic stirrers (not shown) configured to homogenize the liquid contained in one or more of the vials 41 to 43, respectively, prior to sampling. For example, each stirrer comprises a magnetic bar disposed at the bottom of the corresponding vial.

[0136] The present invention also relates to a physicochemical analysis device comprising, on the one hand, a detector (not shown), for example of spectrophotometric type, and, on the other hand, a mixing device as described above, which may or may not include one or several sampling devices, such as device 50 of FIG. 4.

[0137] In one embodiment, the various components forming the mixing device of FIG. 1, and possibly such detectors capable of performing measurements on the liquid present in the cavity 18, are integrated into a case (not shown).

[0138] In one embodiment, the case is made by additive manufacturing.

[0139] Common examples of mixing and analysis methods The following examples are intended to illustrate the general principles of operation of the above-described mixing and analysis device and of the implementation of the mixing and analysis method according to the invention.

[0140] In this example, the device is considered initially to not contain any liquid in the chamber 10 of the pump 1, in the valve 2, in the cavity 18 of the container 3, in the connecting ducts 15 and 27, in the inlet ducts 31 to 35 and in the outlet duct 36.

[0141] In this example, vials 41 and 42 contain a first liquid and a second liquid, respectively.

[0142] The following steps are performed in order:

[0143] Initially, the piston 5 of the pump 1 is in a first position as shown in FIG.

[0144] The valve 2 is initially placed in a first sampling position establishing fluid communication between the inlet duct 33 and the chamber 10 of the pump 1 via the passage V4, the distribution point V0 and the first connecting duct 15.

[0145] The piston 5 is moved in a first direction S1.

[0146] During this first phase of operation, the air present in the inlet duct 33 and the first connecting duct 15 gradually enters the chamber 10 and at the same time a portion of the first liquid present in the vial 41 is sampled by moving in the inlet duct 33 towards the chamber 10 until it reaches the end of the duct 15 connected to the pump 1.

[0147] During a second phase of moving the piston 5 in the first direction S1, the first liquid gradually enters the chamber 10.

[0148] When this second stage is completed, a first amount of the first liquid is present in the chamber 10 and a second amount of the first liquid fills the first connecting duct 15 .

[0149] The operation of the piston 5 is interrupted for at least a period of time to place the valve 2 in a second sampling position that establishes fluid communication between the inlet duct 34 and the chamber 10 via the passage V5, the distribution point V0 and the first connecting duct 15.

[0150] The movement of the piston 5 can then continue its stroke in the first direction S1, so that during a third phase of this movement: - said second quantity of the first liquid present in the first connecting duct 15 gradually enters into the chamber 10, followed by the quantity of air present in the inlet duct 34 before sucking in the second liquid, and at the same time a portion of the second liquid present in the vial 42 is sampled by moving it in the inlet duct 34 towards the chamber 10 until it reaches the end of the duct 15 connected to the pump 1;

[0151] During a fourth stage of the movement of the piston 5 in the first direction S1, the second liquid gradually enters the chamber 10.

[0152] Upon completion of this fourth stage, the chamber 10 the amount of air present in the upper part, which includes, on the one hand, the amount of air initially present in the inlet duct 33 and in the first connecting duct 15, and, on the other hand, the amount of air present in the inlet duct 34 before the second liquid was sucked in; - said first and second amounts of a first liquid; and - a first quantity of a second liquid; and Includes.

[0153] A second quantity of a second liquid fills the first connecting duct 15 .

[0154] In this example, the piston 5, upon completing this fourth stage, occupies the second position shown in FIG.

[0155] Thereafter, the valve 2 is placed in a transfer position which establishes fluid communication between the chamber 10 of the pump 1 and the cavity 18 of the container 3 .

[0156] The piston 5 is moved in a second direction S2 so as to transport at least a portion, preferably all, of the first and second liquids present in the chamber 10 and in the first connecting duct 15 into the cavity 18 of the container 3.

[0157] In this example, the device is configured such that before starting this movement, i.e. when the piston 5 is in the second position (FIG. 2), the amount of air present in the chamber 10 is greater than the capacity of the first connecting duct 15 and of the second connecting duct 27. Thus, from the second position (FIG. 2) to the first position (FIG. 1), the movement of the piston 5 can direct all of the first and second liquids present in the chamber 10 and in the first connecting duct 15 into the cavity 18.

[0158] During this operation, which corresponds to the step of filling the container 3, the first liquid and the second liquid are at least partially mixed. Nevertheless, it has been found that this mixing is insufficient to obtain a satisfactory homogeneity, for example for spectrophotometric measurements.

[0159] The mixing step is then performed by holding the valve 2 in the transfer position and by moving the piston 5 according to at least one reciprocating sequence consisting of moving the piston 5 in a first direction S1 and then in a second direction S2.

[0160] This sequence of movements of the piston 5 results in a reciprocating movement of liquid between the cavity 18 and the chamber 10 .

[0161] Therefore, it is possible to improve the homogeneity of the solution formed by mixing the first liquid and the second liquid.

[0162] Naturally, the amount of movement of the piston 5 in the first direction S1 and the second direction S2 during this mixing step or between each two movements of the piston 5 can be adapted according to the nature of the liquids to be mixed and the desired level of homogeneity.

[0163] Consequently, upon completion of the mixing step, which involves one or several sequences of reciprocating movements of the piston 5, the cavity 18 of the container 3 contains a mixture of the first liquid and the second liquid forming a solution that can be subjected to measurements.

[0164] In this example, container 3 is a spectrophotometric measuring cell and the device is programmed to carry out one or several measurements on this solution using a spectrophotometric detector and after a mixing step.

[0165] After such a measuring step, the valve 2 is held or repositioned in the transfer position and the piston 5 is moved in a first direction S1 so as to convey at least a portion of the liquid contained in the container 3 into the chamber 10.

[0166] The valve 2 is then placed in the ejection position and the piston 5 is then moved to the first position to eject the liquid towards the vial 44 .

[0167] Before performing a new measurement on the same liquid or a new combination of other liquids, a washing step is preferably performed, for example using a washing liquid sampled from vial 43 via inlet 35, conveyed to various parts of the device (chamber 10, cavity 18) and then discharged towards vial 44, following a principle similar to that just described.

[0168] The present invention allows a cycle, or series of cycles, including sampling of liquids, mixing them, completing measurements on a solution formed by the mixed liquids, and completing an analysis based on such measurements, to be performed all automatically, which can, among other things, limit operator intervention and increase personnel safety.

[0169] The present invention can also reduce the amount of sample required for analysis, as well as the amount of waste generated by those analyses.

[0170] In an embodiment not shown, the container 3 is used only for mixing and the measurement is carried out in a separate cell (not shown). For this purpose, after mixing the liquids back and forth between the chamber 10 and the cavity 18, the solution thus homogenized is discharged towards such cell via a dedicated passage of the valve 2, for example the passage V8.

[0171] Remote Sampling Methods In the previous example, the liquid to be mixed has been sampled from vials 41 and 42, which are located at a relatively short distance from valve 2, i.e. a distance that allows the use of ducts 33 and 34, but which therefore limits the amount of liquid to be sampled.

[0172] In the context of such a mixing method, the case of sampling at sampling points located at relatively long distances is described below, i.e. at distances which require the use of ducts having a relatively long length, for example several meters.

[0173] The sampling method of the present invention reduces the amount of liquid actually sampled, but allows the liquid to be transported over relatively long distances.

[0174] Unlike the mixing methods described above, the first liquid to be sampled is not contained in a vial 41 but is sampled at a remote sampling point, at which the free end of the duct 52 of the device 50 of Figure 4 is placed. This mixing method incorporating a remote sampling method will only be described by its differences from the mixing methods already described above.

[0175] Starting from said initial state with the piston 5 in the first position, the valve 2 is placed in a sampling position in which it establishes fluid communication between the inlet duct 31 and the chamber 10 via the passage V2, the distribution point V0 and the first connecting duct 15. The valve 51 is then placed in a liquid sampling position in which it establishes fluid communication between the inlet duct 31 and the sampling duct 52 via the sampling passage V22 and the distribution point V21. As a result, the valves 2 and 51 thus placed establish fluid communication between the sampling duct 52 and the chamber 10 of the pump 1.

[0176] The piston 5 is moved in a first direction S1.

[0177] During this first stage of operation, the air present in the first connecting duct 15, in the inlet duct 31 and in the sampling duct 52 gradually enters the chamber 10, and at the same time a portion of the first liquid located at the sampling point is sampled by moving through the sampling duct 52 and then through the inlet duct 31 towards the chamber 10.

[0178] Movement of piston 5 is interrupted for at least a period of time to place valve 51 in an air sampling position establishing fluid communication between open passage V23 and inlet duct 31. Valve 2 is maintained in the sampling position described above.

[0179] During the second stage of movement of the piston 5 in the first direction S1, air enters the inlet duct 31 through the open passage V23, while the first liquid continues to move in the inlet duct 31 and then in the first connecting duct 15 in the direction of the chamber 10.

[0180] The principle of this sampling process therefore consists in sampling a small amount of liquid and transporting it in a duct between two volumes of air.

[0181] Generally, the arrival of the sampled first liquid at valve 2, in this example at passage V2, may be determined computationally and / or detected by a sensor (not shown).

[0182] Depending on the length of the inlet duct 31 it will turn out that an intermediate removal of air may be necessary to convey the first liquid thus sampled into the chamber 10 of the pump 1 .

[0183] Intermediate air removal can be achieved by placing the valve 2 in the exhaust position or, possibly, in the removal position, and setting the first connecting duct 15 in fluid communication with a dedicated passage, such as passage V12.

[0184] After positioning the valve 2 in this way, the piston 5 is moved in the second direction S2 to expel part of the air contained in the first connecting duct 15 and in the chamber 10. The valve 2 is then returned to the sampling position mentioned above and the piston 5 is then moved in the first direction S1 to continue the delivery of the first liquid towards the chamber 10.

[0185] Introduction of the first liquid and then the second liquid into the chamber 10, and mixing thereof, may then be carried out as previously described.

[0186] Remote sampling can also be implemented in the context of other applications, for example, to draw a liquid sample and analyze it without mixing it with other liquids.

[0187] Example of pH measurement A specific embodiment of the mixing device of FIG. 1 is described below for measuring the pH of an acidic aqueous solution.

[0188] Vials 41, 42, and 43 contain wash fluids, such as a solution of sodium oxalate, a pH sensitive dye, and a weakly acidic aqueous solution, respectively.

[0189] The initial state is as follows: the ducts 33, 34 and 35 are filled with the corresponding solutions, the other elements of the device are washed and exposed to the ambient air.

[0190] The first sequence consists of preparing a sample of an acidic aqueous solution for its analysis.

[0191] For this, the operator immerses the free end of the duct 31 in a vessel (not shown) containing an acidic aqueous solution. The valve 2 is positioned to set the dispense point V0 and the passage V2 in fluid communication, and the piston 5 is moved in the first direction S1 to draw out a sample volume equal to the volume of the duct 31, as well as an extra 20 μL for washing. The valve 2 is positioned to set the dispense point V0 and the passage V1 in fluid communication, and the piston 5 continues its stroke up to the second position (maximum height position) to aspirate as much air as possible. The valve 2 is then positioned to set the dispense point V0 and the passage V7 in fluid communication, and the piston 5 is moved in the second direction S2 up to the first position (lowest position) to push the extra 20 μL of sample to waste.

[0192] The second sequence consists of rinsing the device with a sodium oxalate solution, which is used as the main reaction medium.

[0193] For this, the valve 2 is positioned to set the dispense point V0 and the passage V4 in fluid communication, and the piston 5 is moved in the first direction S1 to draw out a volume of 200 μL of sodium oxalate solution. The valve 2 is positioned to set the dispense point V0 and the passage V1 in fluid communication, and the piston 5 continues its stroke until it reaches the maximum height position to aspirate as much air as possible. The piston 5 is then moved to the lowest position to deliver 200 μL of sodium oxalate solution into the cavity 18 of the container 3, and then again to the highest position to return 200 μL of sodium oxalate solution into the chamber 10 of the pump 1. The valve 2 is then positioned to set the dispense point V0 and the passage V7 in fluid communication, and the piston 5 is moved to the lowest position to push out 200 μL of sodium oxalate solution that allows pre-washing in the majority of the medium of the analysis.

[0194] The third sequence consists of sampling a defined amount of sodium oxalate solution, dye solution, and sample.In the context of this third sequence, one or several additional pre-washes can be performed as described above with different volumes of sodium oxalate solution, for example, a first additional pre-wash with a volume of 1000 μL of sodium oxalate solution and a second additional pre-wash with a volume of 200 μL of sodium oxalate solution.

[0195] To perform sampling, valve 2 is positioned to set dispensing point V0 and passage V4 in fluid communication, and piston 5 is moved in a first direction S1 to withdraw a volume of 790 μL of sodium oxalate solution.

[0196] Valve 2 is then positioned to set dispense point V0 and passage V5 in fluid communication, and piston 5 continues its stroke in first direction S1 to withdraw a volume of 100 μL of dye solution. Valve 2 is then positioned to set dispense point V0 and passage V2 in fluid communication, and piston 5 continues its stroke in first direction S1 to withdraw a volume of 10 μL of sample.

[0197] The fourth sequence consists of mixing the liquids thus sampled.

[0198] For this, the valve 2 is positioned to set the dispensing point V0 and the passage V1 in fluid communication, and the piston 5 continues its stroke in the first direction S1 until it reaches its maximum high position to aspirate as much air as possible. The piston 5 is then moved to its lowest position to deliver 900 μL of the mixture into the cavity 18, then moved to its highest position to return 900 μL of the mixture to the chamber 10, and then moved to its lowest position again to return 900 μL of the mixture into the cavity 18.

[0199] The fifth sequence consists of analyzing the mixture present in the cavity 18 of the container 3. In this example, the container 3 is a spectrophotometric cell. The acquisition of a raw spectrum is performed on the solution present in the cavity 18 of the cell 3.

[0200] In a manner known per se, a set of calculations taking into account this acquisition, as well as the standards previously made and the quantities involved, allows the estimation of the pH of the sample.

[0201] The sixth sequence consists of expelling the mixture towards the vial 44 intended to receive waste. For this, the piston 5 is moved to its highest position in order to direct 900 μL of the mixture into the chamber 10. The valve 2 is then positioned to set the dispense point V0 and the passage V7 in fluid communication and the piston 5 is moved to its lowest position in order to push 900 μL of the solution towards waste.

[0202] The seventh sequence consists of rinsing the device with weak acid. For this, the valve 2 is positioned to set the dispense point V0 and the passage V6 in fluid communication, and the piston 5 is moved in the first direction S1 to draw out a volume of 200 μL of weak acid solution. After that, the valve 2 is positioned to set the dispense point V0 and the passage V1 in fluid communication, and the piston 5 is moved to the highest position to aspirate as much air as possible, then to the lowest position to send 200 μL of weak acid into the cavity 18, and then again to the highest position to return 200 μL of weak acid into the chamber 10. After that, the valve 2 is positioned to set the dispense point V0 and the passage V7 in fluid communication, and the piston 5 is moved to the lowest position to expel the 200 μL of weak acid that was able to be rinsed.

[0203] One or several further washes can be performed as described above using various amounts of the weak acid solution, for example, a first further wash using a volume of 1000 μL of the weak acid solution and a second further wash using a volume of 200 μL of the weak acid solution.

[0204] The eighth sequence consists of returning the excess sample to the receptacle. For this, the valve 2 is positioned to set the dispense point V0 and the passage V1 in fluid communication and the piston 5 is moved towards the highest position to aspirate a volume of air corresponding to the volume of the duct 31 plus a margin of 20 μL. Afterwards, the valve 2 is positioned to set the dispense point V0 and the passage V2 in fluid communication and the piston 5 is moved to the lowest position to push the air into the duct 31 and thus return the unused sample to the receptacle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0205] 1 Pump 2 Valves 3. Containers and cells 4. Main unit 5 Piston 7 Lower end 8 Upper end 9 side wall 10. Chamber 15 First connecting duct 16 low point 18 Cavity 20 Main unit 21 Lower end 22 Upper end 23 First Section 24 Second Section 25 Third Section 26 low point 27 Second connecting duct 28 Fourth Section 29 Surface 31 Inlet Duct 32 Inlet Duct 33 Inlet Duct 34 Inlet Duct 35 Inlet Duct 36 Exit Duct 40 Housing 41 Vials 42 Vials 43 Vials 44 Vials 50 Sampling Devices 51 Multi-way rotary valve 52 Sampling duct A1 Longitudinal axis A2 Longitudinal axis D1 optical path F1 gravity S1 First direction S2 Second direction V0 Common distribution point V1~V12 aisle V21 Common distribution point V22 Sampling Passage V23 Open Passage

Claims

1. A mixing device for mixing liquids, said mixing device comprising a piston (5) pump (1), a multi-way valve (2), a container (3), a first connecting duct (15) for connecting said multi-way valve (2) to a chamber (10) of said pump (1), a second connecting duct (27) for connecting a cavity (18) of said container (3) to a transfer passage (V1) of said multi-way valve (2), and several inlet ducts (31-35) respectively connected to each inlet passage (V2-V6) of said multi-way valve (2), said multi-way valve (2) comprising: - sampling positions each establishing a fluid communication between a respective one of said inlet ducts (31-35) and said chamber (10), the action of moving said piston (5) in a first direction (S1) being capable of displacing a respective one of said liquids from said inlet duct towards said chamber (10); a transfer position which establishes fluid communication between said chamber (10) and said cavity (18) so that said liquid can be transferred from said chamber (10) to said cavity (18) by the action of moving said piston (5) in a second direction (S2) and from said cavity (18) to said chamber (10) by the action of moving said piston (5) in said first direction (S1) through said first connecting duct (15) and said second connecting duct (27); can be selectively occupied, in at least one use configuration of the mixing device, the cavity (18) defines a low point (26) and the second connecting duct (27) is connected to the container (3) so that the liquid can be led into or removed from the cavity (18) via the low point (26), The multi-way valve (2) is a main valve, and the mixing device comprises a sampling device (50) comprising a sampling valve (51) and a sampling duct (52) connected to a sampling passage (V22) of the sampling valve (51), the sampling valve (51) being a liquid sampling position establishing fluid communication between said sampling duct (52) and a first inlet duct (31) of said inlet ducts (31-35), in which, when said main valve (2) is in a first sampling position establishing fluid communication between said first inlet duct (31) and said chamber (10), an action of moving said piston (5) in said first direction (S1) can move said liquid from said sampling duct (52) towards said chamber (10); an air sampling position establishing fluid communication between an open passage (V23) of the sampling valve (51) and the first inlet duct (31), said open passage (V23) being exposed to the ambient air, and in which, when the main valve (2) is in the first sampling position, the action of moving the piston (5) in a first direction (S1) can move the ambient air towards the chamber (10); 13. A mixing device for mixing liquids, characterized in that:

2. 2. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the cavity (18) is open at an end of the container (3) opposite the low point (26).

3. 3. The mixing device of claim 2, wherein the cavity (18) has a narrowing section towards the low point (26).

4. 4. A mixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least when the mixing device is in the use configuration, the chamber (10) defines a low point (16) and the first connecting duct (15) is connected to the pump (1) to enable the liquid to be conducted into or removed from the chamber (10) via the low point (16).

5. 5. The mixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the container (3) is a spectrophotometric measuring cell.

6. An analytical device for the physicochemical analysis of liquids, comprising a mixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The analytical device of claim 6 , wherein the analytical device comprises a spectrophotometric detector.

8. A mixing method for mixing liquids using a mixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising the steps of: a sampling step in which the liquid is respectively displaced from the inlet ducts (31-35) towards the chamber (10) of the pump (1), the sampling step including positioning the multi-way valve (2) in each of the sampling positions; - filling the container (3), comprising transferring at least a portion of the liquid from the chamber (10) to the cavity (18), comprising positioning the multi-way valve (2) in the transfer position; a mixing step comprising transferring at least a portion of said liquid from said cavity (18) to said chamber (10) and then from said chamber (10) to said cavity (18); A mixing method comprising:

9. A method for the physicochemical analysis of liquids using an analytical device according to claim 6 or 7, comprising a mixing method according to claim 8.

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