Acoustically settled liquid-liquid sample purification system and method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11865475-B2
Application number	US-202117521445-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2021
Priority date	Oct 24, 2014
Publication date	Jan 9, 2024
Grant date	Jan 9, 2024

Abstract

A sample purification system includes a mixing zone; a settling zone in fluid communication with the mixing zone; a mixer element disposed in the mixing zone, the mixer element being configured to mix immiscible liquids to form a mixture; and a first acoustic wave settler configured to emit an acoustic wave into the mixture.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of purifying a sample in a two-phase system, the method comprising:
mixing a first liquid with a second liquid to form a first mixture, the first liquid comprising a first liquid phase, the second liquid comprising a second liquid phase, the second liquid being immiscible in the first liquid, the first mixture comprising a portion of the second liquid dispersed in the first liquid;
settling a first portion of the first mixture; and
applying an acoustic wave to the settled first portion of the first mixture to form a first acoustically settled mixture;
wherein the step of applying the acoustic wave occurs in an acoustic settling loop, the acoustic settling loop having a first end in fluid communication with a settling zone and a second end in fluid communication with the settling zone.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising mixing the first acoustically settled mixture with a second portion of the first mixture to form a second mixture.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising settling a portion of the second mixture.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising applying an acoustic wave to the settled portion of the second mixture to form a second acoustically settled mixture.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising either (i) mixing the second acoustically settled mixture with a third portion of the first mixture, or (ii) harvesting at least some of the second acoustically settled mixture.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of mixing the first liquid with the second liquid further comprises dispersing a plurality of droplets of the second liquid in the first liquid, wherein the droplets of the second liquid have a diameter in a range of 1-80 microns.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of applying the acoustic wave to the settled first portion of the first mixture further comprises coalescing the droplets of the second liquid, wherein a plurality of coalesced droplets of the second liquid has a diameter in a range of 90-300 microns.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixing step occurs in a mixing zone and the settling step occurs in the settling zone, the settling zone being in fluid communication with the mixing zone.

Assignees

• Life Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Collins Scott P
• Brau Christopher D
• Jones Nephi D

Classifications

• B01D11/0457

  comprising rotating mechanisms, e.g. mixers, mixing pumps · CPC title

• B01D11/0449

  with stationary contacting elements · CPC title

• B01D11/043

  with stationary contacting elements, sieve plates or loose contacting elements · CPC title

• B01D11/0423 Primary

  Applying ultrasound · CPC title

• B01F31/56

  having a vibrating receptacle provided with stirring elements, e.g. independent stirring elements · CPC title