Method and system for preparation of liquid mixtures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9327212-B2
Application number	US-201013497896-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 23, 2010
Priority date	Sep 25, 2009
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

A method for preparing a liquid flow having pre-defined characteristics by mixing liquid flows of at least two different component stock solutions with each other comprises the steps of determining a selected property value for one or more of the stock solutions by sensing, in a flow of each stock solution separately, at least one characteristic related to the property value for the stock solution, and based on the determined property value or values, mixing the stock solution flows in mixing ratios giving the desired mixed liquid flow. A system for carrying out the method comprises sensor means and a control unit, wherein the control unit is arranged to evaluate the characteristics sensed by the sensor means and provide relative ratios of stock solutions required to obtain a mixed liquid flow having the pre-defined characteristics.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of preparing a buffer solution using a plurality of stock solutions, the buffer solution having predetermined characteristics, the method executed by a flow control system, and the method comprising:
combining the plurality of stock solutions to obtain the buffer solution, the combining including:
sensing a current value of a property of a first stock solution, a current value of a property of a second stock solution, and a current value of a property of a third stock solution;
determining whether the sensed current value for the first stock solution is within a predetermined range;
adjusting the current value for the first stock solution to within the predetermined range, when the sensed current value is not in the predetermined range, by flow-feedback of the first stock solution and by continuously sensing the current value for the first stock solution and determining whether the sensed current value for the first stock solution is within the predetermined range;
calculating a relative proportion for each one of the second stock solution and the third stock solution based on (i) the sensed current value of the property for the second stock solution, (ii) the sensed current value of the property for the third stock solution, and (iii) the predetermined characteristics of the buffer;
adjusting, in response to the calculating and according to the respective relative proportions, flow rates of the second stock solution and the third stock solution; and
mixing the first stock solution, the second stock solution, and the third stock solution to obtain the buffer solution.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the current value for one of the first, the second, and the third stock solution is a measure of concentration.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the property of one of the first, the second, and second the third stock solution is selected from conductivity, pH, UV absorbance and NIR absorbance.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the sensed current value for one of the first, the second, and the third stock solution is obtained by sensing one of conductivity, pH, UV, absorbance, and NIR absorbance.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said predetermined characteristics of the buffer solution are selected from concentration, pH, ionic strength and conductivity.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensed current value for the first stock solution is selected from the group consisting of conductivity, pH, UV absorbance and NIR absorbance.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first stock solution is an acid and the second stock solution is a base or vice versa.

8. An apparatus for preparing a buffer having predetermined characteristics, the apparatus comprising:
a flow system configured to provide a first stock solution, a second stock solution, and a third stock solution;
a first sensor configured to sense a first current value of a property of the first stock solution, a second sensor configured to sense a second current value of a property of the second stock solution, and a third sensor configured to sense a third current value of a property of the third stock solution;
a control unit programmed to:
(i) determine whether the sensed first current value is within a predetermined range;
(ii) adjust the first current value to within the predetermined range, when the sensed first current value is not in the predetermined range, by flow-feedback of the first stock solution and by continuously sensing the first current value and determining whether the sensed first current value is within the predetermined range;
(iii) perform a calculation of a relative proportion for each one of the second stock solution and the third stock solution based on the sensed second current value, the sensed third current value, and the predetermined characteristics of the buffer; and
(iv) adjust, in response to the calculation and according to the respective relative proportions, flow rates of the second stock solution and the third stock solution; and
(v) mix the first, second, and third stock solutions to obtain the buffer.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is a separation system.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the separation system includes one of a liquid chromatography system and a filtration system.

Assignees

• Blank Torbjorn
• Carredano Enrique
• Ekstrom Karl
• Lynga Jan-Erik
• Nordberg Roger
• Peters Mike
• Rodrigo Gustav
• Sandegren Henrik
• Stack Lisa
• Ge Healthcare Bio Sciences Ab

Inventors

• Blank Torbjorn
• Carredano Enrique
• Ekstrom Karl
• Lynga Jan-Erik
• Nordberg Roger
• Peters Mike
• Rodrigo Gustav
• Sandegren Henrik
• Stack Lisa

Classifications

• B01F15/0022

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01D15/166 Primary

  Fluid composition conditioning, e.g. gradient · CPC title

• B01F15/00227

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• G05D11/132

  by controlling the flow of the individual components (G05D11/133 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N2030/347

  mixers · CPC title