System and method for buoyant particle processing

Abstract

A system for buoyant particle processing includes: a reaction vessel, a stirring mechanism, a set of one or more pumps, and a filter. The system can additionally or alternatively include a set of pathways and/or any other suitable component(s). A method for buoyant particle processing includes: stirring the contents of a reaction vessel; washing a set of buoyant particles; and filtering the contents of the reaction vessel. Additionally or alternatively, the method can include any or all of: preprocessing the set of buoyant particles; adding a set of inputs to the reaction vessel; washing the set of buoyant particles; repeating one or more; and/or any other suitable process(es).

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for processing a set of buoyant particles, the system comprising:
 a reaction vessel, the reaction vessel comprising:
 a first inlet configured to receive a wash buffer; 
 a second inlet configured to receive a set of processing materials; 
 a third inlet configured to receive the set of buoyant particles; and 
 a first outlet; 
   a stirring subsystem comprising a stir rod and an impeller, the impeller arranged within the reaction vessel;   a tangential flow filter comprising:
 a set of hollow fibers, each of the set of hollow fibers having an inner diameter larger than a diameter of the set of buoyant particles; 
 a fourth inlet configured to receive the set of buoyant particles; 
 a second outlet; 
   a pump arranged downstream of the first outlet, wherein the pump comprises a diaphragm pump; and   a set of fluidic pathways configured to fluidly connect:
 the first inlet with a wash buffer container, the wash buffer container comprising the wash buffer; 
 the second inlet with a processing material container, the processing material container comprising the set of processing materials; 
 the third inlet with the second outlet; and 
 the first outlet with the fourth inlet. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the set of buoyant particles has a particle diameter between 10 and 30 microns, and wherein the inner diameter of each of the set of hollow fibers is greater than the particle diameter. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the set of buoyant particles comprises glass. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein each of the set of buoyant particles comprises a silica glass coated in an aminosilane layer. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a central axis of the fourth inlet is arranged parallel with a central axis of the set of hollow fibers. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm pump comprises four pistons. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second pump, wherein the second pump comprises a peristaltic pump arranged upstream of the first inlet. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the set of processing materials comprises a first subset of processing materials, a second subset of processing materials, and a third subset of processing materials, wherein:
 the first subset of processing materials forms a first layer arranged on the set of buoyant particles;   the second subset of processing materials forms a second layer arranged on the first layer; and   the third subset of processing materials forms a third layer arranged on the second layer.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first layer comprises a hydroxyl group; and   the second layer comprises a chain of repeating glycol units.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first layer comprises 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane and an amino group;   the second layer comprises an amino-reactive group, a polyethylene glycol chain, and a thiol-reactive group; and   the third layer comprises a thiol group.   
     
     
         11 . A method for processing a set of buoyant particles, the method comprising:
 a) at a reaction vessel comprising a first inlet, a second inlet, a third inlet, and a first outlet, receiving:
 a set of processing materials at the second inlet; and 
 the set of buoyant particles at the third inlet; 
   b) stirring the contents of the reaction vessel with a stirring subsystem comprising a stir rod and an impeller, the impeller arranged within the reaction vessel;   c) receiving a wash buffer at the first inlet of the reaction vessel;   d) pumping the contents of the reaction vessel to a tangential flow filter with a pump, wherein the pump comprises a diaphragm pump;   e) at the tangential flow filter comprising a fourth inlet, a second outlet, and set of hollow fibers, each of the set of hollow fibers having an inner diameter larger than a diameter of the set of buoyant particles:
 receiving the contents of the reaction vessel from the first outlet at the fourth inlet; 
 separating the set of buoyant particles from a remainder of the contents of the reaction vessel; 
   f) repeating (a) through (e) for a second set of processing materials; and   g) repeating (a) through (e) for a third set of processing materials.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each of the set of buoyant particles has a particle diameter less than 30 microns, and wherein the inner diameter of each of the set of hollow fibers is greater than the particle diameter. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each of the set of buoyant particles comprises glass. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the set of buoyant particles comprises a silica glass coated in an aminosilane layer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a central axis of the fourth inlet is arranged parallel with a central axis of the set of hollow fibers. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the diaphragm pump comprises four pistons. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein receiving the wash buffer at the first inlet of the reaction vessel comprises pumping the wash buffer from a wash buffer container to the first inlet with a second pump, wherein the second pump comprises a peristaltic pump arranged upstream of the first inlet. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first set of processing materials forms a first layer arranged on the set of buoyant particles;   the second set of processing materials forms a second layer arranged on the first layer; and   the third set of processing materials forms a third layer arranged on the second layer.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first layer comprises a hydroxyl group; and   the second layer comprises a chain of repeating glycol units.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the first layer comprises 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane and an amino group;   the second layer comprises an amino-reactive group, a polyethylene glycol chain, and a thiol-reactive group; and   the third layer comprises a thiol group.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is arranged upstream of the fourth inlet.