Patent ID: 7088514
Filing Date: 2006-08-08
Classification: C07B,C07K

Abstract:
1. A method for selectively transporting an object from an aqueous phase to an oil phase using a particle size-variable reactor, comprising: providing a particle size-variable reactor that has a particle size that can be reversibly increased and decreased by light irradiation, wherein the particle size variable reactor comprises a granular substrate and a plurality of capturing units fixed onto a surface of the granular substrate, each capturing unit comprising: a) a capturing structured body that specifically captures the object; b) a configuration variable element comprising a cis-trans isomer that is reversibly transformed into a cis-isomer upon irradiation with UV light and into a trans-isomer upon irradiation with visible light; and c) a rod-shaped body having a length of 810 nm or less; providing a solution forming aqueous and oil phases that are partitioned by a filter membrane, wherein the aqueous phase contains the object to be transported; adding the particle size-variable reactor to the aqueous phase in the presence of visible light irradiation, such that the configuration variable element is present in the aqueous phase as the trans-isomer, and allowing the particle size variable reactor to capture the object; irradiating the particle size-variable reactor with UV light, thereby transforming the configuration variable element into the cis-isomer and thereby reducing the particle size of the particle size variable reactor; allowing the particle size-variable reactor and captured object to pass through the filter membrane, thereby selectively transporting the object from the aqueous phase to the oil phase.