# US 10,309,948 B2 · Carbon quantifying apparatus and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,948 B2 - Document ID: US10309948B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/438,572 - Filed: 2017-02-21 - Published: 2017-06-08 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2010-02-11 - Assignees: Hach Company - Applicants: Hach Company - Inventors: Vishnu Rajasekharan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309948B2 ## CPC - G01N 33/1846: {Total carbon analysis} - G01N 27/07: Construction of measuring vessels; Electrodes therefor - G01N 27/4168: {Oxidation-reduction potential, e.g. for chlorination of water (water analysis G01N33/18)} - G01N 27/02: by investigating impedance - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A carbon quantifying cell configured to receive a fluid is provided, including two or more electrodes positioned at least partially in the fluid, and meter electronics configured to place an electrical oxidization, polarization, and/or adsorption program across the two or more electrodes and at least partially oxidize carbon materials in the fluid, apply an AC voltage of a predetermined amplitude across the two or more electrodes, measuring the resulting AC current across the two or more electrodes, wherein a ratio of amplitudes and a phase angle difference provides information for calculating a fluid impedance, receive an electrical response of the fluid to the electrical oxidization, polarization, and/or adsorption program, quantify the carbon materials in the fluid using the electrical response, and detect interfering materials in the fluid using the fluid impedance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for quantifying carbon materials in a fluid, the method comprising: operating two or more electrodes positioned at least partially in the fluid to at least partially oxidize the carbon materials in the fluid, wherein the operating comprises using meter electronics, comprising a processor and coupled to the two or more electrodes, configured for: applying an AC voltage of a predetermined amplitude across the two or more electrodes; receiving an electrical response of the liquid, comprising: measuring the resulting AC current across the two or more electrodes, determining a ratio of amplitudes of the measured AC current and the applied AC voltage, and determining a phase angle difference between the applied AC voltage and the measured AC current, and quantifying the carbon materials in the liquid using the electrical response and detecting interfering materials in the liquid and using liquid impedance calculated from the measured ratio of amplitudes and the phase angle difference. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, with quantifying the carbon materials including analyzing the electrical response in order to determine the speciation of the carbon materials and/or speciation of organic materials in the fluid, wherein the speciation detects a presence of carbon material in the fluid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, with quantifying the carbon materials including determining an identity of the carbon material in the fluid and determining a quantity of the carbon material in the fluid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, with quantifying the carbon materials including determining relative fractions of two or more carbon materials in the fluid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the operating of the two or more electrodes is maintained for at least a predetermined polarization time period without oxidation of the organic species. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the operating of the two or more electrodes is maintained for at least a predetermined adsorption time period without oxidation of the organic species. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the operating of the two or more electrodes includes one or more of a predetermined DC voltage profile, a predetermined AC voltage profile, or a predetermined current profile. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, with the operating of the two or more electrodes includes applying a varying DC voltage program across the two or more electrodes, thereby preferentially adsorbing and/or oxidizing and/or polarizing a predetermined carbon solute. ### Claim 9 A method for quantifying carbon materials in a fluid, the method comprising: operating two or more electrodes positioned at least partially in the fluid to at least partially oxidize the carbon materials in the fluid, wherein the operating comprises using meter electronics, comprising a processor and coupled to the two or more electrodes, configured for: applying a varying DC voltage across the two or more electrodes, thereby at least partially oxidizing a predetermined carbon solute; applying, during application of the varying DC voltage, an AC voltage of a predetermined amplitude across a two or more electrodes; receiving, during application of the varying DC voltage, an electrical response of the liquid, comprising: measuring a resulting AC current across the two or more electrodes, determining a phase angle difference between the applied AC voltage and the measured AC current, and quantifying the carbon materials in the fluid using an electrical response; and detecting interfering materials in the fluid and using the fluid impedance calculated from the measured ratio of amplitudes and the phase angle difference. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, with quantifying the carbon materials including analyzing the electrical response in order to determine the speciation of the carbon materials and/or speciation of organic materials in the fluid, wherein the speciation detects a presence of carbon material in the fluid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, with quantifying the carbon materials including determining an identity of the carbon material in the fluid and determining a quantity of the carbon material in the fluid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, with quantifying the carbon materials including determining relative fractions of two or more carbon materials in the fluid.