# US 11,307,138 B2 · Testing method for residual organic compounds in a liquid sample > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,307,138 B2 - Document ID: US11307138B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/817,247 - Filed: 2020-03-12 - Published: 2020-09-17 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-12 - Applicants: Paul Hattingh - Inventors: Paul Hattingh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11307138B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/33: using ultraviolet light (G01N21/39 takes precedence) - G01N 1/28: Preparing specimens for investigation {including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Q}(mounting specimens on microscopic slides G02B21/34; means for supporting the objects or the materials to be analysed in electron microscopes H01J37/20 {; laboratory gas handling apparatus B01L5/00}) - G01N 1/4005: {by transferring a selected component through a membrane} - G01N 1/4077: {by other techniques involving separation of suspended solids} - G01N 21/0332: {with temperature control (control of temperature G05D23/00; cryostats F17C3/08)} - G01N 21/11: Filling or emptying of cuvettes - G01N 21/59: Transmissivity (G01N21/25 takes precedence) - G01N 21/85: Investigating moving fluids or granular solids - G01N 33/1826: {Organic contamination in water} - C02F 5/12: containing nitrogen (C02F5/14 takes precedence) - C02F 2101/30: Organic compounds - C02F 2303/08: Corrosion inhibition - G01N 2001/4011: {being a ion-exchange membrane} - G01N 2001/4088: {filtration} - G01N 2021/115: {Washing; Purging} - G01N 2021/3125: {Measuring the absorption by excited molecules} - G01N 2021/335: {Vacuum UV} - G01N 2021/8571: {using filtering of sample fluid} - 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) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) ## Abstract A method and system for testing a liquid sample for an organic compound is disclosed, the method including the steps of collecting the liquid sample from a liquid source; transmitting light having a wavelength of between about 190 nanometers and about 310 nanometers into the liquid sample; measuring absorption/transmission of the light by the organic compound in the liquid sample; and determining a concentration of the organic compound within the liquid sample based on the absorption/transmission of the light by the organic compound. The system can include a spectrophotometer for measuring the absorption of UV light by the organic compound, an ion exchange column for removing ion contaminants from the liquid sample, and a vacuum degasser unit for removing gases and other impurities from the liquid sample. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of testing a water sample for at least one anti-corrosion saturated and/or unsaturated aliphatic nitrogen containing organic compound, the method comprising the steps of: collecting the water sample from a thermal power system or other steam water cycle; passing the water sample through an ion exchange column; passing the water sample through a first vacuum degassing channel after passing through the ion exchange column; transmitting light having a wavelength in the UV Spectrum into the water sample; measuring absorption/transmission of the light by the at least one saturated and/or unsaturated aliphatic nitrogen containing organic compound in the water sample; determining a concentration of the at least one saturated and/or unsaturated aliphatic nitrogen containing organic compound within the water sample based on the absorption/transmission of the light in the UV Spectrum by the at least one saturated and/or unsaturated aliphatic nitrogen containing organic compound. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method is a reagent/indicator free testing method, and further comprises measuring light absorption directly by the at least one saturated and/or unsaturated aliphatic nitrogen containing organic compound in the water sample. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the thermal power system is a steam boiler. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of filtering the water sample using a 0.1 to 0.3 micron filter prior to transmitting light into the water sample. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of bringing the temperature of the water sample to between 24 degrees Celsius and 26 degrees Celsius prior to transmitting light through the water sample. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the temperature of the water sample is brought to between 25 degrees Celsius and 26 degrees Celsius prior to transmitting light through the water sample. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein light is transmitted through the water sample and the absorption of light by the at least one saturated and/or unsaturated aliphatic nitrogen containing organic compound in the water sample is measured using a spectrophotometer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of: pumping the water sample through the ion exchange column, the first vacuum degassing channel, and the spectrophotometer; and passing the water sample through the ion exchange column and the first vacuum degassing channel prior to transmitting light into the water sample. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the ion exchange column is a strong acid cation exchange column. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein: the method further comprises passing the water sample through a second vacuum degassing channel before the water sample is passed through the strong acid cation-charged resin column and prior to transmitting light into the water sample. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of passing a strong acid solution having a concentration of between 2 percent and 10 percent through the first and second vacuum degassing channels, the strong acid cation-charged resin column, and the spectrophotometer on a daily basis. ### Claim 12 A system for measuring the concentration of at least one anti-corrosion saturated and/or unsaturated aliphatic nitrogen containing organic compound in a water sample from a thermal power system or other steam water cycle, the system for measuring comprising: a pump for pumping the water sample through the system fro measuring; an ion exchange column in fluid communication with the pump; a first vacuum degasser channel in fluid communication with the ion exchange column; and a spectrophotometer in fluid communication with the ion exchange column via the first vacuum degasser channel, the spectrophotometer configured to transmit light having a wavelength in the UV spectrum into the water sample and measure the absorption/transmission of the light in the UV Spectrum by the at least one saturated and/or unsaturated aliphatic nitrogen containing organic compound in the water sample. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the ion exchange column is a strong acid cation-charged resin column. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, further comprising a second vacuum degasser channel in fluid communication between the ion exchange column and the pump such that the ion exchange column is in fluid communication with the pump via the second vacuum degasser channel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the first and second vacuum degasser channels are contained in a single vacuum degasser unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the pump includes a suction inlet including a 0.1-0.3 micron filter media oriented such that the water sample passes through the filter media as the water sample is pumped through the system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the filter media comprises a chemically resistant thermoplastic. ### Claim 18 A system for measuring the concentration of an organic compound in a liquid sample, the system comprising: a pump for pumping the liquid sample through the system; a vacuum degasser unit having a first vacuum degasser channel and a second vacuum degasser channel, the first vacuum degasser channel in fluid communication with the pump; a strong acid cation ion exchange column in fluid communication between the first vacuum degasser channel and the second vacuum degasser channel; and a spectrophotometer in fluid communication with the second vacuum degasser channel, the spectrophotometer configured to transmit light having a wavelength of 190 nanometers to 310 nanometers into the liquid sample and measure the absorption/transmission of the light by the organic compound in the liquid sample.