Detection of trace levels of water
OwnerJames E. Amonette, S. Thomas Autrey +2inventors
InventorsJames E. Amonette, S. Thomas Autrey, Nancy S. Foster-Mills, Bary W. Wilson
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Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for detecting low levels of a substance of interest in a sample using photoacoustic spectroscopy are provided. This method comprises exciting the sample with light having a wavelength that is absorbed by the substance of interest; generating an acoustic wave within the sample; detecting the acoustic wave; and determining the amount of the substance of interest present in the sample. The method can be used to detect the amount of water in an oil sample at detection limits lower than currently available.
Claims32
A method of determining the concentration of a substance of interest in a nonwater sample comprising:
- exciting the sample with a wavelength of light that is absorbed by the substance of interest;
- generating an acoustic wave within the sample;
- detecting the acoustic wave;
- and
- determining the amount of the substance of interest present in the sample.
A method of determining the concentration of water in an oil sample which contains less than 1% water comprising:
- exciting the sample with light having a wavelength water absorbs;
- generating an acoustic wave within the sample;
- detecting the acoustic wave with a transducer in acoustic communication with the sample;
- and
- determining the amount of water present in the sample by processing the signal detected by the transducer.
A method of determining the concentration of water in a nonwater sample, comprising:
- exciting the sample with light having a wavelength which is less than 1 mm;
- generating an acoustic wave within the sample;
- detecting the acoustic wave with a transducer in acoustic communication with the sample;
- and determining the amount of water present in the sample by processing the signal detected by the transducer.
An apparatus for determining the concentration of a substance of interest in a nonwater sample comprising:
- an excitation source which provides light having a wavelength that is absorbed by water;
- a sample in light contact with the excitation source;
- and
- a detector in acoustic communication with the sample.
An apparatus for determining the concentration of water in an oil sample comprising:
- an excitation source which provides pulsed or modulated light having a wavelength water absorbs;
- a prism cell in light contact with the excitation source;
- and
- a transducer in acoustic communication with the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.