US 2012/0222500 A1 · ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLER AND METHODS OF USING SAME

Abstract

An environmental testing and monitoring system uses a sampler to hold resin or other adsorbent for contaminants and pollutants uptake from water or air, and preferably includes remote real-time sensors that detect and transmit physical and/or chemical data by wireless or wired telemetry and GPS systems. The sampler and sensors may be attached to a fixed or floating buoy system that is capable of solar charging or may be affixed to other supports to allow precise placement in, and easy retrieval from, various structures and environments including fresh and saltwater, soil and sediment, water and sludge pipes and vessels, air, and gaseous streams and emissions. Time-measured, mass-balanced data sets may be achieved from the extended-time-accumulated values from the resin/adsorbent sampler left in place for an extended time, and preferably from the real-time sensors that transmit a steady stream of information throughout said extended time.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An environmental monitoring system comprising:

a sampler having a housing surrounding an interior space for receiving adsorbent that is adapted to adsorb at least one atom, ion or molecule from the environment in which the sampler is placed, the housing comprising a fluid-permeable outer screen and an inner stem, wherein said interior space is between said outer screen and inner stem;
and
a real-time sensor connected to the sampler for sensing physical parameters or chemicals in said environment;
and
a telemetry base comprising telemetry equipment provided a distance from the sampler and the real-time sensor;
wherein the real-time sensor is adapted to transmit data signals to said telemetry base for transmission by the telemetry base to a laboratory or control station, said data signals comprising data on said physical parameters or chemicals.

3 more elements

An environmental monitoring system comprising:

a sampler having a generally cylindrical housing surrounding an interior space for receiving adsorbent that is adapted to adsorb at least one atom, ion or molecule from the environmental medium in which the sampler is placed, the housing having a top and a bottom and comprising a cylindrical fluid-permeable outer screen, an inner stem coaxial with the cylindrical outer screen, a cap at the top of the sampler and a platform at the bottom of the sampler, wherein said interior space is an annular space between said outer screen, inner stem, cap and platform;
a support base;
and
an elongated member having a top end and a bottom end, the top end of the elongated member being attached to the support base, and the sampler being attached to the elongated member, so that the elongated member with attached sampler extends down from the support base to contact the environmental medium so that the adsorbent adsorbs said at least one atom, ion, or molecule from the environmental medium.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Environmental sampler and methods of using same

Life of this patent

Environmental sampler and methods of using same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23