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US 2016/0097740 A1Published application
System and Method for Detection of Mercury
AssigneesAlveo Technologies, Inc., The Regents of the University of California
InventorsSumita Pennathur, Peter Joseph Crisalli, Ronald Phillip Chiarello
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments provide mercury detection systems and methods for detecting the presence of mercury ions in one or more samples. In a detection method, a sample and TPET2 molecules are introduced into a channel. A first potential difference is applied across the length of the channel in a first direction, and a first electrical property value is detected. Subsequently, a second potential difference is applied across the length of the channel in a second opposite direction, and a second electrical property value is detected. Presence or absence of mercury ions in the channel is determined based on a comparison between the first and second electrical property values.
Claims25
A method for detecting the presence or absence of mercury ions in a sample, the method comprising:
- introducing a sample into a channel, the channel having a length and a width, the length substantially greater than the width;
- measuring an electrical property value of an electrical property along at least a portion of the length of the channel after the sample is introduced into the channel;
- accessing a reference electrical property value, the reference electrical property value associated with the electrical property of the channel along at least a portion of the length of the channel prior to introduction of the sample into the channel;
- comparing the measured electrical property value and the reference electrical property value;
- and
- determining whether mercury ions are present in the channel based on the comparison between the measured electrical property value and the reference electrical property value.
3 more elements
A method for detecting the presence or absence of mercury ions in a sample, the method comprising:
- introducing TPET2 molecules into a channel, the channel having a length and a width, the length being substantially greater than the width;
- measuring one or more electrical properties of the channel along at least a portion of the length of the channel;
- determining a reference channel electrical property value based on the one or more electrical properties of the channel measured during the previous measuring step;
- introducing a sample into the channel;
- measuring the one or more electrical properties of the channel along at least the portion of the length of the channel after the sample and the TPET2 molecules are introduced into the channel;
- determining an electrical property value based on the one or more electrical properties measured after the TPET2 molecules and the sample are introduced into the channel;
- determining any differences between the reference channel electrical property value and the electrical property value;
- and
- determining whether mercury ions are present in the channel based on the differences, if any, between the reference channel electrical property value and the electrical property value.
6 more elements
A method for detecting the presence or absence of mercury ions in a sample, the method comprising:
- introducing a sample into the channel, the channel having a length and a width, the length being substantially greater than the width;
- measuring one or more electrical properties of the channel along at least a portion of the length of the channel;
- determining a reference channel electrical property value based on the one or more electrical properties of the channel measured during the previous measuring step;
- introducing TPET2 molecules into a channel;
- measuring the one or more electrical properties of the channel along at least the portion of the length of the channel after the sample and the TPET2 molecules are introduced into the channel;
- determining an electrical property value based on the one or more electrical properties measured after the TPET2 molecules and the sample are introduced into the channel;
- determining any differences between the reference channel electrical property value and the electrical property value;
- and
- determining whether mercury ions are present in the channel based on the differences, if any, between the reference channel electrical property value and the electrical property value.
6 more elements
A method for detecting the presence or absence of mercury ions in a sample, the method comprising:
- coating at least a portion of an inner surface of a channel with TPET2 molecules, the channel having a length and a width, the length substantially greater than the width;
- measuring one or more electrical properties of the channel along at least a portion of the length of the channel after the channel is coated with the TPET2 molecules;
- determining a reference channel electrical property value based on the one or more electrical properties of the channel measured during the previous measuring step;
- and
- storing the reference channel electrical property value for use in determining whether or not mercury ions are present in a sample introduced in the channel.
2 more elements
A method for detecting the presence or absence of mercury ions in a sample, the method comprising:
- introducing a sample and TPET2 molecules into a channel, the channel having a length and a width, the length substantially greater than the width;
- applying a first potential difference across the length of the channel in a first direction along the length of the channel;
- measuring a first electrical property value of an electrical property along at least a portion of the length of the channel while the first potential difference is applied;
- applying a second potential difference across the length of the channel in a second direction along the length of the channel, the second direction opposite to the first direction;
- measuring a second electrical property value of the electrical property along at least the portion of the length of the channel while the second potential difference is applied;
- comparing the first and second electrical property values;
- and
- determining whether mercury ions are present in the channel based on the comparison between the first and second electrical property values.
5 more elements
A mercury detection system, comprising:
- a substrate, the substrate having at least one channel, the at least one channel having a length and a width, the length substantially greater than the width;
- a first port in fluid communication with a first end section of the at least one channel;
- a second port in fluid communication with a second end section of the at least one channel;
- a first electrode electrically connected at the first end section of the at least one channel and a second electrode electrically connected at the second end section of the at least one channel, the first and second electrodes electrically connected to their respective first and second end sections of the at least one channel to form a channel circuit, the channel circuit having electrical properties and configured such that when an electrically conductive fluid is present in the at least one channel, the electrically conductive fluid alters the electrical properties of the channel circuit;
- and
- a mercury detection circuit in electrical communication with the first and second electrodes, the mercury detection circuit including a measurement circuit in electrical communication with the first and second electrode, the measurement circuit having a measurement circuit output, the measurement circuit output including one or more values indicative of one or more electrical properties of the channel circuit, the mercury detection circuit including a memory in electrical communication with the measurement circuit output and configured to store the one or more values indicative of the one or more electrical properties of the channel circuit including at least a first value of an electrical property of the channel circuit and a second value of the electrical property of the channel circuit, the mercury detection circuit further including a comparison circuit in electrical communication with the memory and having as inputs the at least first and second values, the comparison circuit configured to provide a comparison circuit output based at least in part on the at least first and/or second values, the comparison circuit output indicative of whether mercury ions are present in the at least one channel.
3 more elements
A mercury detection system, comprising:
- means for accommodating a fluid flow;
- means for introducing a fluid at a first terminal end of the means for accommodating the fluid flow;
- means for outputting the fluid at a second terminal end of the means for accommodating the fluid flow;
- means for detecting first and second values of an electrical property of the fluid between the first and second terminal ends of the means for accommodating the fluid flow;
- and
- means for determining whether mercury ions are present in the fluid based on a difference between the first and second values of the electrical property.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.