Analyzing Moisture Sensitive/Reactive Gases
AssigneesPerkinElmer Health Sciences Canada, Inc., Perkin Elmer Yuhan Hoesa
InventorChady Stephan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for use in introducing samples to an analytical instrument. In particular, systems and methods to process moisture sensitive/reactive gases and then analyze by an analytical device/instrument using also a liquid calibrant sample. Suitable analytical devices include, for example, an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer or inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer.
Claims20
A system configured to calibrate an analytical device and analyze gas samples, the system comprising at least a sample gas exchange apparatus and a calibration gas exchange apparatus;
- the sample gas exchange apparatus comprising:
- a first gas exchange device having an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture;
- and
- a first conduit coupled to the outlet aperture and configured to transfer a gaseous contaminant stream from the outlet aperture to the analytical device,
- the calibration gas exchange apparatus comprising:
- a second gas exchange device having an inlet aperture to accept an aerosolized calibrant stream and an outlet aperture;
- and
- a second conduit coupled to the outlet aperture and configured to transfer a gaseous calibrant stream from the outlet aperture to the analytical device,
- wherein the first conduit and second conduit join to form a single conduit for transfer of a combination of the gaseous contaminant stream and the gaseous calibrant stream to the analytical device.
A method of calibrating an analytical device and analyzing gas samples, the method comprising:
- a) transferring a gaseous sample stream from a gaseous sample source to a first gas exchange device;
- passing the gaseous sample stream through the first gas exchange device;
- injecting exchange gas through the first gas exchange device countercurrent to the gaseous sample stream;
- passing an output of the first gas exchange device to an analytical device;
- and monitoring an output flow rate of the first gas exchange device;
- b) transferring a liquid calibrant stream from a liquid calibrant source to a second gas exchange device, wherein the liquid calibrant stream is aerosolized prior to the second gas exchange device;
- passing the aerosolized calibrant stream through the second gas exchange device;
- injecting exchange gas through the second gas exchange device countercurrent to the aerosolized calibrant stream;
- passing an output of the second gas exchange device to the analytical device;
- and monitoring an output flow rate at the second gas exchange device;
- and
- c) combining the output of the first gas exchange device and the output of the second gas exchange device prior to the analytical device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.