Pneumatic nebulization-photochemical vapor generation dual mode sample introduction system
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
InventorsGUOYING CHEN, BUN HONG LAI
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Abstract
Efficient and economic devices and methods for dual-mode sample introduction of liquid samples to an analytical detector exemplified by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (PVG-ICPMS) or an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICPOES) are described. Various embodiments of pneumatic nebulization (PN)-photochemical vapor generation (PVG) dual-mode introduction can enhance introduction efficiency for PVG-active elements and smooth, bubble-free nebulization for all elements. A compact yet highly efficient porous membrane gas-liquid separator (MGLS) in its various embodiments plays a key role in systems and methods described.
Claims27
A gas-liquid separator device to remove bubbles in a liquid comprising:
- a chamber having inlets and outlets for fluids to pass through,
- said chamber partitioned into separate cavities by a porous membrane for separation of a gas liquid mixture by contacting said gas liquid mixture with the membrane.
A method of sample introduction to an ICP-based spectrometer comprising the steps of:
- a) sample analyte exposure to a UV source to produce a photochemically reduced sample analyte stream,
- b) passing said photochemically reduced sample stream over a porous membrane to separate bubbles in the liquid to produce a debubbled liquid stream,
- c) nebulization of the debubbled liquid stream, and,
- d) Feeding the mist-vapor mixture to an ICP-based spectrometer.
An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer with a membrane gas flow separator for dual-mode pneumatic nebulization-photochemical vapor generation comprising:
- a photochemical reactor with a source of UV light for photochemical reduction of an analyte stream for analysis;
- a porous membrane gas-liquid separator (MGLS) or debubbler to practically eliminate segmentation of photoreactor effluent;
- a nebulizing system connected to the output stream of the porous membrane gas-liquid separator to nebulize the liquid separated from bubbles;
- and,
- a spectrometer connected to the analyte mist stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.