Apparatus for chromatographically analyzing a liquid sample

Abstract

A chromatographic system is provided for detecting in a liquid sample the presence of organic nitrogen containing compounds. A liquid chromatograph separates constituents of the liquid sample and discharges the separated constituents in a timewise distribution. Effluent from the chromatograph is atomized into a converter and there oxidized at a temperature approximately in the range 600.degree. to 800.degree. C for converting the nitrogen in the organic nitrogen containing compound to nitric oxide. Sufficient oxygen is supplied to the converter to fully oxidize the sample introduced therein. Effluent is transferred from the converter to a nitric oxide detector which measures the nitric oxide present in the converted sample and thereby provides a measurement of the organic nitrogen containing compound in the sample. In an alternate embodiment for use with sulphur containing organic compounds, the effluent from the chromatograph, when atomized into the converter and oxidized, may be transferred to a sulphur dioxide detector. The indication of sulphur dioxide present in the sulphur dioxide detector corresponds to the content of organic sulphur containing compounds in the sample.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.