Microwave-based apparatus and Kjeldahl method
AssigneeCEM Corporation
InventorsEdwin D. Neas, Terry S. Floyd
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microwave-based apparatus useful for rapid digestion is provided. The apparatus includes a hollow tubular body having an end sealingly joined to a reaction vessel disposed within a microwave system. The end of the tubular body has grooves for the flow of air through the sealed tubular body/reaction vessel joint. A scrubber removes digestion off gases. Also provided is a rapid, microwave-based, Kjeldahl digestion method.
Claims14
Apparatus useful at operating temperatures of about 375.degree.-425? C., comprising a microwave system comprising a chamber, microwave energy-generating means disposed exterior to said chamber, and means for transmitting microwave energy from said microwave energy-generating means into said chamber, wherein a wall forming said chamber has an aperture formed therethrough;
- a reaction vessel disposed within said chamber;
- a hollow tubular body that extends through said aperture into said chamber, and that has a generally spherical end sealingly joined to said reaction vessel, wherein a tapered, inner wall of the reaction vessel mouth is adapted to seat a portion of said generally spherical end such that a freeze-up preventing, tubular body to reaction vessel joint is formed;
- means for air flow into said hollow tubular body from said chamber;
- and external suction means connected to said hollow tubular body and in fluid communication with said means for air flow.
Apparatus comprising a microwave and scrubber system, said microwave system comprising chamber means and means for generating microwave energy, a reaction vessel being disposed within said chamber means;
- and a scrubber system comprising (a) suction means in fluid communication with said reaction vessel, and further comprising a conduit means disposed between, and providing for the fluid communication between, said reaction vessel and said suction means, said conduit means comprising the elements defined by (b), (c) and (d), as follows;
- (b) trap means for introducing off gas from said reaction vessel, into a column of water, (c) a residence reservoir for said off gas, containing said column of water, and (d) spaced apart from said column of water, a plurality of scrubber discs for removing noxious fumes from said off gas, said scrubber discs being spaced apart from one another and having pores for restricting flow of said off gas that escapes said column of water, such that off gas builds up and is contained within said residence reservoir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.