Liquid/liquid fiber-optic fluorescence detector and absorbance analyzer
AssigneeAmoco Corporation
InventorDavid T. Bach
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are disclosed for measuring the fluorescence and absorbance of a liquid sample. A sample tube is provided that has an external surface and a bore therethrough for containing a sample fluid. A cladding fluid coats the bore of the sample tube to provide a smooth surface adjacent to the sample fluid. Excitation radiation is directed along the bore and detector means are provided to detect the excitation radiation, fluorescent radiation, and non-absorbed radiation. Comparator means compare the signals from the presence and concentration of various constituents in the liquid sample.
Claims7
An apparatus for measuring the fluorescence and absorbance of a liquid sample, wherein the liquid sample is disposed in the bore of a sample tube, comprising:
- a sample tube for containing a sample fluid having an external surface and a bore therethrough;
- a source of excitation radiation directed along said bore of said sample tube;
- cladding fluid means coating said bore of said sample tube effective to reflect said excitation radiation radially inwardly within said bore and further effective to provide a smooth surface adjacent to the sample fluid;
- fluorescence detector means for detecting fluorescence radiation emanating from said external surface of said sample tube and generating a fluorescence signal in proportion thereto;
- and
- absorbance detector means for detecting the excitation radiation that passes through the bore of the sample tube and generating an absorbance signal in proportion thereto.
A method of measuring the fluorescence of a liquid sample, wherein the liquid sample is disposed in the bore of a capillary tube, comprising:
- cladding the bore of the capillary tube with a cladding fluid;
- disposing the liquid sample in the bore of the capillary tube radially inwardly from the cladding fluid;
- directing a source of excitation radiation along the bore of the capillary tube through the liquid sample;
- detecting the intensity of the excitation radiation, the intensity of fluorescent radiation emanating from the liquid sample, and the intensity of the non-absorbed excitation radiation passing through the sample;
- comparing the intensities of the detected excitation radiation, the fluorescent radiation, and the non-absorbed excitation radiation to determine the presence and concentration of fluorescent particles in the liquid sample;
- wherein said cladding fluid is effective to reflect said excitation radiation radially inwardly within said bore and is further effective to provide a smooth surface adjacent to the liquid sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.