US 4,924,097 A · Monodisperse aerosol generator for use with infrared spectrometry

Abstract

A monodisperse aerosol generator forms a stable jet of liquid at a velocity allowing columnar breakup into droplets of uniform size and spacing. To prevent degradation of the monodisperse aerosol, it is disposed by entrainment in a high velocity gaseous stream. To provide an interface for direct injection onto a particle collection device or into an infrared or Raman spectrometer or to interface a liquid chromatograph with a particle collection device or an infrared or Raman spectrometer, the generator is followed by a desolvation chamber operation at about atmospheric pressure and a multistage pressure reducer which evacuates solvent vapor and gaseous medium to form a high momentum, solvent-depleted solute aerosol beam which is input into the infrared or Raman spectrometer.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method of introducing solute into an infrared or Roman spectrometer, which comprises the steps of:

(a) providing a solution including a relatively volatile solvent and a relatively involatile solute;
(b) generating an aerosol from the solution by delivering the solution through a conduit at a velocity such that formation of droplets with a narrow size distribution occurs;
(c) providing a dispersing gas;
(d) dispersing the formed droplets with the gas;
(e) entraining the aerosol in gas and desolvating the aerosol at substantially atmospheric pressure;
(f) expanding the components of step (e) into low pressure environment while removing gas therefrom to form a high momentum aerosol beam of solute particles with a narrow particle size distribution;
and
(g) directing said beam into an infrared or Roman spectrometer.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Monodisperse aerosol generator for use with infrared spectrometry

Life of this patent

Monodisperse aerosol generator for use with infrared spectrometry

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14