Process and device for continuous extraction and analysis of fluid using membrane

Abstract

A process and a device for the continuous extraction and analysis of chemical substances from solute fluid using membrane is characterized by passing solute fluid 14 through housing 20 on one side of a semipermeable structure 19 and simultaneously passing extracting fluid 11 through the housing on the other side of the semipermeable membrane structure. Substances passing from solute fluid through the semipermeable membrane structure into the extracting fluid are delivered by the extracting fluid as carrier, into a sorbing phase 27. Cooling 28 and heating 24 of the sorbing phase allows substances to be concentrated and detected by detector 50 and to be continuously monitored. Extracting fluid may be a gas or a pressurized dense gas. Extraction using pressurized dense gas and membrane is achieved by maintaining the pressure of the solute fluid and the pressurized dense gas within a high pressure housing substantially equal. Previously, solute fluids were analyzed using batch processes with liquid-liquid extraction, extraction cartridges or purge and trap. Continuous extraction and analysis using membranes eliminates the use of organic solvents and provides inexpensive and continuous monitoring of volatile, semi-volatile, non-volatile and polar compounds in water and other fluids.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.