# US 5,702,954 A · Method to detect phosphorus

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- Number: US 5,702,954 A
- Document ID: US5702954A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/536,571
- Filed: 1995-09-29
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1995-09-29
- Assignees: Colorado Seminary
- Inventors: Donald H. Stedman; Patti A. Meeks
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702954A

## CPC

- G01N 21/72: using flame burners
- G01N 21/766: {of gases}
- Y10T 436/16: Phosphorus containing
- Y10T 436/163333: Organic [e.g., chemical warfare agents, insecticides, etc.]
- Y10T 436/166666: of inorganic phosphorus compound in body fluid
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An apparatus to detect and measure the amount of phosphorus in phosphorus-containing compounds comprises a burning chamber with a housing having an integral combustion chamber. A flammable reducing agent such as hydrogen is introduced into the combustion chamber along with a sample containing phosphorus admixed with air or oxygen. At least a portion of any phosphorus in the sample will be converted into phosphorus monoxide (PO) by the combustion. The resulting phosphorus monoxide is immediately drawn into a low-pressure, ambient temperature reaction chamber and reacted with ozone to convert the phosphorus monoxide to chemiluminescent phosphorus dioxide. A light-measuring device then measures the intensity of the light released from the chemiluminescent phosphorus dioxide.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for detecting and measuring phosphorus in phosphorus-containing compounds comprising the steps of:
admixing a sample including a phosphorus-containing compound with oxygen;
introducing said sample mixed with oxygen into a combustion chamber;
providing a flammable reducing agent into said combustion chamber to fuel combustion within said combustion chamber to convert said phosphorus in said phosphorus-containing compound to phosphorus monoxide;
extracting at least a portion of said phosphorus monoxide from said combustion chamber into a reaction chamber;
contacting said phosphorus monoxide in said reaction chamber with ozone under such conditions that said phosphorus monoxide is converted to chemiluminescent phosphorus dioxide; and
measuring the intensity of said chemiluminescence to provide an indication of the amount of phosphorus present in said sample.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methane, butane, and propane.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said reducing agent is hydrogen.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said reaction chamber is maintained at substantially ambient temperature.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said sample has a residence time in said chamber in the range of about 1 millisecond to about 40 millisecond.