# US 5,708,507 A · Temperature resolved molecular emission spectroscopy of materials > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,708,507 A - Document ID: US5708507A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/632,210 - Filed: 1996-04-15 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1996-04-15 - Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force - Inventors: Robert L. Wright, Jr.; Costandy S. Saba; David W. Johnson; James D. Wolf - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5708507A ## CPC - G01N 21/72: using flame burners - 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) ## Abstract System and method for temperature resolved molecular emission spectroscopy of solid, liquid or gaseous materials are described wherein a sample is vaporized and decomposed, and the vaporous sample is transported into a combustion flame; a spectrum of intensity of the optical emission from the flame at a selected wavelength versus temperature of the sample define molecular peaks which are characteristic of the sample material and allows both qualitative and quantitative analysis of the sample. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A temperature resolved molecular emission spectrometer system, comprising: (a) a controllably heated crucible for vaporizing a sample material for analysis; (b) means for measuring the temperature of said heated crucible; (c) means for supporting a combustion flame near said heated crucible; (d) a source of carrier gas; (e) conduit means for conducting said carrier gas past said heated crucible and for carrying the vapor of said sample material into said flame; (f) an optical detector disposed near said flame for detecting the optical emission from said flame; and (g) an optical filter disposed between said flame and said detector, said filter selected to pass wavelength bands characteristic of said sample material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said heated crucible comprises a tungsten wound graphite crucible. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said carrier gas is selected from the group consisting of argon, helium and nitrogen. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3 further comprising a source of reactive gas and conduit means for carrying said reactive gas past said heating crucible for reaction with said vapor to produce a reaction product for transport into said flame for analysis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein said reactive gas is air or oxygen. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said flame is maintained at a temperature in the range of about 1000.degree. to 1100.degree. C. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said detector comprises a photomultiplier tube, an avalanche diode detector, a photodiode detector, or a diode array detector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said filter is structured to pass 380 nm for the detection of sulfur, or 530 nm for the detection of phosphorus, or 520 nm for the detection of nitrogen containing species, or 360 nm for the detection of chlorine containing species, or 370 nm for the detection of bromine containing species, or 410 nm for the detection of iodine containing species. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising data collection and storage means operatively connected to said detector and said means for measuring the temperature of said heated crucible. ### Claim 10 A temperature resolved molecular emission spectrometer system, comprising: (a) a controllably heated crucible for vaporizing a sample material for analysis; (b) means for measuring the temperature of said heated crucible; (c) means for supporting a combustion flame near said heated crucible; (d) a source of carrier gas and a source of reactive gas; (e) conduit means for conducting said carrier gas and said reactive gas past said heated crucible, for reaction of said reactive gas with the vapor of said sample material to produce a reaction product for transport into said flame for analysis; (f) an optical detector disposed near said flame for detecting the optical emission from said flame; and (g) an optical filter disposed between said flame and said detector, said filter selected to pass wavelength bands characteristic of said sample material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein said heated crucible comprises a tungsten wound graphite crucible. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein said carrier gas is selected from the group consisting of argon, helium and nitrogen. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein said reactive gas is air or oxygen. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein said flame is maintained at a temperature in the range of about 1000.degree. to 1100.degree. C. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein said detector comprises a photomultiplier tube, an avalanche diode detector, a photodiode detector, or a diode array detector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein said filter is structured to pass 380 nm for the detection of sulfur, or 530 nm for the detection of phosphorus, or 520 nm for the detection of nitrogen containing species, or 360 nm for the detection of chlorine containing species, or 370 nm for the detection of bromine containing species, or 410 nm for the detection of iodine containing species. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 further comprising data collection and storage means operatively connected to said detector and said means for measuring the temperature of said heated crucible.