US 6,223,584 B1Granted

System and method for vapor constituents analysis

AssigneeRVM Scientific, Inc.

InventorsRobert V. Mustacich, John P. Richards

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Abstract

A system for analysis of vapor constituents in a gaseous and/or liquid media includes an analyzing gas chromatographic unit, an in-line preconcentrator assembly having a trap housing, an adsorbent material received in the trap housing, and a transfer line unit couplable to the trap housing and directly connected to the analyzing unit. Carrier mechanism drives the trap housing with respect to the transfer line unit linearly or along an arc trajectory. When the trap housing is displaced from the transfer line unit, the media surrounding the trap housing is forced inside of the trap housing by a pump and vapor constituents are adsorbed on the adsorbent material within the trap housing. When the trap housing is moved in pressure tight engagement with the transfer line unit, the adsorbent material is heated to release the vapor constituents from the adsorbent material.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A system for vapor constituents analysis of a media, comprising:

a gas chromatographic column, and
an in-line preconcentrator assembly having a sampling mode of operation and an injection mode of operation;
said preconcentrator assembly including:
(a) a trap housing identifying a media receiving compartment formed internally therein,
(b) an adsorbent material removably received within said media receiving compartment, and
(c) a transfer line unit removably couplable to said trap housing at a first end thereof, said transfer line unit being directly connected to said gas chromatographic column;
wherein, in said sampling mode of operation of said preconcentrator assembly, said trap housing being displaced from said transfer line unit, whereby a direct fluid communication path is established between the media and said media receiving compartment within said trap housing;
wherein, in said injection mode of operation of said preconcentrator assembly, said trap housing being positioned in the pressure tight engagement with said transfer line unit, whereby fluid communication is established between said media receiving compartment within said trap housing and said gas chromatographic column through said transfer line unit.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.