Parts per trillion detector
OwnerEldon L. Jeffers, Edward M. Ejzakinventors
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Abstract
An apparatus is disclosed which is capable of detecting a selected gas in a liquid sample to a sensitivity in the range of 10 to 10,000 parts per trillion. Such sensitivity is achieved by concentrating the selected gas in a sample without concentrating sources of ionic interference that are also present in the sample. Selective concentration of the gas is achieved by vaporizing the sample, correcting for non-ideal vaporization, selectively condensing the selected gas from the vapor, and detecting the selected gas. Methods for using the apparatus and detecting the selected gas are also disclosed.
Claims29
An apparatus for detecting a selected gas in a liquid sample, the apparatus comprising;
- a concentrator to concentrate the selected gas in the sample without concentrating sources of ionic interference, comprising:
- a vaporizer to expel the selected gas out of the liquid sample and to evaporate at least a portion of the liquid sample to form vapor;
- a mist trap in fluid communication with the vaporizer to capture mist droplets from the vaporizer;
- and,
- a condenser in fluid communication with the mist trap to condense the vapor to a liquid condensate, whereby the selected gas in the vapor is sorbed and concentrated in the liquid condensate;
- and,
- a detector in fluid communication with the concentrator to detect the selected gas in the sample.
A method for detecting a selected gas in a liquid sample, the method comprising:
- providing a concentrator to concentrate the selected gas in the sample without concentrating sources of ionic interference;
- the concentrator comprising:
- a vaporizer to expel the selected gas out of the liquid sample and to evaporate at least a portion of the liquid sample to form vapor;
- a mist trap in fluid communication with the vaporizer to capture mist droplets from the vaporizer;
- and,
- a condenser in fluid communication with the mist trap to condense the vapor to a liquid condensate, whereby the selected gas in the vapor is sorbed and concentrated in the liquid condensate;
- providing a detector in fluid communication with the concentrator to detect the selected gas in the sample;
- introducing the sample into the concentrator;
- concentrating the selected gas without concentrating sources of ionic interference;
- and
- detecting the concentrated selected gas.
A method for high sensitivity detection of CO2 in liquid water, the method comprising:
- heating the liquid water to release CO2 from the heated liquid water;
- evaporating at least a portion of the heated liquid water to form a vapor;
- condensing the vapor to form a liquid condensate, whereby CO2 is absorbed and concentrated in the liquid condensate;
- and
- detecting the amount of CO2 in the liquid condensate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.