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US 7,028,562 B2Granted
Vacuum membrane extraction system
AssigneeUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore County
InventorsWilliam R. LaCourse, Patrick Devin Wigington
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to apparatus for sampling and analysis of gas phase molecules. A source of negative pressure is used to draw gas phase molecules through a gas-permeable membrane. The gas phase molecules are then directed into an analyzer, suitably a gas chromatograph. The present invention also relates to methods of sampling and analyzing gas phase molecules above and below liquid and soil surfaces
Claims13
An apparatus for sampling gas phase molecules, comprising:
- (a) a semi-permeable, gas-permeable membrane having a permeate side and a sample side;
- (b) a support structure that supports said semi-permeable membrane;
- (c) a heater for said semi-permeable membrane;
- (d) a vacuum source that generates a reduced pressure at said permeate side of said semi-permeable membrane;
- and
- (e) a gas chromatograph in fluid communication with said permeate side of said semi-permeable membrane,
- wherein said semi-permeable membrane does not permit bulk flow of liquids and solids.
4 more elements
A method for sampling gas phase molecules of a sample, comprising:
- (a) placing a semi-permeable, gas-permeable, heated membrane having a permeate side and a sample side in fluid communication with the sample;
- (b) generating a reduced pressure on the permeate side of the semi-permeable membrane with a vacuum pump to draw the gas phase molecules from the sample through the semi-permeable membrane to the permeate side and then to a sample loop;
- and
- (c) analyzing the gas phase molecules in a gas chromatograph, wherein the gas chromatograph is in fluid communication with the sample loop,
- wherein the semi-permeable membrane does not permit bulk flow of liquids and solids.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.