Compact and portable low-field pulsed NMR dispersion analyzer
AssigneeXigo Nanotools LLC
InventorsSean Race, David Fairhurst, Michael Brozel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A compact and integrated portable device is provided for the analysis of dispersions by low-field pulsed NMR including: an NMR probe module, a means for generating radio frequency and magnetic field gradient pulses, a signal processor, and a master controller. Also provided are methods for using the device to measure one or more characteristics of phases or particles comprising a dispersion such as surface area, solid/liquid ratio, particle size, and elemental analysis.
Claims19
A compact and portable device for the analysis of dispersions by low-field pulsed NMR comprising:
- an NMR probe module, a means for generating radio frequency and magnetic field gradient pulses, a signal processor, and a master controller;
- wherein said compatible and portable device measures one or more characteristics of the phases or particles comprising the dispersion selected from the group consisting of surface area, solid/liquid ratio, and particle size by diffusion;
- and wherein said device has a total footprint area less than about 0.25 m2, an elevation less than about 0.45 m, a weight less than 20 kg, and an operating power demand less than 500 W.
A method for determining the in-situ surface area of particles dispersed in a liquid using low field NMR relaxation times, said method comprising the steps of:
- i) determining an average NMR relaxation rate constants, R1ave,ref or R2ave,ref, of one or more reference dispersions having known total particle surface area per unit volume of liquid, ArefT;
- ii) computing the proportionality constant, kAL, for the reference dispersion from the equation, Rnave,ref=kALref ATref;
- where n=1 or 2;
- iii) determining an average NMR relaxation rate constants R1ave,sample or R2ave, sample of a sample dispersion whose surface area is to be determined;
- iv) computing the total surface area of the sample dispersion, ATsample from the equation, Rnave, sample=kALref ATsample, where n=1 or 2, and
- v) measuring and obtaining the relaxation times from the NMR output data stored in computer hardware using computational steps i)- iv) to determine the in-situ surface area of particles dispersed in a liquid of said in-situ surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.