US 7,459,483 B2 · Method and device for detecting fumigants in air samples

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for detecting fumigants in air samples. The device can be designed for example as a portable analyzer 10 equipped with a stab probe 11 for sampling soil air. There are provided detection means 16 which, upon contact with the air sample, generate electrical signals which depend on the concentration of the fumigants to be detected in the air sample. In accordance with the invention, the detection means 16 comprise at least one mass-sensitive sensor, for example an array of quartz microbalances, which have suitable selective surface layers.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A method for detecting methyl isothiocyanate in soil air samples, comprising:

drawing in a soil air sample;
bringing the drawn-in soil air sample into contact with at least one mass-sensitive sensor comprising at least one quartz microbalance;
detecting mass changes of the sensor in the form of electrical signals;
and
evaluating the electrical signals to detect a change in mass of methyl isothiocyanate;
wherein:
the quartz micro-balance is coated with a surface layer that is selective for incorporation of methyl isothiocyanate;
and
the quartz micro-balance comprises macrocycles and calibrated to detect methyl isothiocyanate.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

10/469,252Filed 28 Feb 2002

Priority

DE 101 09 53428 Feb 2001

Published

US 2004/0079651 A129 Apr 2004

Granted

2 Dec 2008

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G01N 33/24
Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00: earth materials
G01N 29/036
Analysing fluids: by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves
G01N 33/0004
Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00: gaseous mixtures, e.g. polluted air
G01N 33/0047
Specially adapted to detect a particular component: organic compounds

Method and device for detecting fumigants in air samples

Life of this patent

Method and device for detecting fumigants in air samples

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6