Platform for analysis liquid samples
AssigneeUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore County
InventorsWilliam R. LaCourse, Ronita L. Marple
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present application relates to apparatus for sampling and analysis of analytes in a liquid sample. A liquid sample is pre-concentrated using a chromatographic column prior to analysis via a two stage analysis apparatus. A high-performance liquid chromatography system with ultra violet detection may be used in conjunction with electrochemical detection for the analysis of environmental contaminants, including explosive residues. The present invention also provides for on-site analysis of such contaminants. The present invention also provides for methods of analyzing the components of a liquid sample, including methods for on-site analysis.
Claims18
A method for sampling one or more analytes of a soil sample, comprising:
- (a) extracting the one or more analytes from the soil sample to generate a liquid sample;
- (b) passing the liquid sample through one or more pre-concentration chromatographic columns, thereby retaining said one or more analytes on the one or more pre-concentration chromatographic columns and concentrating said one or more analytes;
- (c) delivering a solvent to the one or more pre-concentration chromatographic columns, thereby eluting said one or more analytes from the one or more pre- concentration chromatographic columns to give an eluate;
- (d) passing the eluate through one or more analytical chromatographic columns, thereby separating said one or more analytes;
- and
- (e) analyzing the separated one or more analytes in a variable wavelength detector and then a photo-assisted electrochemical detector, wherein the two detectors function in-line together, and wherein the lower limit of detection of the one or more analytes achieved electrochemically is about 10 to about 1000 times less than those achieved by the variable wavelength detector.
A method for on-site sampling of one or more explosive residues of a soil sample, comprising:
- (a) extracting the one or more explosive residues from the soil sample to generate a liquid sample;
- (b) drawing the liquid sample from an on-site liquid reservoir into a sample loop and holding the liquid sample in the sample loop;
- (c) passing the liquid sample from the sample loop through one or more pre-concentration chromatographic columns, thereby retaining said one or more explosive residues on the one or more pre-concentration chromatographic columns and concentrating said one or more explosive residues;
- (d) delivering a solvent to the one or more pre-concentration chromatographic columns, thereby eluting said one or more explosive residues from the one or more pre-concentration chromatographic columns to give an eluate;
- (e) passing the eluate through one or more high-performance liquid chromatography columns, thereby separating the one or more explosive residues on the one or more high-performance liquid chromatography columns;
- and
- (f) analyzing the separated one or more explosive residues in a variable wavelength detector and then in a photo-assisted electrochemical detector, wherein the lower limit of detection of the one or more explosive residues achieved electrochemically is about 10 to about 1000 times less than those achieved by the variable wavelength detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.