# US 8,785,207 B2 · Method and apparatus for measuring multiple parameters in-situ of a sample collected from environmental systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,785,207 B2 - Document ID: US8785207B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/558,381 - Filed: 2009-09-11 - Published: 2010-03-18 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-09-12 - Assignees: SRI International - Applicants: Ryan J. Bell; R. Timothy Short; Strawn K. Toler; Robert H. Byrne - Inventors: Ryan J. Bell; R. Timothy Short; Strawn K. Toler; Robert H. Byrne - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8785207B2 ## CPC - G01N 33/18: Water - Y10T 436/11: Automated chemical analysis - Y10T 436/18: Sulfur containing - Y10T 436/184: Only hydrogen sulfide - Y10T 436/204998: Inorganic carbon compounds - Y10T 436/235: In an aqueous solution [e.g., TOC, etc.] - Y10T 436/24: Nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance or other spin effects or mass spectrometry - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present invention relates generally a method and apparatus for measuring multiple parameters in-situ in a sample collected from an environmental system via a single device. In one embodiment, the method includes collecting the sample from said environmental system via the single device, measuring a first parameter of the sample in-situ via the single device, adding a reagent tot the sample within the single device to create a reagent infused sample and measuring a second parameter of the sample in-situ via the single device using the reagent infused sample. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for measuring multiple parameters in-situ in a sample collected from an environmental system via a single device, comprising: receiving a constant flow of said sample at a mass spectrometer of said single device from a syringe pump of said single device; heating a first portion of said sample within a first membrane inlet assembly coupled to said syringe pump to pervaporate said sample through a semi-permeable membrane into a gas phase of said first portion of said sample; measuring, via said mass spectrometer within said single device, a total carbon dioxide gas dissolved (pCO2) in said gas phase of said sample for a carbon system in-situ via said single device; feeding a second portion of said sample out of said first membrane inlet assembly via a fluidic tee positioned between said first membrane inlet assembly and a second membrane inlet assembly; adding a reagent to said second portion of said sample within said single device to create a reagent infused sample; heating said reagent infused sample to pervaporate said reagent infused sample within said second membrane inlet assembly into a gas phase of said reagent infused sample; switching a stream selector valve coupled to said first membrane inlet assembly, said second membrane inlet and said mass spectrometer to feed said mass spectrometer with said gas phase of said reagent infused sample; measuring a total inorganic carbon (DIC) or a total alkalinity (TA) in said sample for said carbon system in-situ via said mass spectrometer within said single device using said reagent infused sample; and calculating a pH of said environmental system using the pCO2 that is measured and the DIC or the TA that is measured. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said reagent is an acid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said single device comprises an apparatus for obtaining a sample underwater, wherein said apparatus comprises: said syringe pump comprising a plurality of blocks, at least one syringe coupled to at least one of said plurality of blocks and said at least one sampling probe coupled to a different at least one of said plurality of blocks for collecting said sample underwater. ### Claim 4 A computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations for measuring multiple parameters in-situ in a sample collected from an environmental system via a single device, the operations comprising: receiving a constant flow of said sample at a mass spectrometer of said single device from a syringe pump of said single device; heating a first portion of said sample within a first membrane inlet assembly coupled to said syringe pump to pervaporate said sample through a semi-permeable membrane into a gas phase of said first portion of said sample; measuring, via said mass spectrometer within said single device, a total carbon dioxide gas dissolved (pCO2) in said gas phase of said sample for a carbon system in-situ via said single device; feeding a second portion of said sample out of said first membrane inlet assembly via a fluidic tee positioned between said first membrane inlet assembly and a second membrane inlet assembly; adding a reagent to said second portion of said sample within said single device to create a reagent infused sample; heating said reagent infused sample to pervaporate said reagent infused sample within said second membrane inlet assembly into a gas phase of said reagent infused sample; switching a stream selector valve coupled to said first membrane inlet assembly, said second membrane inlet and said mass spectrometer to feed said mass spectrometer with said gas phase of said reagent infused sample; measuring a total inorganic carbon (DIC) or a total alkalinity (TA) in said sample for said carbon system in-situ via said mass spectrometer within said single device using said reagent infused sample; and calculating a pH of said environmental system using the pCO2 that is measured and the DIC or the TA that is measured. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The computer readable medium of claim 4, wherein said algorithm samples continuously. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The computer readable medium of claim 4, wherein said algorithm samples at a predetermined interval and at one or more predetermined depths.