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Apparatus and method for quantitative determination of materials contained in fluids

  • US 4,561,777 A
  • Filed: 09/07/1982
  • Issued: 12/31/1985
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1982
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for investigating fluid samples having at least one material carried by particulates suspended therein the concentration of which material is to be monitored, said method comprising the steps of:

  • a. flowing a known volume of a sample through filter material selected to collect the material under investigation on its surface with known efficiency;

    b. causing high intensity laser radiation to interact with a significant portion of the surface of the filter material which induces dielectric breakdown to occur substantially thereon from which there is emitted electromagnetic radiation which includes ionic and neutral atomic spectral features characteristic of the elemental species present on the filter material surface portion, molecular emissions, and spectrally broad background emissions;

    c. quantitatively detecting and recording the emitted radiation;

    d. calibrating said quantitatively detecting and recording step by depositing known contamination levels of the material under investigation on the filter material and repeating said steps b-c; and

    e. comparing said quantitatively detecting and recording step for the material under investigation with said calibrating step to determine the concentration of the material contained in the particulate in the fluid sample.

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