Portable lead detector
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of trace substance analysis, comprising the steps of:
- introducing a solution having a low concentration of at least one metallic or non-metallic, electro-active substance into a chamber containing a transducer having a collector electrode array interdigitated with a detector electrode array;
applying a first reducing potential to said collector electrode array for a first period of time whereby ions of said at least one metallic or non-metallic, electro-active substance are reduced from said solution and concentrated on said collector electrode array;
applying a first oxidizing potential to said collector electrode array for a second period of time and simultaneously applying a detecting potential to said detector electrode array for said second period of time whereby said at least one metallic or non-metallic, electro-active substance concentrated on said collector array is stripped as ions from said collector electrode array back into said solution; and
measuring a current across said detector electrode array during said second period of time to determine the amount of said at least one metallic or non-metallic, electro-active substance within said solution.
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for quickly and easily detecting trace amounts of metallic or non-metallic, electro-active substances, and in particular trace amounts of metals, such as lead in a portable, hand-held detector system with single potential control.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of trace substance analysis, comprising the steps of:
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introducing a solution having a low concentration of at least one metallic or non-metallic, electro-active substance into a chamber containing a transducer having a collector electrode array interdigitated with a detector electrode array; applying a first reducing potential to said collector electrode array for a first period of time whereby ions of said at least one metallic or non-metallic, electro-active substance are reduced from said solution and concentrated on said collector electrode array; applying a first oxidizing potential to said collector electrode array for a second period of time and simultaneously applying a detecting potential to said detector electrode array for said second period of time whereby said at least one metallic or non-metallic, electro-active substance concentrated on said collector array is stripped as ions from said collector electrode array back into said solution; and measuring a current across said detector electrode array during said second period of time to determine the amount of said at least one metallic or non-metallic, electro-active substance within said solution. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of trace substance analysis, comprising the steps of:
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introducing a solution having a low concentration of at least one electro-active substance into a chamber containing a transducer having a collector electrode array interdigitated with a detector electrode array; applying a first oxidizing potential to said collector electrode array for a first period of time whereby ions of said at least one electro-active substance are oxidized from said solution and concentrated on said collector electrode array; applying a first reducing potential to said collector electrode array for a second period of time and simultaneously applying a detecting potential to said detector electrode array for said second period of time whereby said at least one electro-active substance concentrated on said collector electrode array is stripped from said collector electrode array back into said solution; and measuring the current across said detector electrode array during second period of time to determine the amount of said at least one electro-active substance within said solution. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A system for trace substance analysis, comprising:
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means for introducing a solution having a low concentration of at least one electro-active substance into a chamber containing a transducer having a collector electrode array interdigitated with a detector electrode array; means for applying a first reducing potential to said collector electrode array for a first period of time whereby ions of said at least one electro-active substance are reduced from said solution and concentrated on said collector electrode array; means for applying a first oxidizing potential to said collector electrode array for a second period of time; means for applying a detecting potential to said detector electrode array during said second period of time whereby said at least one electro-active substance on said collector electrode array is stripped from said collector electrode array back into said solution; and means for measuring current across said detector electrode array during said second period of time to determine the amount of said at least one electro-active substance within said solution. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for trace substance analysis, comprising:
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means for introducing a solution having a low concentration of at least one electro-active substance into a chamber containing a transducer formed of a collector electrode array interdigitated with a detector electrode array; means for applying a first oxidizing potential to said collector electrode array for a first period of time whereby said species of said at least one electro-active substance are oxidized from said solution and concentrated on said collector electrode array; means for applying a first reducing potential to said collector electrode array for a second period of time; means for applying a detecting potential to said detector electrode array during said second period of time whereby said at least one electro-active substance concentrated on said collector array is stripped from said collector electrode array back into said solution; and means for measuring current across said detector electrode array during said second period of time to determine the amount of said at least one electro-active substance within said solution. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. An interdigitated array constructed of a first electrode array and a second electrode array, each of said first and second electrode arrays being constructed of a monolithic, digitated array having a plurality of spaced digits each coated with a layer of mercury, said spaced digits are constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum, iridium, indium, tin oxide, indium and tin oxide, Ebonex™
- , silver graphite glass, carbon, and conductive carbon.
- View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
Specification