Parts per trillion detector
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for detecting a selected gas in a liquid sample, the apparatus comprising;
- a concentrator to concentrate the selected gas in the sample without concentrating sources of ionic interference, comprising;
a vaporizer to expel the selected gas out of the liquid sample and to evaporate at least a portion of the liquid sample to form vapor;
a mist trap in fluid communication with the vaporizer to capture mist droplets from the vaporizer; and
, a condenser in fluid communication with the mist trap to condense the vapor to a liquid condensate, whereby the selected gas in the vapor is sorbed and concentrated in the liquid condensate; and
, a detector in fluid communication with the concentrator to detect the selected gas in the sample.
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Abstract
An apparatus is disclosed which is capable of detecting a selected gas in a liquid sample to a sensitivity in the range of 10 to 10,000 parts per trillion. Such sensitivity is achieved by concentrating the selected gas in a sample without concentrating sources of ionic interference that are also present in the sample. Selective concentration of the gas is achieved by vaporizing the sample, correcting for non-ideal vaporization, selectively condensing the selected gas from the vapor, and detecting the selected gas. Methods for using the apparatus and detecting the selected gas are also disclosed.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting a selected gas in a liquid sample, the apparatus comprising;
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a concentrator to concentrate the selected gas in the sample without concentrating sources of ionic interference, comprising;
a vaporizer to expel the selected gas out of the liquid sample and to evaporate at least a portion of the liquid sample to form vapor;
a mist trap in fluid communication with the vaporizer to capture mist droplets from the vaporizer; and
,a condenser in fluid communication with the mist trap to condense the vapor to a liquid condensate, whereby the selected gas in the vapor is sorbed and concentrated in the liquid condensate; and
,a detector in fluid communication with the concentrator to detect the selected gas in the sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for detecting a selected gas in a liquid sample, the method comprising:
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providing a concentrator to concentrate the selected gas in the sample without concentrating sources of ionic interference;
the concentrator comprising;
a vaporizer to expel the selected gas out of the liquid sample and to evaporate at least a portion of the liquid sample to form vapor;
a mist trap in fluid communication with the vaporizer to capture mist droplets from the vaporizer; and
,a condenser in fluid communication with the mist trap to condense the vapor to a liquid condensate, whereby the selected gas in the vapor is sorbed and concentrated in the liquid condensate;
providing a detector in fluid communication with the concentrator to detect the selected gas in the sample;
introducing the sample into the concentrator;
concentrating the selected gas without concentrating sources of ionic interference; and
detecting the concentrated selected gas. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for high sensitivity detection of CO2 in liquid water, the method comprising:
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heating the liquid water to release CO2 from the heated liquid water;
evaporating at least a portion of the heated liquid water to form a vapor;
condensing the vapor to form a liquid condensate, whereby CO2 is absorbed and concentrated in the liquid condensate; and
detecting the amount of CO2 in the liquid condensate. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
detecting the amount of CO2 in the liquid water after the CO2 has been released from the liquid water by heat to provide a baseline blank measurements.
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28. The method of claim 25, wherein the method is reagentless.
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29. The method of claim 25, wherein the CO2 is detected in amounts as small as 10 parts per trillion.
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