Concentration measurement by sensing hydrogel pressure
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring a wine or beer fermentation solution in a fermentation vessel, comprising:
- holding a saturated hydrogel under a base pressure of at least 50 kPA;
exposing the hydrogel to the solution; and
recording changes in pressure in the hydrogel over time,wherein the hydrogel is responsive to concentrations of both sugar and alcohol and is an unsubstituted hydrogel not modified to have substituents having particular affinities for sugar,wherein sugar exerts an osmotic effect on the hydrogel with increasing concentrations causing a reduction in pressure, andwherein alcohol entering the hydrogel causes an increase in pressure by expanding the hydrogel.
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Abstract
A sensor and method for measuring the concentration of one or more chemical substances within a solution. The sensor including a body of saturated hydrogel held within a sensor body. A window to allow flow through of the chemical substance to be measured. The hydrogel is held under a predetermined compressive force within the sensor body such that the hydrogel exerts a base pressure. A pressure sensor such as a strain gauge senses the pressure exerted by the hydrogel within the sensor body. The sensed pressure is stored or displayed. The hydrogel is reactive to the one or more chemical substances so that contact causes the hydrogel to either increase the pressure above the base pressure under which the hydrogel is held or to decrease the pressure relative to the base pressure of the hydrogel.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring a wine or beer fermentation solution in a fermentation vessel, comprising:
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holding a saturated hydrogel under a base pressure of at least 50 kPA; exposing the hydrogel to the solution; and recording changes in pressure in the hydrogel over time, wherein the hydrogel is responsive to concentrations of both sugar and alcohol and is an unsubstituted hydrogel not modified to have substituents having particular affinities for sugar, wherein sugar exerts an osmotic effect on the hydrogel with increasing concentrations causing a reduction in pressure, and wherein alcohol entering the hydrogel causes an increase in pressure by expanding the hydrogel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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Specification