Spectroscopic chemical analysis methods and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of providing a chemical analysis of a sample, comprising:
- (a) supplying a sample to be analyzed;
(b) applying ultraviolet excitation radiation from a source directly or indirectly onto the sample to produce emission radiation in the form of Raman emission radiation within a first range of wavelengths and photoluminescence emission radiation within a second range of wavelengths;
(c) receiving the emission radiation, directly or indirectly, from the sample at at least one first spectral filter which is capable of passing the Raman emission radiation within at least a portion of the first range of wavelengths along a first optical path;
(d) receiving the emission radiation, directly or indirectly, from the sample at at least one second spectral filter which is capable of passing the photoluminescence emission radiation within at least a portion of the second range of wavelengths along a second optical path;
(e) measuring an amount of the Raman emission radiation using at least one first detector located directly or indirectly along the first optical path;
(f) measuring an amount of the photoluminescence emission radiation using at least one second detector located directly or indirectly along the second optical path; and
(g) correlating information concerning the amounts of the Raman emission radiation and photoluminescence emission radiation measured by the at least one first detector and the at least one second detector, respectively, with data associated with one or more chemical compounds of interest to provide at least a partial chemical analysis of the sample.
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Abstract
Spectroscopic chemical analysis methods and apparatus are disclosed which employ deep ultraviolet (e.g. in the 200 nm to 300 nm spectral range) electron beam pumped wide bandgap semiconductor lasers, incoherent wide bandgap semiconductor light emitting devices, and hollow cathode metal ion lasers to perform non-contact, non-invasive detection of unknown chemical analytes. These deep ultraviolet sources enable dramatic size, weight and power consumption reductions of chemical analysis instruments. Chemical analysis instruments employed in some embodiments include capillary and gel plane electrophoresis, capillary electrochromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, flow cytometry, flow cells for liquids and aerosols, and surface detection instruments. In some embodiments, Raman spectroscopic detection methods and apparatus use ultra-narrow-band angle tuning filters, acousto-optic tuning filters, and temperature tuned filters to enable ultra-miniature analyzers for chemical identification. In some embodiments Raman analysis is conducted along with photoluminescence spectroscopy (i.e. fluorescence and/or phosphorescence spectroscopy) to provide high levels of sensitivity and specificity in the same instrument.
17 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of providing a chemical analysis of a sample, comprising:
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(a) supplying a sample to be analyzed; (b) applying ultraviolet excitation radiation from a source directly or indirectly onto the sample to produce emission radiation in the form of Raman emission radiation within a first range of wavelengths and photoluminescence emission radiation within a second range of wavelengths; (c) receiving the emission radiation, directly or indirectly, from the sample at at least one first spectral filter which is capable of passing the Raman emission radiation within at least a portion of the first range of wavelengths along a first optical path; (d) receiving the emission radiation, directly or indirectly, from the sample at at least one second spectral filter which is capable of passing the photoluminescence emission radiation within at least a portion of the second range of wavelengths along a second optical path; (e) measuring an amount of the Raman emission radiation using at least one first detector located directly or indirectly along the first optical path; (f) measuring an amount of the photoluminescence emission radiation using at least one second detector located directly or indirectly along the second optical path; and (g) correlating information concerning the amounts of the Raman emission radiation and photoluminescence emission radiation measured by the at least one first detector and the at least one second detector, respectively, with data associated with one or more chemical compounds of interest to provide at least a partial chemical analysis of the sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of providing a chemical analysis of a sample, comprising:
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(a) supplying a sample to be analyzed; (b) applying ultraviolet excitation radiation from a source directly or indirectly onto the sample to produce emission radiation in the form of photoluminescence emission radiation within a first range of wavelengths; (c) receiving the emission radiation, directly or indirectly, from the sample at at least one first spectral filter which is capable of passing the photoluminescence emission radiation within at least a portion of the first range of wavelengths along a first optical path; (d) measuring an amount of the photoluminescence emission radiation using at least one first detector located directly or indirectly along the first optical path; and (e) correlating information concerning the amounts of the photoluminescence emission radiation measured by the at least one first detector with data associated with one or more chemical compounds of interest to provide at least a partial chemical analysis of the sample, wherein the source comprises a source selected from the group consisting of;
(1) a semiconductor source, (2) a an electron beam pumped semiconductor laser;
(3) an electron beam pumped incoherent semiconductor source; and
(4) an electron beam pumped AlGaN source; and
(5) a hollow cathode laser. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification