Systems and methods for the identification of compounds using admittance spectroscopy

• US 9,052,276 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2010
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James W. Bennett, Leonid Matsiev
• Original Assignee: S.E.A. Medical Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Matsiev, Leonid, Bennett, James, Weickert, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Sines, Brian J
• Application Number:
  US12/877,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20120287431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,735 Days
• Field of Search: 436/43, 436/150, 436/149, 436/151, 422/50, 422/68.1, 422/82.01, 422/82.02
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3181 using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/02 by investigating impedance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/026 Dielectric impedance spectroscopy electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for measuring corrosion G01N17/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2835 specific substances contained in the oil or fuel

Abstract

Described herein are systems and methods for determining the location, composition and concentration of a hydrocarbon containing plume in environmental seawater. These systems and methods disclosed use multiple complex admittance measurements from seawater in order to identify the contents, concentration, and location of the hydrocarbon containing plume. In preferred variations system includes a sensor array that substantially simultaneously records plume location, depth, and composition.

Claims

1. A method of determining the identity concentration or identity and concentration of one or more compounds in a water solution:

the method comprising the steps of;

placing a pair of electrodes in contact with the aqueous solution so that a boundary layer of aqueous solution is formed on a first surface of one of the electrodes;

applying electrical excitation between the pair of electrodes to determine a complex admittance at the first surface wherein the applied electrical excitation results in a voltage that is below the threshold level for electrochemical reactions at the first surface; and

determining the identity concentration or identity and concentration of one or more compounds in the aqueous solution based on the complex admittance measured between the electrodes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wherein the applied electrical excitation results in a voltage that is below 500 mV.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the identity concentration or identity and concentration comprises simultaneously determining the identity and concentration.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording the complex admittance at a plurality of current frequencies.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pair of electrodes comprises conductive surfaces made of different materials.