Diffusion chamber for ascertaining different parameters of an aqueous substance

• US 9,618,499 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2014
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar
• Original Assignee: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar
• Inventors: Oellermann, Michael, Mark, Felix Christopher, Dunker, Erich
• Primary Examiner(s): Stock, Jr., Gordon J
• Application Number:
  US14/901,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20160370348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,025 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/42 Absorption spectrometry; Double beam spectrometry; Flicker spectrometry; Reflection spectrometry beam switching arrangements G01J3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/035 Supports for sample drops
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/01 Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/0303 Optical path conditioning in cuvettes, e.g. windows; adapted optical elements or systems; path modifying or adjustment G01N21/031 - G01N21/15 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/27 using photo-electric detection G01N21/31 takes precedence; circuits for computing concentration logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J
• 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 21/80 Indicating pH value
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/492 Determining multiple analytes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4925 measuring blood gas content, e.g. O2, CO2 , HCO3

Abstract

A diffusion chamber for determining different parameters of an aqueous substance includes a vertical central cylinder having a sample chamber for receiving a substance sample and a needle-shaped pH-measuring sensor having a measuring tip which is brought into contact with the substance sample. A spectrophotometer having glass-fiber optics is configured to penetrate the substance sample. A gas supply into the sample chamber is configured to provide a variable gas exposure of the substance sample when determining parameters. A needle of the pH-measuring sensor is inserted into an obliquely extending groove of a slid-in sample slide. A sealing ring on the sample slide is pressed against the central cylinder by means of an inserted spacer ring, the sample chamber is tightly sealed with respect to gases from the surroundings of the diffusion chamber, and a minimum distance is maintained between the lower collimating lens and the substance sample.

Claims

1. A diffusion chamber for determining different parameters of an aqueous substance, the diffusion chamber comprising:

a vertical central cylinder having at least one sample chamber for receiving a substance sample,

a needle-shaped pH-measuring sensor having a measuring tip configured to be brought into contact with the substance sample,

a spectrophotometer having glass-fibre optics configured to penetrate the substance sample, and

a gas supply into the sample chamber configured to provide a variable gas exposure of the substance sample when determining parameters,

wherein a sample slide is slid radially into the central cylinder in a gas-tight manner, the central cylinder having a cylindrical opening, above which a cylindrical sealing ring surrounding the sample chamber is disposed on the sample slide,

wherein a needle of the pH-measuring sensor which is in the form of a syringe-type optical microsensor is inserted into an obliquely extending groove of the sample slide, a glass fibre bearing the measuring tip being movably mounted in the needle, and the needle being guided through the sealing ring in a gas-tight manner, and

wherein an upper cylindrical lens holder comprising a light-supplying glass fibre and an upper collimating lens is slid axially into the central cylinder in a gas-tight manner above the sample chamber, and a lower cylindrical lens holder comprising a light-diverting glass fibre, a lower collimating lens and a spacer ring is slid axially into the central cylinder in a gas-tight manner below the sample chamber, the sealing ring on the sample slide being pressed against the central cylinder by the inserted spacer ring, the sample chamber being tightly sealed with respect to gases from the surroundings of the diffusion chamber, and a minimum distance being maintained between the lower collimating lens and the substance sample.

2. The diffusion chamber according to claim 1, wherein the needle has two angular bends such that an end of the needle which is open for sliding out the glass fibre is shifted in parallel.

3. The diffusion chamber according to claim 1, wherein an end of the needle which is open for sliding out the glass fibre sits flush with an inner contour of the sealing ring, and wherein the measuring tip of the glass fibre which is slid out of the needle is immersed in an edge region of the substance sample to be studied.

4. The diffusion chamber according to claim 1, wherein the optical microsensor is fixed in the sample slide by an oblique screw connection in a straight groove.

5. The diffusion chamber according to claim 1, wherein the measuring tip has a diameter of 150 μ

m or less.

6. The diffusion chamber according to claim 5, wherein a measuring volume of 20 μ

l or less for the substance sample to be studied is inserted in the sample chamber.

7. The diffusion chamber according to claim 1, wherein the optical microsensor has a measurement control for determining at least one measurement per second.

8. The diffusion chamber according to claim 1, wherein the spectrophotometer has a measurement control for determining at least 1000 spectra per second in a continuous wavelength range of between 200 nm and 1100 nm.

9. The diffusion chamber according to claim 1, wherein the spectrophotometer has a halogen or luminescence light source configured to irradiate the substance sample to be studied.

10. The diffusion chamber according to claim 1, wherein the sample chamber is tempered with distilled water or water supplemented with glycol.

11. The diffusion chamber according to claim 1, wherein an adjustable gas mixture is supplied to the sample chamber via the gas supply.

12. The diffusion chamber according to claim 1, wherein additional measuring tips of additional optical microsensors or of chemical microsensors of the substance sample to be studied are introduced into the sample chamber.

13. The diffusion chamber according to claim 1, wherein the substance sample is a substance of biological origin.