Fiber optic detector and method for using same for detecting chemical species
First Claim
1. Apparatus for indicating the presence of a concentration of a substance in a sample, said apparatus for use with means for transmitting and receiving light, said apparatus comprising:
- an indicator that reacts with said substance to form a reaction product with said substance; and
a substrate translucent to said light,said indicator being chemically immobilized on said substrate so that, when said sample contacts said substrate and said indicator forms said reaction product on said substrate and said light is transmitted through said substrate by said transmitting and receiving means, said reaction product absorbs a portion of said light,said reaction product absorbing said portion of said light in proportion to said concentration of said substance; and
means in optical communication with said substrate for determining said concentration from said light received from said substrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical sensing device for uranyl and other substances, a method for making an optical sensing device and a method for chemically binding uranyl and other indicators to glass, quartz, cellulose and similar substrates. The indicator, such as arsenazo III, is immobilized on the substrate using a chemical binding process. The immobilized arsenazo III causes uranyl from a fluid sample to bind irreversibly to the substrate at its active sites, thus causing absorption of a portion of light transmitted through the substrate. Determination of the amount of light absorbed, using conventional means, yields the concentration of uranyl present in the sample fluid. The binding of uranyl on the substrate can be reversed by subsequent exposure of the substrate to a solution of 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid. The chemical binding process is suitable for similarly binding other indicators, such as bromocresol green.
24 Citations
19 Claims
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1. Apparatus for indicating the presence of a concentration of a substance in a sample, said apparatus for use with means for transmitting and receiving light, said apparatus comprising:
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an indicator that reacts with said substance to form a reaction product with said substance; and a substrate translucent to said light, said indicator being chemically immobilized on said substrate so that, when said sample contacts said substrate and said indicator forms said reaction product on said substrate and said light is transmitted through said substrate by said transmitting and receiving means, said reaction product absorbs a portion of said light, said reaction product absorbing said portion of said light in proportion to said concentration of said substance; and means in optical communication with said substrate for determining said concentration from said light received from said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for determining a concentration of uranyl in a sample, said method comprising the steps of:
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placing a substrate having a uranyl-responsive indicator chemically immobilized thereon in said sample so that said indicator comes in contact with said sample, said indicator binding said uranyl to form a reaction product; transmitting light through said substrate, said indicator absorbing a portion of said light in proportion to said concentration of said uranyl; collecting light transmitted through said substrate; and comparing said transmitted light to said collected light to determine the absorbance of said reaction product in said sample whereby said concentration can be determined. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for immobilizing an indicator to a substrate, said substrate for use in detecting the presence of a substance in a fluid sample, said method comprising the steps of:
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rinsing said substrate with at least one cleaning solution; silyating said substrate by soaking said substrate in a silane solution for approximately 15 minutes, and then curing said substrate for approximately 30 minutes at a temperature of approximately 110°
C.;amidizing said substrate by soaking said substrate in a solution containing chloroform, triethylamine and 4-nitrobenzoyl chloride for approximately 15 minutes at a temperature of approximately 50°
C.;reducing said substrate by soaking said substrate in a reducing solution heated at a temperature within a range of approximately 35°
-40°
C. for approximately 45 minutes;diazotizating said substrate by soaking said substrate in a solution containing sodium nitrite and hydrochloric acid for approximately 30 minutes at a temperature of approximately 5°
C., and thenrinsing said substrate with a cleaning solution; and
binding said indicator to said substrate bysoaking said substrate in a solution containing said indicator for approximately 30 minutes, removing said substrate from said solution, and then rinsing said substrate with a cleaning solution. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification