Stop-flow analytical systems and methods
First Claim
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1. A stop-flow analytical system, comprising:
- a sample pump coupled with a sample input port that allows the sample pump to be coupled to a working source of a use composition having concentrations of one or more substances;
a first reagent pump coupled with a first reagent input port that allows the first reagent pump to be coupled with a source of a first reagent;
a diluent pump coupled with a diluent input port that allows the diluent pump to be coupled with a source of a diluent;
a pre-mixer coupled to the sample pump and the diluent pump, the pre-mixer configured to mix together a finite sample of the use composition delivered by the sample pump and a finite volume of the diluent delivered by the diluent pump, resulting in a diluted sample;
a mixer coupled to the first reagent pump and the pre-mixer, the mixer configured to mix together a finite volume of the first reagent delivered by the first reagent pump and the diluted sample received from the pre-mixer, resulting in a sample mixture;
an optical sensor coupled to the mixer, the optical sensor comprising an optical cell that receives the sample mixture from the mixer, the optical sensor configured to obtain response data from the sample mixture indicative of the concentrations of the one or more substances within the use composition;
a stop-flow mechanism coupled to the optical sensor and configured to stop the flow of the sample mixture while the sample mixture is within the optical cell of the optical sensor; and
a rinse bypass line coupling the diluent input port to the mixer while bypassing the pre-mixer.
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Abstract
Analytical systems and methods are provided for simultaneously dispensing metered volumes of fluids at different rates and mixing the fluids to generate a mixed sample having the fluids in proportion to the different rates at which they were dispensed. In some cases two or more of the fluids are premixed prior to mixing with other fluids. In some cases a use composition and diluent are simultaneously dispensed at different rates and premixed to form a diluted sample. One or more reagents may be mixed with the diluted sample and the sample mixture can be analyzed to determine characteristics of the use composition.
87 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A stop-flow analytical system, comprising:
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a sample pump coupled with a sample input port that allows the sample pump to be coupled to a working source of a use composition having concentrations of one or more substances; a first reagent pump coupled with a first reagent input port that allows the first reagent pump to be coupled with a source of a first reagent; a diluent pump coupled with a diluent input port that allows the diluent pump to be coupled with a source of a diluent; a pre-mixer coupled to the sample pump and the diluent pump, the pre-mixer configured to mix together a finite sample of the use composition delivered by the sample pump and a finite volume of the diluent delivered by the diluent pump, resulting in a diluted sample; a mixer coupled to the first reagent pump and the pre-mixer, the mixer configured to mix together a finite volume of the first reagent delivered by the first reagent pump and the diluted sample received from the pre-mixer, resulting in a sample mixture; an optical sensor coupled to the mixer, the optical sensor comprising an optical cell that receives the sample mixture from the mixer, the optical sensor configured to obtain response data from the sample mixture indicative of the concentrations of the one or more substances within the use composition; a stop-flow mechanism coupled to the optical sensor and configured to stop the flow of the sample mixture while the sample mixture is within the optical cell of the optical sensor; and a rinse bypass line coupling the diluent input port to the mixer while bypassing the pre-mixer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An analytical system, comprising:
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sample pumping means coupled with a sample input port that allows the sample pumping means to be coupled to a working source of a use composition having concentrations of one or more substances; first reagent pumping means coupled with a first reagent input port that allows the first reagent pumping means to be coupled with a source of a first reagent; second reagent pumping means coupled with a second reagent input port that allows the second reagent pumping means to be coupled with a source of a second reagent; diluent pumping means coupled with a diluent input port that allows the diluent pumping means to be coupled with a source of a diluent; pre-mixing means coupled to the sample pumping means and the diluent pumping means, for mixing together a finite sample of the use composition delivered by the sample pumping means and a finite volume of the diluent delivered by the diluent pumping means, resulting in a diluted sample; mixing means coupled to the first reagent pumping means, the second reagent pumping means, and the pre-mixing means, for mixing together a finite volume of the first reagent delivered by the first reagent pumping means, a finite volume of the second reagent delivered by the second reagent pumping means, and the diluted sample received from the pre-mixing means, resulting in a sample mixture; optical sensing means coupled to the mixing means for receiving the sample mixture from the mixing means and obtaining response data from the sample mixture indicative of the concentrations of the one or more substances within the use composition; and stop-flow means coupled to the optical sensing means for stopping the sample mixture while obtaining the response data from the sample mixture. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for determining concentrations of a peracid and/or a peroxide within a use composition, the method comprising:
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receiving with a sample pump a use composition having concentrations of a peracid and/or a peroxide from a working source of the use composition; receiving with a first reagent pump a first reagent; receiving with a second reagent pump to a second reagent; receiving with a diluent pump a diluent; simultaneously actuating the sample pump, the first reagent pump, the second reagent pump, and the diluent pump to dispense a finite sample of the use composition, a finite volume of the first reagent, a finite volume of the second reagent, and a finite volume of the diluent; pre-mixing the sample of the use composition and the volume of the diluent to form a diluted sample; mixing the volumes of the first reagent and the second reagent with the diluted sample to form a mixed sample; stopping the mixed sample within an optical cell of an optical sensor; obtaining optical response data from the mixed sample while the mixed sample is stopped within the optical cell of the optical sensor, the response data indicative of the concentrations of the peracid and/or the peroxide; and determining the concentrations of the peracid and/or peroxide based on the optical response data. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification