Phenol monitoring method and apparatus

Claim 2

A method according to claim 1 wherein electrolytically converting the sample solution comprises splitting water between an ion exchange membrane pair by the passage of an electric current.

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1 wherein electrolytically converting the sample solution comprises alternately converting the pH of the sample solution in a single electrolytic cell.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of treating the alternately produced acidic or basic solution to remove precipitates therefrom prior to directing the ultraviolet radiation therethrough.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 1 wherein directing the ultraviolet radiation and measuring the amount of ultraviolet radiation passing through the cell comprises the steps of passing solutions formed during the alternate acidic and basic cycles through a single optical cell, filtering the radiation passing through the cell using a filter absorbing all wavelengths other than about 2,900 A, determining the amount of radiation passing through the filter and amplifying the amount of radiation determined.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 1 further comprising integrating the measured amounts of ultraviolet radiation to minimize the effect of spurious signals.

Claim 7

A method according to claim 1 wherein comparing the measured amounts of ultraviolet radiation comprises determining the log ratio of the amount of radiation passing through the acidic solution to the amount of radiation passing through the basic solution.

Claim 8

Apparatus for determining the quantity of phenols in aqueous solution, comprising: a. electrolytic means for converting a sample aqueous solution so as to be alternately acidic and basic with preselected and controlled pH values; b. an ultraviolet source for directing ultraviolet radiation through the sample solution at a preselected wavelength; c. radiation measuring means for containing the converted sample solution and for determining the amount of ultraviolet radiation passing through the converted sample solution during alternate cycles of the sample solution when the solutions have reached their preselected pH values and at the preselected wavelength; and d. means for comparing the measured amounts of ultraviolet radiation passing through the converted sample solution to determine the concentration of phenols in the aqueous solution.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising treating means for removing interfering impurities from the sample solution prior to conversion.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said treating means comprises a filter having at least successive layers of diatomaceous earth, glass wool and cation exchange resin beads.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said electrolytic means comprises a single electrolytic cell in which the acidic and basic solutions are alternately formed from the aqueous solution at preseLected and controlled pH values.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said radiation measuring means comprises a single optical cell for containing the converted sample solution and adapted to permit ultraviolet radiation to pass therethrough.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said radiation measuring means further comprises at least one optical filter between said ultraviolet source and said optical cell for absorbing radiation of wavelengths other than about 2,900 A.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said radiation measuring means further comprises at least one optical filter at the end of said optical cell opposite said ultraviolet source for absorbing radiation of wavelengths other than about 2,900 A.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said radiation measuring means further comprises a photomultiplier tube adjacent the end of said optical cell opposite said ultraviolet source for determining the amount of ultraviolet radiation passing through said optical cell.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising treating means between said electrolytic means and said radiation measuring means for removing precipitates from the basic and acidic solutions.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said comparing means comprises first gate means for passing signals from said radiation measuring means corresponding to the amounts of ultraviolet radiation passing through the converted sample solution, integrator means for accumulating the signals corresponding to the amounts of radiation passing through the sample solution, storage means for receiving a signal from said integrator means and sampling and holding the signal corresponding to the amount of radiation passing through the acidic sample, second gate means for passing a signal from said integrator means corresponding to the amount of radiation passing through the basic sample, third gate means for passing a signal from said storage means corresponding to the amount of radiation passing through the acidic sample and means for receiving the signals corresponding to the amounts of radiation passing through the acidic and basic samples and computing the log ratio of the amount of radiation passing through the acidic sample to the amount of radiation passing through the basic sample.