Fluid medium source tracer method

Abstract

Abstract A fluid medium source tracer method and materials is described which employs specially prepared particulate materials containing bound identifier elements in known fixed ratios and dispersed in a fluid medium to be labeled. Test samples of a fluid medium (either liquid or gas) are burned in a flame emission spectrometer which measures simultaneously one principal spectral emission band from each of the bound elements in any single particle that passes through the flame of the spectrometer. The method is applicable to studies in water, air contamination, or other liquids and in studies of air flow. It allows a number of different unique, characteristic ''''finger prints'''' to be dispersed into fluid mediums to be identified at some subsequent point in space and/or time as a suspected source of contamination by use of the specially prepared particulate material containing bound elements in known fixed ratios as the ''''finger prints.'''' In liquids, the additive particulate materials can be used at average levels as dilute as 1 part per billion by weight (and possibly less), and yet the technique is capable of deriving spectral emission signals generated in the flame emission spectrometer by the labeling particulate materials which are at least one or two orders of magnitude greater than emission signals produced by background noise or other naturally occurring interference. The labeling particulate materials and the method of their preparation also is disclosed.

Inventors

• 👤 Douglas Bird

Bibliographic Details