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.
A method of spectrally identifying a given fluid medium which comprises dispersing into the given fluid medium particles of a synthetic mixed metal-polymer salt which are insoluble in the given fluid medium, said particles comprising a plurality of different metallic identifier elements bound to a solid polymer with the different identifier elements each having a characteristic spectral emission which does not interfere with or overlap the spectral emission characteristics of other identifier elements, collecting a test quantity of the fluid medium at a different point in space and time and subjecting the test quantity of the fluid medium to a flame spectral analyzer for detecting the characteristic emissions of the several different identifier elements.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of spectrally identifying a given fluid medium which comprises dispersing into the given fluid medium particles of a synthetic mixed metal-polymer salt which are insoluble in the given fluid medium, said particles comprising a plurality of different metallic identifier elements bound to a solid polymer with the different identifier elements each having a characteristic spectral emission which does not interfere with or overlap the spectral emission characteristics of other identifier elements, collecting a test quantity of the fluid medium at a different point in space and time and subjecting the test quantity of the fluid medium to a flame spectral analyzer for detecting the characteristic emissions of the several different identifier elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein only dilute amounts of the insoluble particles are dispersed in a given fluid medium to be traced on the order of 20 parts per billion by weight or less yet providing relatively high localized identifier element concentrations within the insoluble particles on the order of 105 parts per million by weight for spectral analysis purposes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the particulate synthetic mixed metal-polymer salt is polymerized and neutralized so as to be chemically non-reactive with a particular fluid medium into which it is dispersed as a trace identifier and the metallic elements comprising the mixed metal-polymer particulates are different from those naturally occuring in the fluid medium into which the particulates are dispersed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the particulate synthetic mixed metal-polymer salt is of predominantly cross linked hydrocarbon structure in which a specific ratio of metal atoms are maintained within the particle by bonding of the metal to the cross-linked polymer matrix and in which the metal atoms comprise on the order of 10 percent by weight of the particle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the insoluble particles are formed by the reaction between a strong acid cation-exchange resin and the metal ions of a mixed metal salt solution in accordance with the following general equation: R-SO3 H + M X R-SO3 M + H X Insoluble strong soluble resin with soluble acid cation- metal bound metal acid exchange resin salt residue
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein a separate spectral analysis is performed for each of the different known identifier elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein only dilute amounts of the insoluble particles are dispersed in a given fluid medium to be traced on the order of 20 part per billion by weight or less yet providing relatively high localized identifier elements concentrations within the insoluble particles on the order of 105 parts per million by weight for spectral analysis purposes.