US3856466A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid impurity analyzer
Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
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Filing: 1972-05-03
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Granted: 1974-12-24
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Expires: 1992-05-03
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for determining the quantity of nonsoluble residue in a fluid, such as a water stream, wherein a sample of a water stream is treated with a volatile organic solvent which sorbs the non-soluble residue in an organic phase. A small measured quantity of the organic phase is deposited on a piezoelectric crystal detector electrically connected with an oscillator circuit, whereupon as the solvent evaporates a change in the resonant frequency of the crystal occurs, which change in frequency is directly proportional to the mass of residue present in the fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 H Crawford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:07
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/02; G01N29/036; G01N33/00; G01N33/18; G01N33/1826; G01N33/1833; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/02; G01N2291/025; G01N2291/0256; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/806; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE ORGANIC IMPURITY CONTENT IN A FLUID COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. MIXING A SAMPLE OF SAID FLUID WITH AN ORGANIC SOLVENT, WHEREBY A TWO-PHASE LIQUID MIXTURE IS FORMED INCLUDING AN IMPURITY-CONTAINING ORGANIC PHASE; B. EXTRACTING A SAMPLE OF THE ORGANIC PHASE CONTAINING THE ORGANIC IMPURITY; C. DISPOSING AN AMOUNT OF THE EXTRACTED SAMPLE ON AT LEAST A FIRST CRYSTAL HAVING A PREDETERMINED RESONANT FREQUENCY AND OPERABLY CONNECTED WITH FIRST OSCILLATOR CIRCUIT MEANS; D. PROVIDING SECOND OSCILLATOR CIRCUIT MEANS HAVING A PREDETERMINED RESONANT FREQUENCY; AND E. DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF ORGANIC IMPURITY IN SAID ORGANIC SOLVENT AS A FUNCTION OF THE DIFFERENCE IN FREQUENCY BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND OSCILLATOR CIRCUIT MEANS.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
A METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE ORGANIC IMPURITY CONTENT IN A FLUID COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. MIXING A SAMPLE OF SAID FLUID WITH AN ORGANIC SOLVENT, WHEREBY A TWO-PHASE LIQUID MIXTURE IS FORMED INCLUDING AN IMPURITY-CONTAINING ORGANIC PHASE; B. EXTRACTING A SAMPLE OF THE ORGANIC PHASE CONTAINING THE ORGANIC IMPURITY; C. DISPOSING AN AMOUNT OF THE EXTRACTED SAMPLE ON AT LEAST A FIRST CRYSTAL HAVING A PREDETERMINED RESONANT FREQUENCY AND OPERABLY CONNECTED WITH FIRST OSCILLATOR CIRCUIT MEANS; D. PROVIDING SECOND OSCILLATOR CIRCUIT MEANS HAVING A PREDETERMINED RESONANT FREQUENCY; AND E. DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF ORGANIC IMPURITY IN SAID ORGANIC SOLVENT AS A FUNCTION OF THE DIFFERENCE IN FREQUENCY BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND OSCILLATOR CIRCUIT MEANS.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid comprises a water stream.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein following step (c), including the further step of disposing an amount of organic solvent equal to that provided in step (a) on a second crystal having a predetermined resonant frequency and operably connected with said second oscillator circuit means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said organic solvent comprises a chlorinated hydrocarbon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said extracted sample is disposed centrally on said first crystal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for determining organic impurities in a water stream comprising the steps of: a. mixing a sample of said water stream with an organic solvent, whereby a water and impurity containing organic two-phase liquid mixture is formed; b. extracting a sample of the organic phase containing said organic impurities; c. disposing said extracted sample on a first piezoelectric crystal operably connected to first electronic oscillator circuit means; d. disposing a mass of said organic solvent equal to the amount of said organic solvent contained in said organic phase sample on a second piezoelectric crystal operably connected to second electronic oscillator circuit means; and e. determining the amount of organic impurities in said organic solvent as a function of the difference in frequency between said first and second electronic oscillator circuit means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for determining organic impurities in a water stream comprising the steps of: a. mixing a sample of said water stream with an organic solvent, whereby a water and impurity containing organic two-phase liquid mixture is formed; b. extracting a sample of the organic phase containing said organic impurities; c. disposing said extracted sample on a first piezoelectric crystal operably connected to first electronic oscillator circuit means; d. disposing a mass of said organic solvent equal to the amount of said organic solvent contained in said organic phase sample on a second piezoelectric crystal operably connected to second electronic oscillator circuit means; and e. determining the amount of organic impurities in said organic solvent as a function of the difference in frequency between said first and second electronic oscillator circuit means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 6 wherein the sample extracted in step (c) and the mass of organic solvent in step (d) are disposed centrally on said first and second piezoelectric crystals, respectively.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for determining the impurity content in a fluid comprising the steps of: a. mixing a sample of said fluid with a solvent immiscible with said fluid and having the capacity to selectively extract the impurity from the fluid sample containing the impurity, whereby a two-phase liquid mixture is formed including an impurity-containing solvent phase; b. extracting a sample of the solvent phase containing the impurity; c. depositing a predetermined amount of the extracted sample on a first crystal having a predetermined resonant frequency; d. evaporating the solvent from said crystal to leave a residue of the impurity on said crystal; e. comparing the frequency of said crystal subsequent to completion of step (d) with a reference frequency; and f. determining the amount of impurity present in said fluid sample as a function of the difference between the reference frequency and the frequency of said crystal with said residue.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for determining the impurity content in a fluid comprising the steps of: a. mixing a sample of said fluid with a solvent immiscible with said fluid and having the capacity to selectively extract the impurity from the fluid sample containing the impurity, whereby a two-phase liquid mixture is formed including an impurity-containing solvent phase; b. extracting a sample of the solvent phase containing the impurity; c. depositing a predetermined amount of the extracted sample on a first crystal having a predetermined resonant frequency; d. evaporating the solvent from said crystal to leave a residue of the impurity on said crystal; e. comparing the frequency of said crystal subsequent to completion of step (d) with a reference frequency; and f. determining the amount of impurity present in said fluid sample as a function of the difference between the reference frequency and the frequency of said crystal with said residue.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said fluid comprises a water stream and said solvent is a water-immiscible liquid having the capacity to extract the impurity from wAter containing the impurity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the impurity is organic.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for determining the impurity content in a water stream comprising the steps of: a. mixing a sample of said water stream with a water-immiscible solvent having the capacity to extract the impurity from water containing the impurity, whereby a water and impurity containing two-phase liquid mixture is formed; b. extracting a sample of the phase containing said impurity; c. depositing said extracted sample on a first piezoelectric crystal having a predetermined resonant frequency; d. depositing a mass of said solvent equal to the amount of said solvent contained in said impurity containing phase on a second piezoelectric crystal having a predetermined resonant frequency; e. evaporating the solvent from each of said crystals so that a residue of any impurity is left on said first crystal; f. comparing the frequencies of said crystals subsequent to completion of step (e); and g. determining the amount of impurity present in said water sample as a function of the difference between the frequencies of said first and said second crystals subsequent to completion of step (e).
Claim 15
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for determining the impurity content in a water stream comprising the steps of: a. mixing a sample of said water stream with a water-immiscible solvent having the capacity to extract the impurity from water containing the impurity, whereby a water and impurity containing two-phase liquid mixture is formed; b. extracting a sample of the phase containing said impurity; c. depositing said extracted sample on a first piezoelectric crystal having a predetermined resonant frequency; d. depositing a mass of said solvent equal to the amount of said solvent contained in said impurity containing phase on a second piezoelectric crystal having a predetermined resonant frequency; e. evaporating the solvent from each of said crystals so that a residue of any impurity is left on said first crystal; f. comparing the frequencies of said crystals subsequent to completion of step (e); and g. determining the amount of impurity present in said water sample as a function of the difference between the frequencies of said first and said second crystals subsequent to completion of step (e).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-23 | 1978-06-24 | 1978-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-23 | 1982-06-24 | 1982-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-23 | 1986-06-24 | 1986-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |