Gas flow coulometric detector

Claim 2

A GAS FLOW COULOMETRIC DETECTOR DRIVEN WITH A PREDETERMINED CONSTANT VOLTAGE COMPRISING A CASING FILLED WITH AN E ELECTROLYTE, MEANS FOR DEFINING A SAMPLE GAS PASSAGE WITHIN SAID CASING, MEANS FOR FLOWING A SAMPLE GAS THROUGH SAID PASSAGE, SAID MEANS FOR DEFINING SAID SAMPLE GAS PASSAGE INCLUDING A POROUS OPERATING ELECTRODE HAVING A FIRST SURFACE CONTACT WITH SAID SAMPLE GAS FLOWING THROUGH SAID PASSAGE; SECOND SURFACE IN CONTACT WITH SAID ELECTROLYTE, AND MANY PORES PROVIDING COMMUNICATIN MEANS BETWEEN SAID TWO SURFACES, SAID POROUS OPERATING ELECTRODE HAVING THE PROPERTY THAT INHIBITS UNDESIRABLE PERMEATION OF SAID ELECTROLYTE FROM SAID SECOND SURFACE TO SAID FIRST SURFACE THROUGH SAID PORES, A COUNTER ELECTRODE SPACED FROM AND DISPOSED OPPOSITE TO SAID OPERATING ELECTRODE IN SAID CASING ON THE SIDE OF SAID SECOND SURFACE OF SAID OPERATING ELECTRODE SO AS TO BE IN CONTACT WITH SAID ELECTROLYTE, SAID COUNTER ELECTRODE HAVING A SURFACE PARALLEL TO THE SECOND SURFACE OF SAID OPERATING ELECTRODE, SAID COUNTER ELECTRODE BEING MADE OF A MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF A-AGCL, HG-HG2CL2, AG-AGBR AND AGAGI AND BEING IN THE FORM OF A MEASHED STRUCTURE, MEANS FOR APPLYING SAID PREDETERMINED VOLTAGE, THE VALUE OF WHICH IS SUITABLE FOR THE SELECTIVE QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF SAID SAMPLE GAS, ACROSS SAID OPERATING ELECTRODE AND SAID COUNTER ELECTRODE SO THAT ELECTROLYSIS CAN BE CARRIED OUT DUE TO THE CONTACT BETWEEN SAID ELECTROLYTE AND SAID SAMPLE GAS IN SAID PORES, AND MEANS FOR DETECTING THE QUANTITY OF ELECTRICITY APPEARING DURING SAID ELECTROLYSIS.

Claim 3

A gas flow coulometric detector driven with a predetermined constant voltage comprising a casing filled with an electrolyte; means for defining a sample gas passage within said casing; means for flowing a sample gas through said passage, said means for defining said sample gas passage including a pair of porous operating electrodes in the form of flate sheets disposed opposite to each other in closely spaced parallel relation so as to define said sample gas passage therebetween, each of said porous operating electrodes having a first surface in contact with said sample gas flowing through said passage, a second surface in contact with said electrolyte, and many pores providing communication means between said two surfaces, said porous operating electrodes having the property that they inhibit undesirable permeation of said electrolyte from said second surfaces to said first surfaces through said pores; a pair of counter electrodes spaced from and disposed opposite to respective operating electrodes in said casing on the sides of said second surfaces of said operating electrodes so as to be in contact with said electrolyte, said counter electrodes having surfaces parallel to the second surfaces of said respective operating electrodes, means for applying said predetermined voltage, the value of which is suitable for the selective quantitative analysis of said sample gas, across said operating electrodes and said counter electrodes so that electrolysis can be carried out due to the contact between said electrolyte and said sample gas in said pores, and means for detecting the quantity of electricity appearing during said electrolysis.

Claim 4

A gas flow coulometric detector driven with a predetermined constant voltage comprising a casing filled with an electrolyte; means for defining a sample gas passage within said casing; means for flowing a sample gas through said passage, said means for defining said sample gas passage including a pair of porous operating electrodes in the form of flate sheets disposed opposite to each other in closely spaced parallel relation so as to define said sample gas passage therebetween, each of said porous operating electrodes having a first surface in contact with said sample gas flowing through said passage, a second surface in contact with said electrolyte, and many pores providing communication means between said two surfaces, said porous operating electrodes having the property that they inhibit undesirable permeation of said electrolyte from said second surfaces to said first surfaces through said pores; a pair of counter electrodes spaced from and disposed opposite to respective operating electrodes in said casing on the sides of said second surfaces of said operating electrodes so as to be in contact with said electrolyte, said counter electrodes having surfaces parallel to the second surfaces of said respective operating electrodes, means for applying said predetermined voltage, the value of which is suitable for the selective quantitative analysis of said sample gas, across said operating electrodes and said counter electrodes so that electrolysis can be carried out due to the contact between said electrolyte and said sample gas in said pores, and means for detecting the quantity of electricity appearing during said electrolysis.

Claim 5

A gas flow coulometric detector as claimed in claim 2, in which said counter electrodes are made of a material selected from the group consisting of Ag-AgCl, Hg-Hg2Cl2, Ag-AgBr and Ag-AgI.

Claim 6

A gas flow coulometric detector as claimed in claim 2, in which said counter electrodes are in the form of meshed structure.

Claim 7

A gas flow coulometric detector as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means interposed between said operating electrodes and said counter electrodes for preventing interferential metal ions in said electrolyte from reaching said operating electrodes.

Claim 8

A gas flow coulometric detector as claimed in claim 5, in which said preventing means is an ion exchange membrane.

Claim 9

A gas flow coulometric detector as claimed in claim 5, further comprising means for circulAting said electrolyte through said casing.

Claim 10

A glas flow coulometric detector as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means for circulating said electrolyte through said casing.

Claim 11

A gas flow coulometric detector as claimed in claim 2, in which said casing is provided with an admission port and a discharge port for the supply and discharge of said electrolyte into and out of said casing.

Claim 12

A gas flow coulometric detector as claimed in claim 9, in which said counter electrodes are made of a material selected from the group consisting of Ag-AgCl, Hg-Hg2Cl2, Ag-AgBr and Ag-AgI.

Claim 13

A gas flow coulometric detector comprising a casing filled with an electrolyte, means for filling said electrolyte into said casing, means for preventing communication of said electrolyte with external air, a sample gas passage, means for flowing a sample gas through said passage, a porous operating electrode in the form of a flat sheet, forming at least one wall of said sample gas passage and having a first surface in contact with said sample gas flowing through said passage, a second surface in contact with said electrolyte, and many pores providing communication means between said two surfaces, said porous operating electrode having the property that it inhibits undesirable permeation of said electrolyte from said second surface to said first surface through said pores, a counter electrode spaced from and disposed opposite to said operating electrode on the side of said second surface of said operating electrode and having a surface in parallel with said second surface so as to be in contact with said electrolyte, said counter electrode being in the form of a fine meshed structure and made from a material selected from the group consisting of Ag-AgCl, Hg-Hg2Cl2, Ag-AgBr and Ag-AgI, means for applying a predetermined constant voltage that is suitable for the selective quantitative analysis of said sample gas across said operating electrode and said counter electrode so that electrolysis can be carried out due to the contact between said electrolyte and said sample gas in said pores, and means for detecting the quantity of electricity appearing during said electrolysis.

Claim 14

A gas flow coulometric detector comprising a casing filled with an electrolyte, means for filling said electrolyte into said casing, means for preventing communication of said electrolyte with external air, a sample gas passage, means for flowing a sample gas through said passage, a porous operating electrode in the form of a flat sheet, forming at least one wall of said sample gas passage and having a first surface in contact with said sample gas flowing through said passage, a second surface in contact with said electrolyte, and many pores providing communication means between said two surfaces, said porous operating electrode having the property that it inhibits undesirable permeation of said electrolyte from said second surface to said first surface through said pores, a counter electrode spaced from and disposed opposite to said operating electrode on the side of said second surface of said operating electrode and having a surface in parallel with said second surface so as to be in contact with said electrolyte, said counter electrode being in the form of a fine meshed structure and made from a material selected from the group consisting of Ag-AgCl, Hg-Hg2Cl2, Ag-AgBr and Ag-AgI, means for applying a predetermined constant voltage that is suitable for the selective quantitative analysis of said sample gas across said operating electrode and said counter electrode so that electrolysis can be carried out due to the contact between said electrolyte and said sample gas in said pores, and means for detecting the quantity of electricity appearing during said electrolysis.

Claim 15

A gas flow coulometric detector as claimed in claim 11, wherein a pair of said operating electrodes are disposed opposite to each other in closely spaced parallel relation so as to define said sample gas passage therebetween and a pair of said counter electrodes are disposed in bilateral symmetry with respect to said passage.

Claim 16

A gas flow coulometric detector comprising a casing filled with an electrolyte, means for removing any residual oxygen dissolved in said electrolyte, means for circulating oxygen-free electrolyte through said casing, means for forming a sample gas passage in said casing, means for flowing a sample gas through said passage, said means for forming said sample gas passage including a porous operating electrode in the form of a flat sheet having a first surface in contact with said sample gas flowing through said passage, a second surface in contact with said electrolyte, and many pores providing communication means between said two surfaces, said porous operating electrode having the property that it inhibits undesirable permeation of said electrolyte from said second surface to said first surface through said pores, a counter electrode spaced from and disposed opposite to said operating electrode on the side of said second surface of said operating electrode, said counter electrode having a surface extending parallel with said second surface and being in contact with said electrolyte, said counter electrode being in the form of a fine meshed structure and made from a material selected from the group consisting of Ag-AgCl, Hg-Hg2Cl2, Ag-AgBr and Ag-AgI, an ion exchange membrane interposed between said operating electrode and said counter electrode for pReventing interferential metal ions existing in said electrolyte from reaching said operating electrode, means for applying a predetermined constant voltage that is suitable for selective quantitative analysis of said sample gas across said operating electrode and said counter electrode so that electrolysis can be carried out due to the contact between said electrolyte and said sample gas in said pores, and means for detecting the quantity of electricity appearing during said electrolysis.

Claim 17

A gas flow coulometric detector comprising a casing filled with an electrolyte, means for removing any residual oxygen dissolved in said electrolyte, means for circulating oxygen-free electrolyte through said casing, means for forming a sample gas passage in said casing, means for flowing a sample gas through said passage, said means for forming said sample gas passage including a porous operating electrode in the form of a flat sheet having a first surface in contact with said sample gas flowing through said passage, a second surface in contact with said electrolyte, and many pores providing communication means between said two surfaces, said porous operating electrode having the property that it inhibits undesirable permeation of said electrolyte from said second surface to said first surface through said pores, a counter electrode spaced from and disposed opposite to said operating electrode on the side of said second surface of said operating electrode, said counter electrode having a surface extending parallel with said second surface and being in contact with said electrolyte, said counter electrode being in the form of a fine meshed structure and made from a material selected from the group consisting of Ag-AgCl, Hg-Hg2Cl2, Ag-AgBr and Ag-AgI, an ion exchange membrane interposed between said operating electrode and said counter electrode for pReventing interferential metal ions existing in said electrolyte from reaching said operating electrode, means for applying a predetermined constant voltage that is suitable for selective quantitative analysis of said sample gas across said operating electrode and said counter electrode so that electrolysis can be carried out due to the contact between said electrolyte and said sample gas in said pores, and means for detecting the quantity of electricity appearing during said electrolysis.

Claim 18

A gas flow coulometric detector as claimed in claim 13, in which a pair of said operating electrodes are disposed opposite to each other in closely spaced parallel relation so as to define said sample gas passage therebetween and a pair of said counter electrodes are disposed in bilaterial symmetry with respect to said passage within said casing.

Claim 19

A gas flow coulometric detector comprising a casing filled with an electrolyte, means for removing anyy residual oxygen dissolved in said electrolyte, means for circulating oxygen-free electrolyte through said casing, means for forming a sample gas passage in said casing, means for flowing a sample gas through said passage, said means for forming said sample gas passage including a porous operating electrode in the form of a flat sheet having a first surface in contact with said sample gas flowing through said passage, a second surface in contact with said electrolyte, and many pores providing communication means between said two surfaces, said porous operating electrode having the property that it inhibits undesirable permeation of said electrolyte from said second surface to said first surface through said pores, a counter electrode spaced from and disposed opposite to said operating electrode on the side of said second surface of said operating electrode, said counter electrode having a surface extending parallel with said second surface and being in contact with said electrolyte, said counter electrode being in the form of a fine meshed structure and made from a material selected from the group consisting of Ag-AgCl, Hg-Hg2Cl2, Ag-AgBr and Ag-AgI, a filler in gel form interposed between said operating electrode and said counter electrode for preventing interferential metal ions existing in said electrolyte from reaching said operating electrode, means for applying a predetermined constant voltage that it suitable for selective quantitative analysis of said sample gas across said operating electrode and said counter electrode so that electrolysis can be carried out due to the contact between said electrolyte and said sample gas in said pores, and means for detecting the quantity of electricity appearing during said electrolysis.

Claim 20

A gas flow coulometric detector comprising a casing filled with an electrolyte, means for removing anyy residual oxygen dissolved in said electrolyte, means for circulating oxygen-free electrolyte through said casing, means for forming a sample gas passage in said casing, means for flowing a sample gas through said passage, said means for forming said sample gas passage including a porous operating electrode in the form of a flat sheet having a first surface in contact with said sample gas flowing through said passage, a second surface in contact with said electrolyte, and many pores providing communication means between said two surfaces, said porous operating electrode having the property that it inhibits undesirable permeation of said electrolyte from said second surface to said first surface through said pores, a counter electrode spaced from and disposed opposite to said operating electrode on the side of said second surface of said operating electrode, said counter electrode having a surface extending parallel with said second surface and being in contact with said electrolyte, said counter electrode being in the form of a fine meshed structure and made from a material selected from the group consisting of Ag-AgCl, Hg-Hg2Cl2, Ag-AgBr and Ag-AgI, a filler in gel form interposed between said operating electrode and said counter electrode for preventing interferential metal ions existing in said electrolyte from reaching said operating electrode, means for applying a predetermined constant voltage that it suitable for selective quantitative analysis of said sample gas across said operating electrode and said counter electrode so that electrolysis can be carried out due to the contact between said electrolyte and said sample gas in said pores, and means for detecting the quantity of electricity appearing during said electrolysis.

Claim 21

A gas flow coulometric detector as claimed in claim 15, in which an ion exchange membrane is disposed between said operating electrode and said counter electrode for preventing interferential metal ions existing in said electrolyte from reaching said operating electrode and being spaced from said operting electrode to define a space wherein said filler is located.

Claim 22

A gas flow coulometric detector as claimed in claim 15, in which a pair of said operating electrodes are disposed opposite to each other in closely spaced parallel relation so as to define said sample gas passage therebetween and a pair of said counter electrodes are disposed in bilateral symmetry with respect to said passage within said casing.

Claim 23

A gas flow coulometric detector driven with a predetermined constant voltage comprising a casing filled with an electrolyte, a pair of porous operating electrodes in the form of flat sheets disposed opposite to each other in closely spaced parallel relation so as to define a sample gas passage therebetween, means for flowing a sample gas through said passage, each of said porous operating electrodes having a first surface in contact with said sample gas flowing through said passage, a second surface in contact with said electrOlyte, and many pores providing communication means between said two surfaces, said porous operating electrodes having the property that they inhibit undesirable permeation of said electrolyte from said second surface to said first surface through said pores, a counter electrode spaced from and disposed opposite to each of said operating electrodes, and means for detecting the quantity of electricity appearing during said electrolysis.

Claim 24

A gas flow coulometric detector driven with a predetermined constant voltage comprising a casing filled with an electrolyte, a pair of porous operating electrodes in the form of flat sheets disposed opposite to each other in closely spaced parallel relation so as to define a sample gas passage therebetween, means for flowing a sample gas through said passage, each of said porous operating electrodes having a first surface in contact with said sample gas flowing through said passage, a second surface in contact with said electrOlyte, and many pores providing communication means between said two surfaces, said porous operating electrodes having the property that they inhibit undesirable permeation of said electrolyte from said second surface to said first surface through said pores, a counter electrode spaced from and disposed opposite to each of said operating electrodes, and means for detecting the quantity of electricity appearing during said electrolysis.

Claim 25

A gas flow coulometric detector according to claim 18, wherein each of the counter electrodes is in said casing on the side of the second surface of the respective operating electrodes so as to be in contact with said electrolyte, each counter electrode having a surface parallel to the second surface of the respective operating electrodes, each counter electrode being made of a material selected from the group consisting of Ag-AgCl, Hg-Hg2Cl2, Ag-AgBr and Ag-AgI, said electrolyte being predetermined in accordance with said material of said counter electrode, said detector further including means for applying said predetermined voltage, the value of which is suitable for the selective quantitative analysis of said sample gas, across said operating electrodes and said counter electrodes so that electrolysis can be carried out due to the contact between said electrolyte and said sample gas in said pores.

Claim 26

A gas flow coulometric detector driven with a predetermined constant voltage comprising a casing filled with an electrolyte, means for defining a sample gas passage within said casing, means for flowing a sample gas through said passage, said means for defining said sample gas passage including a porous operating electrode having a first surface in contact with said sample gas flowing through said passage, a second surface in contact with said electrolyte, and many pores providing communication means between said two surfaces, said porous operating electrode having the property that it inhibits undesirable permeation of said electrolyte from said second surface to said first surface through said pores, a counter electrode spaced from and disposed opposite to said operating electrode in said casing on the side of said second surface of said operating electrode so as to be in contact with said electrolyte, said counter electrode having a surface parallel to the second surface of said operating electrode, said counter electrode being made of a material selected from the group consisting of Ag-AgCl, Hg-Hg2Cl2, Ag-AgBr and Ag-AgI, an ion exchange membrane interposed between said operating electrode and said counter electrode for preventing inferential metal ions in said electrolyte from reaching said operating electrode, means for applying said predetermined voltage, the value of which is suitable for the selective quantitative analysis of said sample gas, across said operating electrode and said counter electrode so that electrolysis can be carried out due to the contact between said electrolyte and said sample gas in said pores, and means for detecting the quantity of electricity appearing during said electrolysis.

Claim 27

A gas flow coulometric detector driven with a predetermined constant voltage comprising a casing filled with an electrolyte, means for defining a sample gas passage within said casing, means for flowing a sample gas through said passage, said means for defining said sample gas passage including a porous operating electrode having a first surface in contact with said sample gas flowing through said passage, a second surface in contact with said electrolyte, and many pores providing communication means between said two surfaces, said porous operating electrode having the property that it inhibits undesirable permeation of said electrolyte from said second surface to said first surface through said pores, a counter electrode spaced from and disposed opposite to said operating electrode in said casing on the side of said second surface of said operating electrode so as to be in contact with said electrolyte, said counter electrode having a surface parallel to the second surface of said operating electrode, said counter electrode being made of a material selected from the group consisting of Ag-AgCl, Hg-Hg2Cl2, Ag-AgBr and Ag-AgI, an ion exchange membrane interposed between said operating electrode and said counter electrode for preventing inferential metal ions in said electrolyte from reaching said operating electrode, means for applying said predetermined voltage, the value of which is suitable for the selective quantitative analysis of said sample gas, across said operating electrode and said counter electrode so that electrolysis can be carried out due to the contact between said electrolyte and said sample gas in said pores, and means for detecting the quantity of electricity appearing during said electrolysis.

Claim 28

A gas flow coulometric detector as claimed in claim 2, in which said counter electrodes are of porous nature.