Method for determining volatile substances in an aqueous solution and apparatus therefor

Claim 1

A rapid method for detecting and determining a volatile or a volatizable substance in a sample aqueous solution or liquid comprising the steps of: coating or impregnating a transparent film carrier with a chromogenic reagent to form a transparent color developing film-like element; contacting said color developing film-like element with a gas permeable membrane which is hydrophobic; placing a sample within a sample hole in which a part of the sample hole is defined by a part of said gas permeable membrane; closing the sample hole from the surrounding atmosphere; separating the volatile component of the sample by passing the volatile component through the gas permeable membrane; contacting said separated volatile component with said color developing film-like element; and detecting and determining the volatile or volatizable substance by the degree of color change of the chromogenic reagent.

Claim 11

An apparatus for the rapid determination of a volatile or a volatizable substance in a sample aqueous solution or liquid comprising a first cover element having a plurality of holes for receiving the sample, closing means for closing off said sample holes from the surrounding atmosphere, a gas permeable membrane contacting said first cover element and defining a portion of said sample holes, said gas permeable membrane being hydrophobic, a dried or partially dried transparent film-like color developing carrier coated or impregnated with an indicator which changes color by contact with the volatile component of the sample, said film-like color developing carrier being in contact with said gas permeable membrane, and a second cover element contacting said film-like color developing carrier, said second cover element being constructed and arranged to permit viewing of at least parts of said film-like color developing carrier which are aligned with said sample holes, said first cover element, gas permeable membrane, film-like color developing carrier, and second cover element being fitted together to form a single composite layer, said sample holes receiving a sample whereby the volatile component of the sample is separated by passing through the gas permeable membrane to contact the film-like color developing carrier such that the volatile or volatizable substance is detected and determined by the degree of color change of the film-like color developing carrier.

Claim 12

An apparatus for the rapid determination of a volatile or a volatizable substance in a sample aqueous solution or liquid comprising a first cover element having a plurality of holes for receiving the sample, closing means for closing off said sample holes from the surrounding atmosphere, a gas permeable membrane contacting said first cover element and defining a portion of said sample holes, said gas permeable membrane being hydrophobic, a dried or partially dried transparent film-like color developing carrier coated or impregnated with an indicator which changes color by contact with the volatile component of the sample, said film-like color developing carrier being in contact with said gas permeable membrane, and a second cover element contacting said film-like color developing carrier, said second cover element being constructed and arranged to permit viewing of at least parts of said film-like color developing carrier which are aligned with said sample holes, said first cover element, gas permeable membrane, film-like color developing carrier, and second cover element being fitted together to form a single composite layer, said sample holes receiving a sample whereby the volatile component of the sample is separated by passing through the gas permeable membrane to contact the film-like color developing carrier such that the volatile or volatizable substance is detected and determined by the degree of color change of the film-like color developing carrier.