Patent US4239964A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4239964A
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Method for uranium determination
Assignee: Scintrex Ltd
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Filing: 1978-10-30
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Granted: 1980-12-16
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Expires: 1998-10-30
Abstract
Abstract This invention is a method that uses the previously undiscovered fact that the phosphorescent lifetime of the uranyl ion at very dilute concentrations in an aqueous solution is anomalously long in comparison to that of other commonly-occurring phosphorescent species, wherein the uranyl ions in the low concentration sample are excited by projecting electromagnetic energy into the sample, terminating the projection of electromagnetic energy into the sample and measuring the characteristics of the decaying uranium phosphorescence after termination of the incident electromagnetic radiation.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Robbins
- 👤 John D. Kinrade
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/6408; G01V; G01V8/00; G01V8/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of detecting uranium compounds in a translucent sample through utilization of the anomalously long life time of phosphorescence of the uranyl ion in concentration levels of less than about one part per million, comprising the steps of: exciting the uranyl ions in the sample by projecting electromagnetic energy; terminating said projection of electromagnetic energy into the sample; and measuring the decay with time of the uranium phosphorescence after the termination of the incident electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of detecting uranium compounds in a translucent sample through utilization of the anomalously long life time of phosphorescence of the uranyl ion in concentration levels of less than about one part per million, comprising the steps of: exciting the uranyl ions in the sample by projecting electromagnetic energy; terminating said projection of electromagnetic energy into the sample; and measuring the decay with time of the uranium phosphorescence after the termination of the incident electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 1 including the step of diluting the original concentration of uranium to below the level of about one part per million.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
17 words
A method as in claims 1 or 2 wherein said source of electromagnetic energy is ultraviolet light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said translucent sample is an aqueous solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound wherein said sample is buffered to maintain a pH between 5 and 10.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound wherein said sample is buffered to maintain a pH between 6 and 8.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound wherein said sample is buffered to maintain a pH of about 7.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound wherein said polyphosphate compound is a polyphosphate compound taken from the group of pyrophosphate, tripolyphosphate, tetraphosphate, trimetaphosphate, tetrametaphosphate and hexametaphosphate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said source of electromagnetic energy is a laser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said translucent sample is an aqueous solution and wherein said source of electromagnetic energy is ultra-violet light.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound and wherein said source of electromagnetic energy is ultra-violet light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound wherein said sample is buffered to maintain a pH between 5 and 10 and wherein said source of electromagnetic energy is ultra-violet light.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound wherein said sample is buffered to maintain a pH between 6 and 8 and wherein said source of electromagnetic energy is ultra-violet light.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound wherein said sample is buffered to maintain a pH of about 7 and wherein said source of electromagnetic energy is ultra-violet light.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound wherein said polyphosphate compound is a polyphosphate compound taken from the group of pyrophosphate, tripolyphosphate, tetraphosphate, trimetaphosphate, tetrametaphosphate and hexametaphosphate and wherein said source of electromagnetic energy is ultra-violet light.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound wherein said translucent sample is an aqueous solution.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound wherein said sample is buffered to maintain a pH between 5 and 10 wherein said translucent sample is an aqueous solution.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound wherein said sample is buffered to maintain a pH between 6 and 8 wherein said translucent sample is an aqueous solution.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound wherein said sample is buffered to maintain a pH of about 7 wherein said translucent sample is an aqueous solution.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound wherein said polyphosphate compound is a polyphosphate compound taken from the group of pyrophosphate, tripolyphosphate, tetraphosphate, trimetaphosphate, tetrametaphosphate and hexametaphosphate wherein said translucent sample is an aqueous solution.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound and wherein said source of electromagnetic energy is ultra-violet light and wherein said translucent sample is an aqueous solution.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound wherein said sample is buffered to maintain a pH between 5 and 10 and wherein said source of electromagnetic energy is ultra-violet light and wherein said translucent sample is an aqueous solution.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound wherein said sample is buffered to maintain a pH between 6 and 8 and wherein said source of electromagnetic energy is ultra-violet light and wherein said translucent sample is an aqueous solution.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound wherein said sample is buffered to maintain a pH of about 7 and wherein said source of electromagnetic energy is ultra-violet light and wherein said translucent sample is an aqueous solution.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including the steps of increasing selectively the phosphorescent characteristics of the uranium compounds by adding a polyphosphate compound wherein said polyphosphate compound is a polyphosphate compound taken from the group of pyrophosphate, tripolyphospphate, tetraphosphate, trimetaphosphate, tetrametaphosphate and hexametaphosphate and wherein said source of electromagnetic energy is ultra-violet light and wherein said translucent sample is an aqueous solution.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE2438888A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-12-16 | 1984-06-16 | 1984-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-16 | 1988-06-16 | 1988-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-16 | 1992-06-16 | 1992-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |