Abstract A cylinder containing a vacuum lid opening at one end and a tee connector is used as a containment vessel to measure the rate of volatilization of dissolved volatiles from solids. One end of the tee is connected to a vacuum pump and the other end is attached to a vacuum pressure gauge. A thermal sensor is located at the bottom end of the cylinder for monitoring the temperature of the solid material. In operation, a sample of contaminated solid is placed in the cylinder, the vacuum pump is activated and the vacuum pressure and solid temperature are monitored over a period of time. The mass transport coefficient for volatilization of dissolved gases from contaminated solids can be determined from Henry's law and a mass transport equation.
Inventors
👤 Stephen D. Foss
👤 Sheng H. Lin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-29 23:15
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N7/00; G01N7/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for determining the volatilization rate of dissolved contaminants in a solid substance comprising the steps of: placing a solid substance sample in an evacuation chamber; evacuating said chamber by pumping; determining the dynamic pressure within the chamber as a function of time while pumping until said dynamic pressure reaches a substantially constant value; periodically halting the pumping and allowing the pressure within the chamber to come to an equilibrium pressure; establishing a relationship between said dynamic pressure and said equilibrium pressure; and monitoring the temperature of the solid substance as a function of time; whereby to provide data for determining the mass transfer coefficient and volatilization rate for dissolved gaseous contaminants in the solid substance.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for determining the volatilization rate of dissolved contaminants in a solid substance comprising the steps of: placing a solid substance sample in an evacuation chamber; evacuating said chamber by pumping; determining the dynamic pressure within the chamber as a function of time while pumping until said dynamic pressure reaches a substantially constant value; periodically halting the pumping and allowing the pressure within the chamber to come to an equilibrium pressure; establishing a relationship between said dynamic pressure and said equilibrium pressure; and monitoring the temperature of the solid substance as a function of time; whereby to provide data for determining the mass transfer coefficient and volatilization rate for dissolved gaseous contaminants in the solid substance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1, which further includes the steps of: placing a second solid substance sample in the chamber; evacuating said chamber by pumping; determining the dynamic pressure within the chamber as a function of time; determining the equilibrium pressure from said established dynamic-equilibrium pressure relationship.