Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
In a method for the quantitative detection of sulfur dioxide in a gas stream, the steps of: (a) passing a sulfur dioxide-containing analysis gas stream through a sulfur dioxide trapping medium comprising nickel oxide, in a trap zone maintained at a predetermined temperature to retain the sulfur dioxide on the trapping medium while passing the remainder of the gas stream, (b) discontinuing flow of the analysis gas stream through the trap zone, (c) thereafter heating the trap zone to a second predetermined temperature at which the sulfur dioxide is released from said trapping medium and passing a carrier gas stream through said trap zone to carry away said released sulfur dioxide, said carrier gas stream being substantially inert to sulfur dioxide at said second predetermined temperature, and (d) passing said sulfur dioxide-containing carrier gas stream through a sulfur dioxide detector and determining the concentration of sulfur dioxide therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a method for the quantitative detection of sulfur dioxide in a gas stream, the steps of: (a) passing a sulfur dioxide-containing analysis gas stream through a sulfur dioxide trapping medium comprising nickel oxide, in a trap zone maintained at a predetermined temperature to retain the sulfur dioxide on the trapping medium while passing the remainder of the gas stream, (b) discontinuing flow of the analysis gas stream through the trap zone, (c) thereafter heating the trap zone to a second predetermined temperature at which the sulfur dioxide is released from said trapping medium and passing a carrier gas stream through said trap zone to carry away said released sulfur dioxide, said carrier gas stream being substantially inert to sulfur dioxide at said second predetermined temperature, and (d) passing said sulfur dioxide-containing carrier gas stream through a sulfur dioxide detector and determining the concentration of sulfur dioxide therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a method for the quantitative detection of sulfur dioxide in a gas stream, the steps of: (a) passing a sulfur dioxide-containing analysis gas stream through a sulfur dioxide trapping medium comprising a nickel metal substrate with an external layer comprising nickel oxide in a trap zone maintained at a predetermined temperature to retain the sulfur dioxide on the trapping medium while passing the remainder of the gas stream, (b) discontinuing flow of the analysis gas stream through the trap zone, (c) thereafter heating the trap zone to a second predetermined temperature at which the sulfur dioxide is released from said trapping medium and passing a carrier gas stream through said trap zone to carry away said released sulfur dioxide, said carrier gas stream being substantially inert to sulfur dioxide at said second predetermined temperature, and (d) passing said sulfur dioxide-containing carrier gas stream through a sulfur dioxide detector and determining the concentration of sulfur dioxide therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a method for the quantitative detection of sulfur dioxide in a gas stream, the steps of: (a) passing a sulfur dioxide-containing analysis gas stream through a sulfur dioxide trapping medium comprising a nickel metal substrate with an external layer comprising nickel oxide in a trap zone maintained at a predetermined temperature to retain the sulfur dioxide on the trapping medium while passing the remainder of the gas stream, (b) discontinuing flow of the analysis gas stream through the trap zone, (c) thereafter heating the trap zone to a second predetermined temperature at which the sulfur dioxide is released from said trapping medium and passing a carrier gas stream through said trap zone to carry away said released sulfur dioxide, said carrier gas stream being substantially inert to sulfur dioxide at said second predetermined temperature, and (d) passing said sulfur dioxide-containing carrier gas stream through a sulfur dioxide detector and determining the concentration of sulfur dioxide therein.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
25 words
The method of claims 1 or 2 together with the step of oxidatively pyrolyzing a sulfur-containing sample to form the sulfur dioxide-containing analysis gas stream.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
24 words
The method of claims 1 or 2 in which in step (a), the trapping medium is maintained at a temperature greater than 400° C.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
44 words
The method of claims 1 or 2 in which said sulfur dioxide-containing carrier gas stream is contacted with water so that said sulfur dioxide forms sulfurous acid and the detection step is performed by measurement of the sulfurous acid conductivity in a conductivity cell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 5 in which there is no separation of the sulfurous acid and carrier gas stream prior to passage through the conductivity cell.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
36 words
The method of claims 1 or 2 in which the analysis gas stream contains halide gas and including the additional step of: (e) prior to step (a), removing the halide gas from the analysis gas stream.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 7 in which the halide gas is removed by passing the analysis gas stream through a scrubbing chamber containing an aqueous liquid on a wall thereof and dissolving the halide in the aqueous liquid while passing the sulfur dioxide in the analysis gas stream.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 8 in which after completion of steps (a) and (e), the scrubbing chamber is purged by heating it to vaporize the halide-containing aqueous solution, and passing a gas stream through the scrubbing chamber to vent the thus-formed vapor therefrom.