Method for detecting impurities in an oil sample

Claim 1

A method for detecting the presence of polychlorinated biphenyl at above a predetermined threshold concentration in an oil sample, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing a predetermined volume of an oil sample into a first flexible container having at least two breakable capsules mounted therein, a first one of said capsules in said first container containing a reagent comprising naphthalene and diethylene glycol dimethyl ether and a second one of said capsules in said first container containing a reagent comprising sodium, in amounts sufficient to completely convert a predetermined threshold amount of polychlorinated biphenyl, as established by said predetermined threshold concentration and said predetermined sample volume, to chloride ions and biphenyl, said first container having means for separating an aqueous layer from an oil layer into a second flexible container; (b) breaking said capsule containing naphthalene and diethylene glycol dimethyl ether in said first container; (c) then shaking said first container; (d) breaking said capsule containing sodium in said first container; (e) then shaking said first container; (f) transferring a predetermined volume of an aqueous buffer/acid solution contained in said second container to said first container; (g) then shaking said first container; (h) separating the resulting aqueous layer from the resulting oil layer by transferring the aqueous layer through said separating means into said second container, said second container having at least two breakable capsules mounted therein, a first one of said capsules in said second container containing a reagent comprising mercuric nitrate and a second one of said capsules in said second container containing a reagent comprising diphenyl carbazone, said mercuric nitrate and said diphenyl carbazone being present in amounts sufficient to cause a positive reaction if the concentration of chlorides in said aqueous layer is greater than an amount corresponding to said predetermined threshold concentration of polychlorinated biphenyl; (i) breaking said capsule containing mercuric nitrate in said second container; (j) then shaking said capsule containing diphenyl carbazone by shaking said second container; (k) breaking said capsule containing diphenyl carbazone in said second container; and (l) then shaking said second container, a blue-violet color indicating the presence of less than said predetermined threshold concentration of polychlorinated biphenyl and a colorless to yellow color indicating a positive reaction resulting from the presence of more than said predetermined threshold concentration of polychlorinated biphenyl in said oil sample.

Claim 2

A method for detecting the presence of polychlorinated biphenyl at above a predetermined threshold concentration in an oil sample, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing a predetermined volume of an oil sample into a first flexible container having at least two breakable capsules mounted therein, a first one of said capsules in said first container containing a reagent comprising naphthalene and diethylene glycol dimethyl ether and a second one of said capsules in said first container containing a reagent comprising sodium, in amounts sufficient to completely convert a predetermined threshold amount of polychlorinated biphenyl, as established by said predetermined threshold concentration and said predetermined sample volume, to chloride ions and biphenyl, said first container having means for separating an aqueous layer from an oil layer into a second flexible container; (b) breaking said capsule containing naphthalene and diethylene glycol dimethyl ether in said first container; (c) then shaking said first container; (d) breaking said capsule containing sodium in said first container; (e) then shaking said first container; (f) transferring a predetermined volume of an aqueous buffer/acid solution contained in said second container to said first container; (g) then shaking said first container; (h) separating the resulting aqueous layer from the resulting oil layer by transferring the aqueous layer through said separating means into said second container, said second container having at least two breakable capsules mounted therein, a first one of said capsules in said second container containing a reagent comprising mercuric nitrate and a second one of said capsules in said second container containing a reagent comprising diphenyl carbazone, said mercuric nitrate and said diphenyl carbazone being present in amounts sufficient to cause a positive reaction if the concentration of chlorides in said aqueous layer is greater than an amount corresponding to said predetermined threshold concentration of polychlorinated biphenyl; (i) breaking said capsule containing mercuric nitrate in said second container; (j) then shaking said capsule containing diphenyl carbazone by shaking said second container; (k) breaking said capsule containing diphenyl carbazone in said second container; and (l) then shaking said second container, a blue-violet color indicating the presence of less than said predetermined threshold concentration of polychlorinated biphenyl and a colorless to yellow color indicating a positive reaction resulting from the presence of more than said predetermined threshold concentration of polychlorinated biphenyl in said oil sample.