Method and apparatus for measuring dissolved organic carbon in a water sample

Claim 1

An apparatus for measuring the amount of dissolved organic carbon present in a water sample wherein the sample water to be measured is also used as the reference water comprising: an oxidation chamber having an ultraviolet lamp disposed within the interior of said oxidation chamber for irradiating dissolved organic carbon present in the water sample thereby producing carbon dioxide; a measuring chamber; means for introducing the sample water into said oxidation chamber and said measuring chamber; a gas transmission loop connecting said oxidation chamber with said measuring chamber; means for detecting the initial inorganic carbon content as carbon dioxide of the sample water so as to provide an initial reference point; means for flowing at least a portion of the carbon dioxide produced in said oxidation chamber from said oxidation chamber through said gas transmission tube to said measuring chamber; and control means for determining the amount of carbon dioxide in said measuring chamber from said oxidation chamber, the including means for comparing the amount of carbon dioxide with the initial reference point amount of carbon dioxide being representative of the amount of dissolved organic carbon introduced into said apparatus.

Claim 2

An apparatus for measuring the amount of dissolved organic carbon present in a water sample wherein the sample water to be measured is also used as the reference water comprising: an oxidation chamber having an ultraviolet lamp disposed within the interior of said oxidation chamber for irradiating dissolved organic carbon present in the water sample thereby producing carbon dioxide; a measuring chamber; means for introducing the sample water into said oxidation chamber and said measuring chamber; a gas transmission loop connecting said oxidation chamber with said measuring chamber; means for detecting the initial inorganic carbon content as carbon dioxide of the sample water so as to provide an initial reference point; means for flowing at least a portion of the carbon dioxide produced in said oxidation chamber from said oxidation chamber through said gas transmission tube to said measuring chamber; and control means for determining the amount of carbon dioxide in said measuring chamber from said oxidation chamber, the including means for comparing the amount of carbon dioxide with the initial reference point amount of carbon dioxide being representative of the amount of dissolved organic carbon introduced into said apparatus.

Claim 7

A method for measuring an amount of dissolved organic carbon in a sample of water comprising the steps of: dividing a sample of water into said first and second samples, introducing said first sample of water to be measured into an oxidation chamber and said second sample into a measuring chamber; providing air in the oxidation chamber so as to create a head space; determining an initial amount of inorganic content of the second sample as carbon dioxide so as to establish an initial reference point; irradiating said first sample of water in the oxidation chamber with an ultraviolet light so as to produce carbon dioxide from dissolved carbon in said first sample of water; introducing a portion of said carbon dioxide present in the oxidation chamber into the measuring chamber; and measuring the amount of carbon dioxide present in said first sample in the measuring chamber and comparing the amount of carbon dioxide present with the initial reference point to adjust the inorganic carbon in said first sample whereby the amount is dissolved organic carbon is determined.

Claim 8

A method for measuring an amount of dissolved organic carbon in a sample of water comprising the steps of: dividing a sample of water into said first and second samples, introducing said first sample of water to be measured into an oxidation chamber and said second sample into a measuring chamber; providing air in the oxidation chamber so as to create a head space; determining an initial amount of inorganic content of the second sample as carbon dioxide so as to establish an initial reference point; irradiating said first sample of water in the oxidation chamber with an ultraviolet light so as to produce carbon dioxide from dissolved carbon in said first sample of water; introducing a portion of said carbon dioxide present in the oxidation chamber into the measuring chamber; and measuring the amount of carbon dioxide present in said first sample in the measuring chamber and comparing the amount of carbon dioxide present with the initial reference point to adjust the inorganic carbon in said first sample whereby the amount is dissolved organic carbon is determined.