Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
Apparatus for preconcentrating traces of analytes in a gaseous medium, said apparatus comprising: sorbing means having a gas-impermeable outer container and a gas-permeable inner container, analyte-sorbing material contained in said inner container, means for circulating a sample of gaseous medium through said outer container and around said inner container of said sorbing means for trapping and preconcentrating traces of analytes in said sorbing material, and means for removing said preconcentrated traces of analytes from said sorbing means in a fluid sample.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus for preconcentrating traces of analytes in a gaseous medium, said apparatus comprising: sorbing means having a gas-impermeable outer container and a gas-permeable inner container, analyte-sorbing material contained in said inner container, means for circulating a sample of gaseous medium through said outer container and around said inner container of said sorbing means for trapping and preconcentrating traces of analytes in said sorbing material, and means for removing said preconcentrated traces of analytes from said sorbing means in a fluid sample.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said analyte-sorbing material is a liquid sorbent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 2, and further comprising an analytical instrument for receiving a fluid sample, said analytical instrument including a liquid chromatograph having a liquid mobile phase, said liquid sorbent having substantially the same composition as the mobile phase of the chromatograph.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said analyte-sorbing material is a solid sorbent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 4, and further comprising a liquid chromatograph for receiving a fluid sample, said chromatograph having a liquid mobile phase, said removing means including means for adding to said sorbent material a liquid solvent for dissolving the preconcentrated traces of analytes, and means for withdrawing the liquid solvent with the analytes dissolved therein from said inner container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a sample vessel, means for collecting a sample of gaseous medium in said sample vessel, said circulating means including means for circulating the sample of gaseous medium sequentially through said sorbing means and said sample vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said sample vessel includes a sample bag having an inlet valve and an outlet valve.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for analyzing traces of analytes in a gaseous medium comprising: a portable apparatus having an inlet and an outlet for achieving analyses of components of a fluid sample, sorbing means having a gas-impermeable outer container and a gas-permeable inner container, analyte-sorbing material contained in said inner container, means for circulating a sample of gaseous medium through said outer container and around said inner container of said sorbing means for trapping and preconcentrating traces of analytes in said sorbing material, means for removing said preconcentrated traces of analytes from said sorbing means in a fluid sample, and means for injecting the fluid sample into said inlet of said apparatus.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for analyzing traces of analytes in a gaseous medium comprising: a portable apparatus having an inlet and an outlet for achieving analyses of components of a fluid sample, sorbing means having a gas-impermeable outer container and a gas-permeable inner container, analyte-sorbing material contained in said inner container, means for circulating a sample of gaseous medium through said outer container and around said inner container of said sorbing means for trapping and preconcentrating traces of analytes in said sorbing material, means for removing said preconcentrated traces of analytes from said sorbing means in a fluid sample, and means for injecting the fluid sample into said inlet of said apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 8, and further comprising a sample vessel, means for collecting a sample of gaseous medium in said sample vessel, said circulating means including means for circulating the sample of gaseous medium collected sequentially through said sorbing means and through said sample vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 8, wherein said apparatus includes a liquid chromatograph having a liquid mobile phase.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 10, wherein said analyte-sorbing material is a liquid sorbent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system of claim 10, wherein said analyte-sorbing material is a porous, solid sorbent body, said removing means including means for adding to said sorbent body a liquid solvent having a composition substantially the same as that of said mobile phase for dissolving said preconcentrated traces of analytes, and means for withdrawing said liquid solvent with the preconcentrated traces of analytes dissolved therein from said inner container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 10, and further comprising portable detection means communicating with said outlet for identifying and estimating the concentration of the components eluting therefrom.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 13, and further comprising control means coupled to said liquid chromatograph and to said detection means for controlling the operations thereof.