Moisture sensing apparatus and method

Claim 2

A moisture sensing element comprising an electrically continuous article comprising an inorganic crystalline composition selected from the group consisting of zeolite molecular sieves in which the molar ratio of silica to alumina is greater than 6, silica molecular sieves, non-zeolitic molecular sieves and mixtures thereof; and two electrodes affixed to said article at different locations in current carrying relationship so that the current between said two electrodes passes through at least a portion of said inorganic crystalline composition.

Claim 3

The element of claim 1 wherein said article is a powder compact.

Claim 4

The element of claim 1 wherein said article has at least two substantially opposing surfaces and one of said electrodes is located in association with each of said substantially opposing surfaces.

Claim 5

The element of claim 1 wherein said article has a substantially planar surface and both of said electrodes are located in association with said substantially planar surface.

Claim 6

The element of claim 1 wherein said inorganic crystalline composition includes at least one organic templating agent.

Claim 7

The element of claim 1 wherein said inorganic crystalline composition is substantially free of organic templating agent.

Claim 8

The element of claim 1 wherein said zeolite molecular sieve is selected form the group consisting of LZ-210, LZ-105 and mixtures thereof.

Claim 9

The element of claim 1 wherein said zeolite molecular sieve is selected from the group consisting of ZSM-5, ZSM-11, ZSM-12, ZSM-20, ZSM-34, omega zeolite, beta zeolite and mixtures thereof.

Claim 10

The element of claim 1 wherein said zeolite molecular sieve has a silica to alumina molar ratio of at least about 8.

Claim 11

The element of claim 1 wherein said inorganic crystalline composition is selected from the group consisting of non-zeolitic molecular sieves and mixtures thereof.

Claim 12

The element of claim 1 wherein said inorganic crystalline composition is selected from the group consisting of silicalite, silicalite II, fluoride silicalite and mixtures thereof.

Claim 13

The element of claim 1 wherein said inorganic crystalline composition is a non-zeolitic molecular sieve having an empirical chemical composition on an anhydrous basis expressed by the formula I: mR(Q.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z) (I) where "Q" represents (a) at least one element present as a framework oxide unit "QO 2 n " with charge "n" where "n" may be -3, -2, -1, 0 or +1; (b) an element having (i) a mean "T-O" distance in tetrahedral oxide structures between about 1.51 Angstroms and about 2.06 Angstroms (ii) a cation electronegativity between about 125 kcal/gm-atom to about 310 kcal/gm-atom and (iii) the capability of forming stable Q--O--P, Q--O--Al or Q--O--Q bonds in crystalline three dimensional oxide structures having a "Q--O" bond dissociation energy greater than about 59 kcal/gm-atom at 298° K.; "R" represents at least one organic templating agent present on the intracrystalline pore system; "m" represents the molar amount of "R" present per mole of (Q w Al x P y Si z )O 2 and has a value from zero to about 0.3; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of QO 2 n , AlO 2 - , PO 2 + , SiO 2 , respectfully, present as framework oxide units; and the mole fractions of "Q", aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, present as framework oxides said mole fractions being within the following limiting compositional values: w is equal to 0 to 98 mole percent; y is equal to 1 to 99 mole percent; x is equal to 1 to 99 mole percent; and z is equal to 0 to 98 mole percent.

Claim 14

The element of claim 12 wherein said non-zeolitic molecular sieve is selected from the group consisting of AlPO 4 , SAPO, MeAPO, MeAPSO, ELAPO and ELAPSO molecular sieves and mixtures thereof.

Claim 15

The element of claim 1 wherein said electrodes are made of metal.

Claim 16

The element of claim 1 wherein at least one of said electrodes is porous.

Claim 17

The element of claim 1 wherein both of said electrodes are porous.

Claim 18

A hydrometer comprising an electrically continuous moisture sensing element comprising an inorganic crystalline composition selected from the group consisting of zeolite molecular sieves in which the molar ratio of silica to alumina is greater than 6, silica molecular sieves, non-zeolitic molecular sieves and mixtures thereof; and two electrodes affixed to said article at different locations in current carrying relationship at different locations so that the current between said two electrodes passes through at least a portion of said inorganic crystalline composition; and an impedance measuring means connected to said electrodes for measuring the electrical impedance of at least a portion of said moisture sensing element.

Claim 19

A hydrometer comprising an electrically continuous moisture sensing element comprising an inorganic crystalline composition selected from the group consisting of zeolite molecular sieves in which the molar ratio of silica to alumina is greater than 6, silica molecular sieves, non-zeolitic molecular sieves and mixtures thereof; and two electrodes affixed to said article at different locations in current carrying relationship at different locations so that the current between said two electrodes passes through at least a portion of said inorganic crystalline composition; and an impedance measuring means connected to said electrodes for measuring the electrical impedance of at least a portion of said moisture sensing element.

Claim 20

The hydrometer of claim 17 wherein said element is a powder compact.

Claim 21

The hydrometer of claim 17 wherein said element has at least two substantially opposing surfaces and one of said electrodes is located in association with each of said substantially opposing surfaces.

Claim 22

The hydrometer of claim 17 wherein said element has a substantially planar surface and both of said electrodes are located in association with said substantially planar surface.

Claim 23

The hydrometer of claim 17 wherein said inorganic crystalline composition includes at least one organic templating agent.

Claim 24

The hydrometer of claim 17 wherein said inorganic crystalline composition is substantially free of organic templating agent.

Claim 25

The hydrometer of claim 17 wherein said zeolite molecular sieve is selected form the group consisting of LZ-210, LZ-105 and mixtures thereof.

Claim 26

The hydrometer of claim 17 wherein said zeolite molecular sieve is selected from the group consisting of ZSM-5, ZSM-11, ZSM-12, ZSM-20, ZSM-34, omega zeolite, beta zeolite and mixtures thereof.

Claim 27

The hydrometer of claim 17 wherein said zeolite molecular sieve has a silica to alumina molar ratio of at least about 8.

Claim 28

The hydrometer of claim 17 wherein said inorganic crystalline composition is selected from the group consisting of non-zeolitic molecular sieves and mixtures thereof.

Claim 29

The hydrometer of claim 17 wherein said inorganic crystalline composition is selected from the group consisting of silicalite, silicalite II, fluoride silicalite and mixtures thereof.

Claim 30

The hydrometer of claim 17 wherein said inorganic crystalline composition is a non-zeolitic molecular sieve having an empirical chemical composition on an anhydrous basis expressed by the formula I: mR(Q.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 (I) where "Q" represents (a) at least one element present as a framework oxide unit "QO 2 n " with charge "n" where "n" may be -3, -2, -1, 0 or +1; (b) an element having (i) a mean "T--O" distance in tetrahedral oxide structures between about 1.51 Angstroms and about 2.06 Angstroms (ii) a cation electronegativity between about 125 kcal/gm-atom to about 310 kcal/gm-atom and (iii) the capability of forming stable Q--O--P, Q--O--Al or Q--O--Q bonds in crystalline three dimensional oxide structures having a "Q--O" bond dissociation energy greater than about 59 kcal/gm-atom at 298° K.; "R" represents at least one organic templating agent present on the intracrystalline pore system; "m" represents the molar amount of "R" present per mole of (Q w Al x Si z )O 2 and has a value from zero to about 0.3; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of QO 2 n , AlO 2 -, PO 2+ , SiO 2 , respectfully, present as framework oxide units; and the mole fractions of "Q", aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, present as framework oxides said mole fractions being within the following limiting compositional values: w is equal to 0 to 98 mole percent; y is equal to 1 to 99 mole percent; x is equal to 1 to 99 mole percent; and z is equal to 0 to 98 mole percent.

Claim 31

The hydrometer of claim 28 wherein said non-zeolitic molecular sieve is selected from the group consisting of AlPO 4 , SAPO, MeAPO, MeAPSO, ELAPO and ELAPSO molecular sieves and mixtures thereof.

Claim 32

The hydrometer of claim 17 wherein said electrodes are made of metal.

Claim 33

The hydrometer of claim 17 wherein at least one of said electrodes is porous.

Claim 34

The hydrometer of claim 17 wherein both of said electrodes are porous.

Claim 37

The method of claim 34 wherein said measuring occurs after said fluid system and said sensing element have reached substantial adsorption equilibrium.

Claim 38

The method of claim 34 wherein said measuring includes passing an alternating current through at least a portion of said sensing element.

Claim 39

The method of claim 34 wherein said element is a powder compact.

Claim 40

The method of claim 34 wherein said element has at least two substantially opposing surfaces and one of said electrodes is located in association with each of said substantially opposing surfaces.

Claim 41

The method of claim 34 wherein said element has a substantially planar surface and both of said electrodes are located in association with said substantially planar surface.

Claim 42

The method of claim 34 wherein said inorganic crystalline composition includes at least one organic templating agent.

Claim 43

The method of claim 34 wherein said inorganic crystalline composition is substantially free of organic templating agent.

Claim 44

The method of claim 34 wherein said zeolite molecular sieve is selected form the group consisting of LZ-210, LZ-105 and mixtures thereof.

Claim 45

The element of claim 34 wherein said zeolite molecular sieve is selected from the group consisting of ZSM-5, ZSM-11, ZSM-12, ZSM-20, ZSM-34, omega zeolite, beta zeolite and mixtures thereof.

Claim 46

The method of claim 34 wherein said zeolite molecular sieve has a silica to alumina molar ratio of at least about 8.

Claim 47

The method of claim 34 wherein said inorganic crystalline composition is selected from the group consisting of non-zeolitic molecular sieves and mixtures thereof.

Claim 48

The method of claim 34 wherein said inorganic crystalline composition is selected from the group consisting of silicalite, silicalite II, fluoride silicalite and mixtures thereof.

Claim 49

The method of claim 34 wherein said inorganic crystalline composition is a non-zeolitic molecular sieve having an empirical chemical composition on an anhydrous basis expressed by the formula I: mR(Q.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 (I) where "Q" represents (a) at least one element present as a framework oxide unit "QO 2 n " with charge "n" where "n" may be -3, -2, -1, 0 or +1; (b) an element having (i) a mean "T--O" distance in tetrahedral oxide structures between about 1.51 Angstroms and about 2.06 Angstroms (ii) a cation electronegativity between about 125 kcal/gm-atom to about 310 kcal/gm-atom and (iii) the capability of forming stable Q--O--P, Q--O--Al or Q--O--Q bonds in crystalline three dimensional oxide structures having a "Q--O" bond dissociation energy greater than about 59 kcal/gm-atom at 298° K.; "R" represents at least one organic templating agent present on the intracrystalline pore system; "m" represents the molar amount of "R" present per mole of (Q w Al x P y Si z )O 2 and has a value from zero to about 0.3; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of QO 2 n , AlO 2 - , PO 2 + , SiO 2 , respectfully, presentlas framework oxide units; and the mole fractions of "Q" , aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, present as framework oxides said mole fractions being within the following limiting compositional values: w is equal to 0 to 98 mole percent; y is equal to 1 to 99 mole percent; x is equal to 1 to 99 mole percent; and z is equal to 0 to 98 mole percent.

Claim 50

The method of claim 47 wherein said non-zeolitic molecular sieve is selected from the group consisting of AlPO 4 , SAPO, MeAPO, MeAPSO, ELAPO and ELAPSO molecular sieves and mixtures thereof.