US4886358A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Organic vapor assay by Raman spectroscopy
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1988-05-31
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Granted: 1989-12-12
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Expires: 2008-05-31
Abstract
Abstract A method of and apparatus for analyzing for low concentrations of organic material in the atmosphere without the removal of water wherein an air sample is collected and cooled to form a condensate consisting essentially of water and organic material. The condensate is analyzed by Raman spectroscopy to detect and quantify the organic material.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E. Pellenbarg
- 👤 David E. Tevault
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:03
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/65; G01N25/00; G01N25/14; G01N25/142; G01N33/00; G01N33/0004; G01N33/0009; G01N33/0011; G01N33/0027; G01N33/0036; G01N33/0047; G01N21/17; G01N2021/1761
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of detecting and quantifying an organic material in the atmosphere, comprising: a. collecting an air sample from the atmosphere; b. cooling the air sample to form a condensate consisting essentially of water and organic material from the air sample; and c. analyzing the condensate by Raman spectroscopy to detect and quantify the constituents in the organic material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of detecting and quantifying an organic material in the atmosphere, comprising: a. collecting an air sample from the atmosphere; b. cooling the air sample to form a condensate consisting essentially of water and organic material from the air sample; and c. analyzing the condensate by Raman spectroscopy to detect and quantify the constituents in the organic material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the air sample is collected with an air pump.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the sample is cooled to a temperature within a range from the cryogenic temperature of liquid air to 0° C. to condense the water and the organic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the sample is cooled to a temperature within a range from -10° C. to -5° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the sample is cooled to a temperature of -7° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the sample directly impinges upon an electrothermal device that cools the sample to form a solid condensate of organic material and water and, after analysis is complete, liquefies the solid for removal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the air sample is cooled by flowing the sample through a tube around which is a refrigeration coil such that organic material and water is condensed in the tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein analyzing the condensate is done with a Raman spectrometer having a laser diode tuned to a predetermined wavelength for a particular component being detected.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus to detect and quantify organic material in air, comprising: a. a housing having an opening for collecting an air sample; b. a collecting means connected to the opening in the housing which collects the air sample and moves it into and through the apparatus; c. a cooling means positioned to cool the air sample collected by the collecting means such that a condensate consisting essentially of organic material and water is formed; d. a condensate collecting means positioned to collect the organic material and water condensed by the cooling means; e. an analyzing means positioned to analyze the organic material in the collected condensate by Raman spectroscopy; and f. exhaust means positioned to exhaust from the housing the uncondensed gases from the collecting means and the condensate from the condensate collecting means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus to detect and quantify organic material in air, comprising: a. a housing having an opening for collecting an air sample; b. a collecting means connected to the opening in the housing which collects the air sample and moves it into and through the apparatus; c. a cooling means positioned to cool the air sample collected by the collecting means such that a condensate consisting essentially of organic material and water is formed; d. a condensate collecting means positioned to collect the organic material and water condensed by the cooling means; e. an analyzing means positioned to analyze the organic material in the collected condensate by Raman spectroscopy; and f. exhaust means positioned to exhaust from the housing the uncondensed gases from the collecting means and the condensate from the condensate collecting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the means for collecting an air sample comprises: a. a flow-controlling valve; b. a conduit which is connected to the flow-controlling valve; and c. an air pump connected to the conduit for moving the air sample from the opening in the housing into and through the apparatus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the cooling means is capable of cooling the air sample to a temperature in the range from the cryogenic temperature of liquid air to 0° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the cooling means is capable of cooling the air sample to a temperature in the range from -10° C. to -5° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the cooling means is capable of cooling the air sample to a temperature of -7° C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the means for analyzing condensate is a Raman spectrometer with laser diodes tuned to the wavelengths of the component for which analysis is desired.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the means for analyzing condensate is a Raman spectrometer with a tunable ultraviolet laser excitation source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the means for analyzing condensate is a Raman spectrometer with parallel detection by an optical multichannel analyzer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the means for cooling the air sample is an electrothermal device that cools the air sample until a solid condensate is formed and, after the analysis is complete, heats the slid condensate until it liquefies.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the means for collecting the condensate is the surface of the electrothermal device upon which the solid condensate forms.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the electrothermal device has a concave surface which focuses the scattered light from a Raman spectrometer source on a detector.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the means for cooling the air sample is a conduit through which the air sample flows and around which a refrigeration coil is placed so that condensate forms in the conduit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein the means for collecting the condensate is a glass U-tube connected to the conduit so that the condensate flows into the glass U-tube.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-12-11 | 1993-06-12 | 1993-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-11 | 1997-06-12 | 1997-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-11 | 2001-06-12 | 2001-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |