US4916077A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for oxidative decomposition and analysis of a sample
Assignee: Precision Analyzer Company LP
•
Filing: 1988-09-28
•
Granted: 1990-04-10
•
Expires: 2008-09-28
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus are provided for decomposing and analyzing a sample. The methods combust a nebulized sample in an oxygen-rich atomsphere; the analysis method then analyzes the combustion gases for a preselected analyte. The apparatus employs a nebulizer operatively connected to a combustion tube; the analysis apparatus employs appropriate detector(s) to analyze the combustion gases from the combustion tube for preselected analyte(s).
Inventors
- 👤 Alan R. Forster
- 👤 Gregory J. Kamla
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:53
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N31/00; G01N31/12; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/25; Y10T436/25375; Y10T436/25875
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for analyzing a sample, comprising: nebulizing in a cool zone at least a portion of said sample using an inert gas, transporting said nebulized sample to a decomposition zone located in a hot zone, decomposing said sample in an oxygen-rich atmosphere at a temperature sufficient to ensure complete combustion of said sample, transporting said decomposed sample to a detection zone, and analyzing said decomposed sample for a preselected analyte.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for analyzing a sample, comprising: nebulizing in a cool zone at least a portion of said sample using an inert gas, transporting said nebulized sample to a decomposition zone located in a hot zone, decomposing said sample in an oxygen-rich atmosphere at a temperature sufficient to ensure complete combustion of said sample, transporting said decomposed sample to a detection zone, and analyzing said decomposed sample for a preselected analyte.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as described in claim 1, wherein said nebulizing step comprises, injecting a portion of said sample at a preselected rate into a nebulizing zone, and injecting an inert gas into said nebulizing zone at a preselected rate to form an aerosol with said injected sample.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for analyzing a sample, comprising: means located in a cool zone for nebulizing at least a portion of such a sample to form an aerosol containing said portion of such a sample, means for decomposing said aerosol in an oxygen-rich atmosphere of oxygen and an inert gas at a temperature sufficient to ensure complete combustion of said portion of such a sample in said aerosol in said decomposition zone, means for transporting said portion of such a sample from said means for decomposing to a detection zone, and means for analyzing said portion of such a sample for a preselected analyte in said detection zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for analyzing a sample, comprising: means located in a cool zone for nebulizing at least a portion of such a sample to form an aerosol containing said portion of such a sample, means for decomposing said aerosol in an oxygen-rich atmosphere of oxygen and an inert gas at a temperature sufficient to ensure complete combustion of said portion of such a sample in said aerosol in said decomposition zone, means for transporting said portion of such a sample from said means for decomposing to a detection zone, and means for analyzing said portion of such a sample for a preselected analyte in said detection zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus as described in claim 3, wherein said means for nebulizing comprises, means for injecting a portion of such a sample at a preselected rate into a nebulizing zone, and means for injecting an inert gas into said nebulizing zone at a preselected rate to form an aerosol with said injection portion of such a sample.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus for analyzing a sample, comprising: a combustion tube with an inlet end containing therein a sample carrier tube, having an oxygen inlet adjacent said inlet end for supplying excess oxygen to said tube, and having at the opposite end from said inlet end a discharge end containing therein a combustion gases discharge outlet, a nebulizer sealingly connected to said sample carrier tube so as to discharge into said carrier tube an aerosol of said sample and an inert gas, and a detector connected to said outlet for analyzing combustion gases from said combustion tube for a preselected analyte.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus for analyzing a sample, comprising: a combustion tube with an inlet end containing therein a sample carrier tube, having an oxygen inlet adjacent said inlet end for supplying excess oxygen to said tube, and having at the opposite end from said inlet end a discharge end containing therein a combustion gases discharge outlet, a nebulizer sealingly connected to said sample carrier tube so as to discharge into said carrier tube an aerosol of said sample and an inert gas, and a detector connected to said outlet for analyzing combustion gases from said combustion tube for a preselected analyte.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus as described in claim 5, further comprising: a pump connected to said nebulizer for supplying a portion of said sample to said nebulizer, a dryer for drying combustion gases from said combustion tube connected to said outlet, and a filter for filtering combustion gases from said combustion tube interconnected between said dryer and said detector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus for decomposing a sample, comprising: a combustion tube having an inlet end containing therein a sample carrier tube, having an oxygen inlet adjacent said inlet end for supplying excess oxygen to said tube, and having at the opposite end from said inlet end a discharge end containing therein a combustion gases discharge outlet, and a nebulizer sealingly connected to said sample carrier tube so as to discharge into said carrier tube an aerosol of said sample and an inert gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus for decomposing a sample, comprising: a combustion tube having an inlet end containing therein a sample carrier tube, having an oxygen inlet adjacent said inlet end for supplying excess oxygen to said tube, and having at the opposite end from said inlet end a discharge end containing therein a combustion gases discharge outlet, and a nebulizer sealingly connected to said sample carrier tube so as to discharge into said carrier tube an aerosol of said sample and an inert gas.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for decomposing a sample, comprising: injecting a portion of said sample at a preselected rate into a nebulizing zone, injecting an inert gas into said nebulizing zone at a preselected rate to form an aerosol with said injected sample, transporting said nebulized sample to a decomposition zone, and decomposing said sample in an oxygen-rich atmosphere of oxygen and an inert gas at a temperature sufficient to ensure complete combustion of said sample.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for decomposing a sample, comprising: injecting a portion of said sample at a preselected rate into a nebulizing zone, injecting an inert gas into said nebulizing zone at a preselected rate to form an aerosol with said injected sample, transporting said nebulized sample to a decomposition zone, and decomposing said sample in an oxygen-rich atmosphere of oxygen and an inert gas at a temperature sufficient to ensure complete combustion of said sample.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3904366A
Cited
US3904368A
Cited
US3923464A
Cited
US3853474A
Cited
US4018562A
Cited
US4161282A
Cited
US4161281A
Cited
US4228795A
Cited
US4160802A
Cited
US4261511A
Cited
US4282183A
Cited
US4205550A
Cited
US4352781A
Cited
US4367042A
Cited
US4352779A
Cited
US4351801A
Cited
US4569918A
Cited
US4620670A
Cited
US4582654A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-09 | 1993-10-09 | 1994-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-09 | 1997-10-09 | 1998-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-09 | 2001-10-09 | 2002-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |