Concentrator/extractor apparatus having a hydrophobic membrane

Claim 2

An extractor/concentrator apparatus comprising: a) a sample containing body defining a volumetric cavity, the sample containing body having an open ended upper portion shaped to accommodate accessory components, a vapor return port located adjacent to the upper portion of the sample body, and an open ended lower portion shaped to accommodate a hollow outlet fitting; b) the outlet fitting having a sample body engaging end and an outlet end, the outlet fitting being configured to position and retain a hydrophobic membrane in such a manner as to fluidly partition the volumetric cavity of the sample containing body and the outlet end of the hollow outlet fitting; c) a distillation column having two ends, one end being connected to the vapor return port, the remaining end being shaped to accommodate accessory components; d) a hydrophobic membrane, positioned within the outlet fitting, for allowing a solvent to pass therethrough while not allowing a significant amount of water from a sample liquid to pass therethrough; and e) a conveying means for conveying the solvent through the hydrophobic membrane to the distillation column.

Claim 3

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a flow control valve is positioned fluidly in line between the volumetric cavity of the sample containing body and the distillation column.

Claim 4

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a solvent dehydration means for removing water entrained in a liquid solvent is positioned fluidly in line between the hydrophobic membrane and the distillation column.

Claim 5

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the distillation column comprises a Snyder distillation column.

Claim 6

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a) a concentrator means connected to one of the ends of the distillation column; and b) a condenser means connected to the open ended upper portion of the sample containing body.

Claim 7

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hydrophobic membrane comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

Claim 8

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a membrane support grid is in Juxtaposition to the hydrophobic membrane.

Claim 9

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hydrophobic membrane has a thickness ranging from 0.2 to 5.0 millimeters, has an outside diameter ranging from 10 to 50 millimeters, and contains pores sized between 0.2 and 5.0 microns.

Claim 10

The extractor/concentrator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outlet fitting is constructed and arranged to retain a solvent dehydration means for removing water entrained in a liquid solvent.

Claim 11

An extractor/concentrator apparatus comprising: a) a sample containing body defining a volumetric cavity, the sample containing body having a lower portion having an inlet port and an upper portion having an outlet port shaped to accommodate a hollow outlet fitting; b) the outlet fitting having a sample body engaging end and an outlet end, the outlet fitting being configured to position and retain a hydrophobic membrane in such a manner as to fluidly partition the volumetric cavity and the outlet end of the hollow outlet fitting; c) a solvent reservoir column having an open ended upper portion shaped to accommodate accessory components, a vapor return port, and a connection tube connected to the inlet port of the sample containing body; d) a distillation column having at least two ends, one end being connected to the vapor return port of the solvent reservoir column and at least one end being shaped to accommodate accessory components; d) a hydrophobic membrane, positioned within the outlet fitting, for allowing a solvent to pass therethrough while not allowing a significant amount of water from a sample liquid to pass therethrough; and e) a conveying means for conveying the solvent through the hydrophobic membrane to the distillation column.

Claim 12

An extractor/concentrator apparatus comprising: a) a sample containing body defining a volumetric cavity, the sample containing body having a lower portion having an inlet port and an upper portion having an outlet port shaped to accommodate a hollow outlet fitting; b) the outlet fitting having a sample body engaging end and an outlet end, the outlet fitting being configured to position and retain a hydrophobic membrane in such a manner as to fluidly partition the volumetric cavity and the outlet end of the hollow outlet fitting; c) a solvent reservoir column having an open ended upper portion shaped to accommodate accessory components, a vapor return port, and a connection tube connected to the inlet port of the sample containing body; d) a distillation column having at least two ends, one end being connected to the vapor return port of the solvent reservoir column and at least one end being shaped to accommodate accessory components; d) a hydrophobic membrane, positioned within the outlet fitting, for allowing a solvent to pass therethrough while not allowing a significant amount of water from a sample liquid to pass therethrough; and e) a conveying means for conveying the solvent through the hydrophobic membrane to the distillation column.

Claim 13

An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein a flow control valve is positioned fluidly in line between the solvent reservoir and the volumetric cavity of the sample containing body.

Claim 14

An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein a solvent dehydration means for removing water entrained in a liquid solvent is positioned fluidly in line between the hydrophobic membrane and the distillation column.

Claim 15

An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the distillation column comprises a Snyder distillation column.

Claim 16

An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 further comprising: a) a concentrator means connected to one of the ends of the distillation column; and b) a condensor means connected to the open ended upper portion of the solvent reservoir column.

Claim 17

The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the hydrophobic membrane comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

Claim 18

The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein a membrane support grid is in Juxtaposition to the hydrophobic membrane.

Claim 19

The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the hydrophobic membrane has a thickness ranging from 0.2 to 5.0 millimeters, has an outside diameter ranging from 10 to 50 millimeters, and contains pores sized between 0.2 and 5.0 microns.

Claim 20

The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the inlet port of the sample containing body comprises a solvent injection nozzle protruding into the volumetric cavity.

Claim 21

The extractor/concentrator apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the outlet fitting is constructed and arranged to retain a solvent dehydration means for removing water entrained in a liquid solvent.

Claim 22

An extractor/concentrator kit comprising: a) a sample containing body defining a volumetric cavity, the sample containing body having an open ended upper portion shaped to accommodate accessory components, a vapor return port proximate to the upper portion of the sample body, and an open ended lower portion shaped to accommodate a hollow outlet fitting; b) the outlet fitting having a sample body engaging end and an outlet end, the outlet fitting being configured to position and retain a hydrophobic membrane in such a manner as to fluidly partition the volumetric cavity of the sample containing body and the outlet end of the hollow outlet fitting; c) a distillation column having at least two ends, one end being connectable to the vapor return port, the remaining end being shaped to accommodate accessory components; d) a hydrophobic membrane, positioned within the outlet fitting, for allowing a solvent to pass therethrough while not allowing a significant amount of water from a sample liquid to pass therethrough; and e) a conveying means for conveying the solvent through the hydrophobic membrane to the distillation column.

Claim 23

An extractor/concentrator kit comprising: a) a sample containing body defining a volumetric cavity, the sample containing body having an open ended upper portion shaped to accommodate accessory components, a vapor return port proximate to the upper portion of the sample body, and an open ended lower portion shaped to accommodate a hollow outlet fitting; b) the outlet fitting having a sample body engaging end and an outlet end, the outlet fitting being configured to position and retain a hydrophobic membrane in such a manner as to fluidly partition the volumetric cavity of the sample containing body and the outlet end of the hollow outlet fitting; c) a distillation column having at least two ends, one end being connectable to the vapor return port, the remaining end being shaped to accommodate accessory components; d) a hydrophobic membrane, positioned within the outlet fitting, for allowing a solvent to pass therethrough while not allowing a significant amount of water from a sample liquid to pass therethrough; and e) a conveying means for conveying the solvent through the hydrophobic membrane to the distillation column.

Claim 24

An extractor/concentrator kit as claimed in claim 20 wherein a flow control valve is positionable fluidly in line between the volumetric cavity of the sample containing body and the distillation column.

Claim 25

An extractor/concentrator kit as claimed in claim 20 wherein a solvent dehydration means for removing water entrained in a liquid solvent is positionable fluidly in line between the hydrophobic membrane and the distillation column.

Claim 26

An extractor/concentrator kit as claimed in claim 20 wherein the distillation column comprises a Snyder distillation column.

Claim 27

An extractor/concentrator kit as claimed in claim 20 further comprising: a) a concentrator means connectable to one of the ends of the distillation column; and b) a condenser means connectable to the open ended upper portion of the sample containing body.

Claim 28

The extractor/concentrator kit as claimed in claim 20 wherein the hydrophobic membrane comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

Claim 29

The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein a membrane support grid is in Juxtaposition to the hydrophobic membrane.

Claim 30

The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the hydrophobic membrane has a thickness ranging from 0.2 to 5.0 millimeters, has an outside diameter ranging from 10 to 50 millimeters, and contains pores sized between 0.2 and 5.0 microns.

Claim 31

The extractor/concentrator apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the outlet fitting is constructed and arranged to retain a solvent dehydration means for removing water entrained in a liquid solvent.

Claim 32

An extractor/concentrator kit comprising: a) a sample containing body defining a volumetric cavity, the sample containing body having a lower portion having an inlet port and an upper portion having an outlet port shaped to accommodate a hollow outlet fitting; b) the outlet fitting having a sample body engaging end and an outlet end, the outlet fitting being configured to position and retain a hydrophobic membrane in such a manner as to fluidly partition the volumetric cavity and the outlet end of the hollow outlet fitting; c) a solvent reservoir column having an open ended upper portion shaped to accommodate accessory components, a vapor return port, and a connection tube fluidly connectable to the inlet port of the sample containing body; d) a distillation column having at least two ends, one end being connectable to the vapor return port of the solvent reservoir column and at last one end being shaped to accommodate accessory components; d) a hydrophobic membrane, positioned within the outlet fitting, for allowing a solvent to pass therethrough while not allowing a significant amount of water from a sample liquid to pass therethrough; and e) a conveying means for conveying the solvent through the hydrophobic membrane to the distillation column.

Claim 33

An extractor/concentrator kit comprising: a) a sample containing body defining a volumetric cavity, the sample containing body having a lower portion having an inlet port and an upper portion having an outlet port shaped to accommodate a hollow outlet fitting; b) the outlet fitting having a sample body engaging end and an outlet end, the outlet fitting being configured to position and retain a hydrophobic membrane in such a manner as to fluidly partition the volumetric cavity and the outlet end of the hollow outlet fitting; c) a solvent reservoir column having an open ended upper portion shaped to accommodate accessory components, a vapor return port, and a connection tube fluidly connectable to the inlet port of the sample containing body; d) a distillation column having at least two ends, one end being connectable to the vapor return port of the solvent reservoir column and at last one end being shaped to accommodate accessory components; d) a hydrophobic membrane, positioned within the outlet fitting, for allowing a solvent to pass therethrough while not allowing a significant amount of water from a sample liquid to pass therethrough; and e) a conveying means for conveying the solvent through the hydrophobic membrane to the distillation column.

Claim 34

An extractor/concentrator kit as claimed in claim 29 wherein a flow control valve is positional fluidly in line between the solvent reservoir and the volumetric cavity of the sample containing body.

Claim 35

An extractor/concentrator kit as claimed in claim 29 wherein a solvent dehydration means for removing water entrained in a liquid solvent is positionable fluidly in line between the hydrophobic membrane and the distillation column.

Claim 36

An extractor/concentrator kit as claimed in claim 29 wherein the distillation column comprises a Snyder distillation column.

Claim 37

An extractor/concentrator kit as claimed in claim 29 further comprising: a) a concentrator means fluidly connected to one of the ends of the distillation column; and b) a condenser means fluidly connected to the open ended upper portion of the solvent reservoir column.

Claim 38

The extractor/concentrator kit as claimed in claim 29 wherein the hydrophobic membrane comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

Claim 39

The apparatus as claimed in claim 29 wherein a membrane support grid is in Juxtaposition to the hydrophobic membrane.

Claim 40

The apparatus as claimed in claim 29 wherein the hydrophobic membrane has a thickness ranging from 0.2 to 5.0 millimeters, has an outside diameter ranging from 10 to 50 millimeters, and contains pores sized between 0.2 and 5.0 microns.

Claim 41

The extractor/concentrator kit as claimed in claim 29 wherein a solvent injection nozzle is fluidly connectable to the inlet port of the sample containing body.