Method and apparatus for scientific analysis under low temperature vacuum conditions

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:867456

Winefordner, James D ^[1]; Jones, Bradley T ^[1]

---

1. Gainesville, FL

A method and apparatus for scientific analysis of a sample under low temperature vacuum conditions uses a vacuum chamber with a conveyor belt disposed therein. One end of the conveyor belt is a cool end in thermal contact with the cold stage of a refrigerator, whereas the other end of the conveyor belt is a warm end spaced from the refrigerator. A septum allows injection of a sample into the vacuum chamber on top of the conveyor belt for spectroscopic or other analysis. The sample freezes on the conveyor belt at the cold end. One or more windows in the vacuum chamber housing allow spectroscopic analysis of the sample. Following the spectroscopic analysis, the conveyor belt may be moved such that the sample moves toward the warm end of the conveyor belt where upon it evaporates, thereby cleaning the conveyor belt. Instead of injecting the sample by way of a septum and use of a syringe and needle, the present device may be used in series with capillary-column gas chromatography or micro-bore high performance liquid chromatography.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AS05-78OR06022
• Assignee: University of Florida (Gainesville, FL)
• Patent Number(s): US 4942134
• OSTI ID: 867456
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
apparatus
scientific
analysis
temperature
vacuum
conditions
sample
chamber
conveyor
belt
disposed
therein
cool
thermal
contact
cold
stage
refrigerator
warm
spaced
septum
allows
injection
top
spectroscopic
freezes
windows
housing
allow
following
moved
moves
evaporates
cleaning
injecting
syringe
needle
device
series
capillary-column
gas
chromatography
micro-bore
performance
liquid
performance liquid
vacuum conditions
liquid chromatograph
chamber housing
spectroscopic analysis
gas chromatography
vacuum chamber
disposed therein
conveyor belt
liquid chromatography
gas chromatograph
thermal contact
temperature vacuum
scientific analysis
/436/250/356/422/