Selective chemical detection by energy modulation of sensors
- Naperville, IL
- Solon, OH
A portable instrument for use in the field in detecting, identifying, and quantifying a component of a sampled fluid includes a sensor which chemically reacts with the component of interest or a derivative thereof, an electrical heating filament for heating the sample before it is applied to the sensor, and modulator for continuously varying the temperature of the filament (and hence the reaction rate) between two values sufficient to produce the chemical reaction. In response to this thermal modulation, the sensor produces a modulated output signal, the modulation of which is a function of the activation energy of the chemical reaction, which activation energy is specific to the particular component of interest and its concentration. Microprocessor which compares the modulated output signal with standard responses for a plurality of components to identify and quantify the particular component of interest. In particular, the concentration of the component of interest is proportional to the amplitude of the modulated output signal, while the identifying activation output energy of the chemical interaction indicative of that component is proportional to a normalized parameter equal to the peak-to-peak amplitude divided by the height of the upper peaks above a base line signal level.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- Assignee:
- Arch Development Corporation (Argonne, IL)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5047352
- OSTI ID:
- 867980
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Selective chemical detection by energy modulation of sensors
Portable system and method combining chromatography and array of electrochemical sensors
Related Subjects
chemical
detection
energy
modulation
sensors
portable
instrument
field
detecting
identifying
quantifying
component
sampled
fluid
sensor
chemically
reacts
derivative
electrical
heating
filament
sample
applied
modulator
continuously
varying
temperature
hence
reaction
rate
values
sufficient
produce
response
thermal
produces
modulated
output
signal
function
activation
specific
particular
concentration
microprocessor
compares
standard
responses
plurality
components
identify
quantify
proportional
amplitude
interaction
indicative
normalized
parameter
equal
peak-to-peak
divided
height
upper
peaks
base
line
level
signal level
portable instrument
electrical heating
chemically react
reaction rate
output signal
chemical reaction
activation energy
selective chemical
peak amplitude
output energy
electrical heat
heating filament
chemical detection
continuously varying
chemically reacts
/436/422/