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Title: System and method for preconcentrating, identifying, and quantifying chemical and biological substances

Patent ·
OSTI ID:873325

A system and method for preconcentrating, identifying, and quantifying chemical and biological substances is disclosed. An input valve directs a first volume of a sample gas to a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device. The SAW device preconcentrates and detects a mass of a substance within the sample gas. An output valve receives a second volume of the sample gas containing the preconcentrated substance from the SAW device and directs the second volume to a gas chromatograph (GC). The GC identifies the preconcentrated substance within the sample gas. A shunt valve exhausts a volume of the sample gas equal to the first volume minus the second volume away from the SAW device and the GC. The method of the present invention includes the steps of opening an input valve for passing a first volume of a sample gas to a SAW device; preconcentrating and detecting a mass of a substance within the sample gas using the SAW device; opening an output valve for passing a second volume of the sample gas containing the preconcentrated substance to a gas chromatograph (GC); and then identifying the preconcentrated substance within the sample gas using the GC.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
Assignee:
Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
Patent Number(s):
US 6134944
OSTI ID:
873325
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (5)

Enzymatic assay of acid phosphatase and microanalysis of Cu2+ and Ag+ with a SAW-impedance sensor journal January 1998
Monitoring of NH3 gas by LB polypyrrole-based SAW sensor journal April 1998
Development of a saw gas sensor for monitoring so2 gas journal January 1998
Studies on a surface acoustic wave (SAW) dosimeter sensor for organophosphorous nerve agents journal May 1997
SAW NOx gas sensor using WO3 thin-film sensitive coating journal June 1997