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Publication Number
US-10985000-B2
Publication Date
2021-04-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for analyzing an analyte is described herein. The system includes a chamber having an inlet and a semi-permeable membrane arranged to seal the inlet. The semi-permeable membrane includes a cross-linked mixture of a first compound and a second compound. The system can also include a radiation source arranged in the vacuum chamber, the radiation source spaced apart from the semi-permeable membrane and adapted to irradiate the semi-permeable membrane with electromagnetic radiation at a frequency at least partially absorbed by the semi-permeable membrane.
Core Innovation
A chemical-analysis system uses a vacuum chamber having at least a first inlet and a second inlet, with at least two semi-permeable membranes that seal the inlets and carry a supply material comprising an analyte. A radiation source is arranged in the vacuum chamber, spaced apart from the semi-permeable membranes and the supply material, to irradiate the membranes with electromagnetic radiation at a frequency at least partially absorbed by the membranes, and the radiation source heats the semi-permeable membranes before the analyte reaches a membrane surface.
When one of the at least two semi-permeable membranes fails, the supply material is diverted into another of the at least two semi-permeable membranes. The disclosed configurations include embodiments with sequential application of supply material through multiple membranes, and embodiments in which membranes provide different properties including different permeabilities to the analyte.
The disclosed membrane implementation includes configurations such as a flat membrane versus a tube membrane, and variations where membranes differ in permeability and/or composition. The described membrane construction includes a cross-linked mixture of silicone compounds with silica, and the document relates the radiation absorption to non-contact membrane heating intended to address limitations of diffusion-based membrane inlet chemical analysis for larger SVOC molecules and to mitigate prior heating drawbacks.
Claims Coverage
The partial claim set includes two independent claims. Both independently require a vacuum chamber with at least first and second inlets, first and second or several semi-permeable membranes carrying supply material with analytes, and a radiation source in the vacuum chamber spaced from the membranes and supply material to irradiate membranes with electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the membrane.
Radiation-heated semi-permeable membranes for vacuum-chamber chemical analysis
A chemical-analysis system comprising a vacuum chamber with at least first and second inlets, semi-permeable membranes that seal the inlets and carry a supply material comprising an analyte, and a radiation source arranged in the vacuum chamber spaced apart from the semi-permeable membranes and the supply material, wherein the radiation source irradiates the membranes with electromagnetic radiation at a frequency at least partially absorbed by the semi-permeable membranes to heat the membranes before the analyte reaches a membrane surface.
Diversion of supply material upon membrane failure
When one of the at least two semi-permeable membranes fails, the supply material is diverted into another of the at least two semi-permeable membranes.
Sequential application with vacuum chamber clearing and different membrane permeability
A chemical-analysis system comprising a vacuum chamber with at least a first inlet and a second inlet, a first semi-permeable membrane fluidly connected to the first inlet and a second semi-permeable membrane fluidly connected to the second inlet, a supply configured to successively apply supply material into the first semi-permeable membrane and the second semi-permeable membrane, wherein the vacuum chamber is cleared between the successive applications, and wherein the first semi-permeable membrane comprises a different degree of permeability to at least one of the one or more analytes of the supply material than the second semi-permeable membrane.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage centers on a vacuum-chamber chemical-analysis system where a radiation source spaced from semi-permeable membranes irradiates the membranes with electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the membranes to heat the membranes before analyte reaches the membrane surface. The claim set further includes failover diversion when a membrane fails and, in the alternative independent claim, sequential supply with vacuum chamber clearing plus different membrane permeability.
Stated Advantages
Noted solution to limitations of diffusion-based membrane inlet chemical analysis for larger SVOC molecules.
Addresses prior heating drawbacks including carryover, electrode coating, and analyte degradation.
Enables heating of semi-permeable membranes before the analyte reaches a membrane surface.
Documented Applications
Membrane inlet mass spectrometry configurations for detection of analytes, including detection of toluene at low ppb levels using a silicone membrane without heating.
Measuring unsaturated hydrocarbons and determining mixture composition in a membrane inlet analysis context.
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