Apparatus for sampling & analysis of thermally-labile species and a method relating thereto

Abstract

An apparatus for, and a method of, sampling and analyzing thermally-labile chemical species, comprises a quartz tube having a filter member positioned in the bore of the tube. The filter member comprises a plug of quartz beads having a layer of quartz frits on either side. A fluid (gas or liquid) carrying one or more chemical substances associated with particulate matter is passed through the tube, the particulate material being collected by the quartz beads. After sample collection, the material remaining/retained from the original sample is removed, as for example by thermal desorption, and the material is then analyzed.

We claim:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for sampling and analysis of thermally-labile species, comprising: 
 a quartz housing having a central passage, and a filter member positioned in said passage; said filter member comprising a particulate filtration medium and retainers associated with said particulate filtration medium through which a fluid flow is adapted to pass.    
     
     
         2 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said particulate filtration medium comprises quartz or ceramic beads.  
     
     
         3 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , said retainers each comprising fused quartz frit.  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , said quartz housing comprising a tube having an inlet end and an outlet end, said outlet end being connected to a single or multi-element analyzer.  
     
     
         5 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , said analyzer comprising a multi-element analyzer.  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said quartz tube being positioned in a heating enclosure.  
     
     
         7 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said quartz housing includes said filter member positioned to receive a fluid flow through said housing, said retainers forming a layer on both sides of said filter member.  
     
     
         8 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said quartz housing includes said filter member positioned to receive a gaseous flow through said housing, said retainers forming a layer on both sides of said filter member.  
     
     
         9 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , said beads having a size of about 8 to about 170 mesh.  
     
     
         10 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , said beads having a size of about 40 to about 120 mesh.  
     
     
         11 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , said beads having a size of about 80 to about 170 mesh.  
     
     
         12 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , said fused quartz frit having a porosity of from 00 to 4.  
     
     
         13 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , said tube having a bore of about 10 mm to about 20 mm at said filter member.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , said filter member having a length of about 2 mm.