Rapid inline preparation of a diluted sample

Abstract

A sample introduction system providing variable online dilution of a sample is described. In one or more implementations, a device includes a spectrometry analysis system that employs example techniques in accordance with the present disclosure includes an inline dilution environment, including a first valve assembly configured to prepare a sample by accepting at least one of the sample, a diluent, a carrier, or an internal standard, where the first valve assembly includes a first sample loop; and a second valve assembly configured to prepare the sample by accepting the sample from the first valve assembly, where the second valve assembly is coupled to the first valve assembly, and where the second valve assembly includes a second sample loop.

1 . A spectrometry analysis system comprising:
 an inline dilution environment, including:
 a first valve assembly configured to prepare a first sample by accepting at least one of the sample, a diluent, a carrier, or an internal standard, where the first valve assembly includes a first sample loop, and where the first sample loop is configured to prepare the first sample within the first valve assembly; and 
 a second valve assembly configured to prepare the sample by accepting the sample from the first valve assembly, where the second valve assembly is coupled to the first valve assembly, and where the second valve assembly includes a second sample loop, where the second sample loop is configured to isolate the first sample for injection into a torch assembly, and where the first valve assembly is configured to accept and prepare a second sample while the first sample is isolated in the second sample loop; and 
   a computing device configured to control the dilution apparatus in order to perform multiple injections of the prepared first sample to an analysis device.   
     
     
         2 . The spectrometry analysis system in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first valve assembly or the second valve assembly includes a rotary valve. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The spectrometry analysis system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an analysis device coupled to the second rotary valve and configured to receive a processed sample from the second rotary valve and the second sample loop.   
     
     
         5 . The spectrometry analysis system in  claim 4 , wherein the analysis device includes an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICPMS). 
     
     
         6 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A spectrometry analysis system comprising:
 an inline dilution environment, including:
 a first valve assembly configured to prepare a first sample by accepting at least one of the sample, a diluent, a carrier, or an internal standard, where the first valve assembly includes a first sample loop, and where the first sample loop is configured to prepare the first sample within the first valve assembly; and 
 a second valve assembly configured to prepare the sample by accepting the sample from the first valve assembly, where the second valve assembly is coupled to the first valve assembly, and where the second valve assembly includes a second sample loop, where the second sample loop is configured to isolate the first sample for injection into a torch assembly, and where the first valve assembly is configured to accept and prepare a second sample while the first sample is isolated in the second sample loop; 
   a torch assembly coupled with the second valve assembly and the first valve assembly, the second sample loop configured to isolate and dilute the first sample for delivery into the torch assembly; and   a computing device configured to control the dilution apparatus in order to perform multiple injections of the prepared first sample to an analysis device via the torch assembly.   
     
     
         22 . The spectrometry analysis system in  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first valve assembly or the second valve assembly includes a rotary valve. 
     
     
         23 . The spectrometry analysis system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 an analysis device coupled to the second rotary valve via the torch assembly and configured to receive a processed sample from the second rotary valve and the second sample loop.   
     
     
         24 . The spectrometry analysis system in  claim 23 , wherein the analysis device includes an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICPMS).