Patent ID: 6034361
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: B01J,H05B

Abstract:
A system for monitoring the progress of a chemical reaction in a microwave-assisted preparation of a sample, comprising:a microwave energy source for radiating a known level of microwave energy;a waveguide having a waveguide cavity and a predetermined geometry, the waveguide being coupled to the microwave energy source for receiving said radiated microwave energy;a reaction vessel for containing the sample; anda resistive load coupled to the waveguide;wherein the waveguide geometry is constructed to position the reaction vessel in the path of the forward microwave radiation between the microwave energy source and the resistive load; andan energy monitoring device interposed between the reaction vessel and the resistive load so as to monitor the energy directed to the resistive load;whereby the energy absorbed by the sample may be calculated in accordance with the level of energy measured by the energy monitoring device to provide a value that indicates the status of the chemical reaction.