Patent ID: 6613579
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for sequential injection liquid-liquid extraction, the apparatus comprising:(a) a bidirectional precision pump for controlling fluid flow; (b) a holding/mixing coil, connected to the pump, for holding and mixing liquids, and for carrying out liquid-liquid extraction; (c) a selection valve, connected to the pump, for directing flow to withdraw, transfer, and inject a plurality of fluids; (d) a separation cell, for separating liquids from the holding/mixing coil into an extract phase and a raffinate phase; (e) a detector, for determining the quantity of a component in the extract phase which was extracted from a sample by an extraction solvent; and (f) a microprocessor, for controlling the selection valve and the bidirectional pump; the separation cell including a container for holding the extract and raffinate phases, a first passageway for conveying the extract and raffinate from the holding/mixing coil to the container, a second passageway for conveying the extract phase from the container to the detector and an adjustment fitting which enables raising and lowering the second passageway precisely as required for efficient withdrawal of the extract phase.