Patent ID: 7531134
Filing Date: 2009-05-12
Classification: B01D,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for automated analysis of a constituent of a process solution, comprising: a sample extraction module operable to extract a sample of known volume from the process solution; a first spike container for containing isotopically-labeled spike; a second spike container for containing an internal standard; a sample dilution module operable to dilute the sample to provide a diluted sample; a mixer for mixing the diluted sample and a spike selected from the first spike container or the second spike container to allow equilibration to occur therebetween; an atmospheric pressure ionizer operable to ionize the equilibrated diluted sample and spike mixture to produce ions; a mass spectrometer operable to process the ions to provide a ratio response; and a control system operable to control a cyclic extraction of samples, dilution of the samples, spiking of the diluted samples, ionization of the spiked diluted samples, processing of the ions to provide ratio responses, and processing of the ratio responses to characterize the concentration of the constituent in the process solution over time.