Patent ID: 6012325
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of measuring metallic impurities contained within a gas and comprising at least one metallic compound, said method comprising:metering a sample stream composed of said gas so that said sample stream flows at a constant flow rate;passing the sample stream through to an microporous filter containing substantially no metallic impurities, the microporous filter having micropores and a thickness selected so as to adsorb both solid and vapor phases of said at least one metallic compound; andexciting said at least one metallic compound by X-ray radiation after having been adsorbed within said microporous filter so that an x-ray florescence is produced;measuring a change in intensity of said x-ray florescence over at least one time period; andcomparing said change in intensity with that produced by a calibrated flow of a standard gas sample containing a calibrated amount of said at least one metallic compound.