Patent ID: 6475802
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: G01N,Y02A,Y10T

Abstract:
A speciation module for repeated speciation of reactive gaseous mercury from elemental mercury and particulate bound mercury and for use with mercury analysis equipment, the speciation module comprising:an adsorption unit having an extended transfer surface and a coating including a halogen salt on the transfer surface for adsorbing reactive gaseous mercury and allowing elemental mercury and particulate bound mercury to pass through the adsorption unit, the adsorption unit having an adsorption unit inlet opening directly to a gas sample and an adsorption unit outlet for connection to a pump means, for drawing the gas sample through the adsorption unit, and being formed of a material capable of withstanding a desorption temperature; a first inlet for a flushing gas, substantially free of mercury vapour, for flushing out of the adsorption unit and connectable to the adsorption unit inlet; a heating means for heating the adsorption unit to the desorption temperature higher than an adsorption temperature, the desorption temperature being such as to cause reactive gaseous mercury adsorbed onto the coating to be released as gaseous elemental mercury vapour, for measurement, and such as to regenerate the coating on the transfer surface to facilitate repeated speciation; and, a temperature controller for controlling the heating means, whereby the adsorption unit can be maintained at the adsorption temperature for adsorption of the reactive gaseous mercury and, at the desorption temperature for desorption of the reactive gaseous mercury as gaseous elemental mercury vapour.