Patent ID: 6136960
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: G01N,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for the quantitative analysis of a multi- component mixture wherein the method of quantitative analysis comprises the steps of:i) forming a partitioning system capable of separation into two or more immiscible phases,ii) mixing a sample of the mixture to be quantitatively analyzed with the partitioning system;iii) maintaining the partitioning system of step (ii) until phase separation occurs;iv) measuring the total amount or total concentration of components in the mixture, or of a single class of components within said mixture, in each of the separated phases wherein each of the components being analyzed in the mixture exists in each of the separated phases;v) determining the overall partition coefficient (K) of the mixture, or of the single class of components within the mixture, wherein the overall partition coefficient (K) of the mixture is defined as the ratio between the amount or concentrations of the mixture, or the single class of components within the mixture, in each of the separated phases; and,vi) comparing the determined overall partition coefficient (K) of the mixture, or the single components within the mixture, with a range of overall partition coefficients obtained from known reference mixtures of the same components thereby assessing the ratio of the particular components of the mixture under characterization without the need to pre-separate the components.