Patent ID: 6485688
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An on-line sparging sampling system for sparging polar and non-polar volatile organic compounds from aqueous discharge, the system comprising:a network of tubular members that are connected to each other to define a fluid passage, the network of tubular members comprising an inlet for influent aqueous discharge into the network of tubular members and an outlet comprising a venting and discharge tubular member for the discharge of aqueous discharge from the on-line sparging sampling and monitoring system, wherein the network of interconnected tubular members comprise at least a vertically extending sparger tubular member having an inlet, the sparger tubular member being connected at its lower end to a horizontally extending bottom connector tubular member, which is connected to a vertically extending side tubular member, which is connected at its top end to a P-trap tubular member, which is connected to said venting and discharge tubular member; a sparger disposed in the network of tubular members, the sparger being disposed between the inlet and the outlet of the aqueous discharge so that aqueous discharge flows by the sparger, the sparger providing inert nonreactive gas to the on-line sparging sampling and monitoring system; and at least one analytic device connected to the on-line sparging sampling and monitoring system for analyzing volatile organic compounds in the aqueous discharge; wherein the aqueous discharge forms an aqueous discharge portion and a headspace during flow through the network of tubular members, the sparger providing the inert non-reactive gas to flow through the aqueous discharge portion, the inert non-reactive gas partitioning volatile organic compounds from the aqueous discharge portion to the headspace so that polar and nonpolar volatile organic compounds can be analyzed by the at least one analytic device.