Patent ID: 6436710
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
A headspace sampling system for monitoring materials in wastewater, the headspace sampling system comprising:a sample receptacle that can contain a wastewater sample that is to be monitored; a sparger chamber vapor column; a sample receptacle cover assembly comprising a sample receptacle cover and a mounting ring, the sample receptacle cover assembly connecting the sparger chamber vapor column to the sample receptacle, the sparger tube and the sample receptacle defining a headspace, the sparger chamber vapor column being in communication with the sample receptacle at a first sparger chamber vapor column end and being closed by a sparger chamber vapor column cover at a second end opposed to the sample receptacle; a sparger tube that extends into the sample receptacle and the wastewater sample in the sample receptacle, the sparger tube being connected to a source of inert gas at a first end opposed to the sample receptacle, the sparger tube comprising a dispersion device at an end opposed to the first end; at least one sensing device disposed in the headspace; and at least one analytic device in communication with the at least one sensing device; wherein inert gas can flow through the sparger tube into the wastewater sample to separate materials from the wastewater, the sparged materials entering the headspace of the headspace sampling system, the sparged materials being sensed by the at least one sensing device, the at least one sensing device providing material signal characteristics, and the material signal characteristics can be analyzed by the analytic device to determine the material type from the material signal characteristics.