Patent ID: 6315954
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: B01J,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
Apparatus for generating an acid or base and using the same in the analysis of an aqueous sample stream, comprising(a) a flowthrough ion exchange bed including exchangeable cations or anions and having an inlet portion and an outlet portion,(b) a first electrode in electrical communication with the inlet portion of said ion exchange bed and a second electrode in electrical communication with the outlet portion thereof, said ion exchange bed comprising an upstream bed portion comprising a strongly acidic or strongly basic ion exchange material, respectively, and an adjacent downstream bed portion comprising a weakly acidic or weakly basic ion exchange material, respectively,(c) a power supply for applying an electrical potential between said first and second electrodes while an aqueous stream is flowing in a first direction therethrough for electrolytically generating hydroxide and hydronium ions and displacing exchangeable cations or anions, respectively, into said aqueous stream to generate a base or acid, respectively,(d) means for mixing said base or acid with said aqueous sample stream, and(e) a detector in fluid communication with said mixing means for detecting the mixture formed by said mixing means.