Patent ID: 6690462
Filing Date: 2004-02-10
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of calibration for detection of mercury pollutants by a multimetals continuous emissions analyzer having an analyzer signal intensity, wherein said analyzer is a plasma emissions spectrometer, comprising:placing a source of mercury vapor having a known output rate inside a constant temperature chamber, wherein said source of mercury vapor produces said mercury vapor; introducing carrier air into said chamber at a first constant rate, wherein said source of mercury vapor entrains said mercury vapor into said carrier air; introducing said carrier air into an aerosol mixing device at said first constant rate; introducing diluent air into said mixing device at a second constant rate; producing a gaseous mixture having a calibration mercury concentration; introducing said gaseous mixture into said analyzer; recording a first signal intensity from said analyzer, wherein said first signal intensity is responsive to said calibration mercury concentration of said gaseous mixture; plotting a first plot on a graph having coordinates of analyzer signal intensity vs mercury concentration, wherein said first plot is said first signal intensity vs said calibration mercury concentration; recording a second signal intensity from said analyzer, wherein said second signal intensity is responsive a first known mercury concentration; plotting a second plot on said graph, wherein said second plot is said second signal intensity vs said first known mercury concentration; creating a linear relationship between said analyzer signal intensity and said mercury concentration on said graph, wherein said linear relationship is a line, having a slope intercept and a slope, from said first plot to said second plot; introducing a second known mercury concentration into said analyzer; calculating a calibration signal intensity from said slope and said slope intercept; and adjusting said analyzer signal intensity to correspond to said calibration signal intensity.