Atomizing, continuous, water monitoring module

A system for continuously analyzing volatile constituents of a liquid is described. The system contains a pump for continuously pumping the liquid to be tested at a predetermined flow rate into an extracting container through a liquid directing tube having an orifice at one end and positioned to direct the liquid into the extracting container at a flow rate sufficient to atomize the liquid within the extracting container. A continuous supply of helium carrier gas at a predetermined flow rate is directed through a tube into the extracting container and co-mingled with the atomized liquid to extract the volatile constituents contained within the atomized liquid. The helium containing the extracted volatile constituents flows out of the extracting container into a mass spectrometer for an analysis of the volatile constituents of the liquid.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a water monitoring module, more 
particularly, to a atomizing, continuous, water monitoring module. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The standard method for analysis of volatile organic compounds in water has 
been purge and trap, in which a water sample, typically 40 ml, is purged 
with a gas stream for a period of time and the volatile organic compounds 
which are partitioned into the gas stream are then trapped on a sorbent 
cartridge and analyzed by thermal desorption gas chromatograph/mass 
spectrometer. This means that grab samples had to be acquired and analyzed 
from water wells, surface water, process streams, etc. If a treatment 
process had to be characterized over a period of time, only a finite 
number of samples could be acquired for this purpose. Two spray and trap 
methods for water analysis utilizing a spray nozzle that volatilized 
aqueous organics for adsorption on a trap prior to analysis were discussed 
in recent publications. (Gerhard Matz and Peter Kesners, "Spray and Trap 
Method for Water Analysis by Thermal Desorption Gas Chromatography/Mass 
Spectrometry in Field Applications", Anal. Chem., 1993, 65, 2366-2371 and 
Gokkhan Baykut and Annette Voigt, "Spray Extradion of Volatile Organic 
Compounds from Aqueous Systems into the Gas Phase for Gas 
Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry", Anal. Chem. 1992, 64, 677-681). Another 
publication discussed an on line monitoring of volatiles in aqueous 
solutions using membrane introduction mass spectrometry. (Scott J. Bauer 
and R. Graham Cooks, "MIMS for trace-level determination of organic 
analytes in on-line process monitoring and environmental analysis", 
American Laboratory, October 1993, pp. 36, 38-43, 45-48, 51, 52). However, 
the membrane introduction mass spectrometry is not applicable to larger or 
more polar compounds. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,337 to Thompson et al. describes a mass spectrometer 
sample introduction system for introducing gaseous samples from a wide 
range of environmental matrices into a mass spectrometer for analysis of 
the samples. A water purge sample module uses a vial containing water 
containing volatile compounds and a high speed needle sparge purging 
system for extracting the volatile compounds from the water for analysis 
in the mass spectrometer. This method requires obtaining separate samples 
in a vial and analyzing the volatile compounds extracted from the water 
one at a time. 
Other methods such as IR have been used but are not as sensitive or 
specific in their identification of compounds of interest. The present 
invention fulfills the need for a continuous analysis in real-time of 
volatile organic compounds in water samples or process streams with 
detection limits in the low ppb range. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an 
atomizing, continuous, water monitoring module. Further and other objects 
of the present invention will become apparent from the description 
contained herein. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a new and improved 
system for continuously analyzing volatile components of a liquid 
comprises an extraction means for continuously extracting the volatile 
components contained in a liquid from the liquid, a liquid displacing 
means for continuously displacing the liquid at a predetermined flow rate, 
a carrier gas supply means for continuously supplying a carrier gas and a 
gas analyzing means for continuously analyzing the volatile components of 
the liquid. The liquid displacing means has an inlet port and an outlet 
port. The gas analyzing means has a sample gas inlet port. The extraction 
means comprises a closed container, a carrier gas directing means and a 
liquid directing means. The closed container has an inside wall, a liquid 
inlet port, a liquid outlet port, a carrier gas inlet port and a sample 
gas outlet port. The liquid displacing means has a liquid inlet port and a 
liquid outlet port. The liquid outlet port of the liquid displacing means 
is in fluid communication with the liquid inlet port of the closed 
container of the extraction means. The carrier gas supply is in fluid 
communication with the carrier gas inlet port of the closed container of 
the extracting means. The carrier gas directing means has a carrier gas 
inlet port and a carrier gas outlet port. The carrier gas inlet port of 
the carrier gas directing means is in fluid communication with the carrier 
gas inlet port of the closed container of the extraction means. The sample 
gas outlet port of the closed container of the extraction means is in 
communication with the sample gas inlet port of the gas analyzing means. 
The liquid directing means has a liquid inlet port and a liquid outlet 
port. The liquid inlet port of the liquid directing means is in fluid 
communication with the liquid inlet port of the closed container of the 
extraction means. The liquid outlet port of the liquid directing means 
contained within the closed container of the extraction means is 
positioned for directing the liquid against the inside wall of the closed 
container of the extraction means. 
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a new and 
improved method for continuously analyzing volatile components contained 
in a liquid comprises the following steps; 
Step 1. A system is provided for continuously analyzing volatile components 
of a liquid. The system comprises: an extraction means for continuously 
extracting the volatile components contained in the liquid from the 
liquid, a liquid displacing means for continuously displacing the liquid 
at a predetermined flow rate, a carrier gas supply means for continuously 
supplying a carrier gas and a gas analyzing means for continuously 
analyzing the volatile components of the liquid. The liquid displacing 
means has an inlet port and an outlet port. The gas analyzing means has a 
sample gas inlet port. The extraction means comprises closed container, a 
carrier gas directing means and a liquid directing means. The closed 
container has an inside wall, a liquid inlet port, a liquid outlet port, a 
carrier gas inlet port and a sample gas outlet port. The liquid displacing 
means has a liquid inlet port and a liquid outlet port. The liquid outlet 
port of the liquid displacing means is in fluid communication with the 
liquid inlet port of the closed container of the extraction means. The 
carrier gas supply is in communication with the carrier gas inlet port of 
the closed container of the extracting means. The carrier gas directing 
means has a carrier gas inlet port and a carrier gas outlet port. The 
carrier gas inlet port of carrier gas directing means is in fluid 
communication with the carrier gas inlet port of the closed container of 
the extraction means. The sample gas outlet port of the closed container 
of the extraction means is in communication with the sample gas inlet port 
of the gas analyzing means. The liquid directing means has a liquid inlet 
port and a liquid outlet port. The liquid inlet port of the liquid 
directing means is in fluid communication with the liquid inlet port of 
the closed container of the extraction means. The liquid outlet port of 
the liquid directing means contained within the closed container of the 
extraction means is positioned for directing the liquid against the inside 
wall of the closed container of the extraction means. 
Step 2. The liquid inlet port of the liquid displacing means is placed in a 
liquid to be tested. 
Step 3. The liquid is continuously displaced through the liquid displacing 
means at a predetermined flow rate into the liquid directing means 
contained in the closed container of the extraction means. The 
predetermined flow rate is sufficient to direct the liquid from the outlet 
port of the liquid directing means against the inside wall of the closed 
container at a force sufficient to atomize the liquid within the closed 
container forming an atomized liquid. 
Step 4. A carrier gas is continuously provided from the carrier gas supply 
into the closed container of the extraction means through the carrier gas 
directing means at a flow rate sufficient to co-mingle with the atomized 
liquid sufficient to extract the volatile components contained in the 
liquid from the atomized liquid to form a sample gas and to exit the 
sample gas from the closed container through the sample gas outlet port of 
the closed container into the sample gas inlet port of the gas analyzing 
means. 
Step 5. The volatile components in the sample gas are continuously analyzed 
with the analyzing means. sample gas from the closed contained through the 
sample gas outlet port of the closed container into the sample gas inlet 
port of the gas analyzing means. 
Step 5. The volatile components in the sample gas are continuously analyzed 
with the analyzing means.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other 
and further objects, advantages and capabilities thereof, reference is 
made to the following disclosure and appended claims in connection with 
the above described drawings. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The present invention provides for the immediate quantitation of volatile 
organic compounds in water. It also provides for the real-time monitoring 
of such compounds in water samples or process streams. Variations in the 
concentrations of these compounds can be detected and plotted in 
real-time. The present invention has been used successfully to monitor the 
volatiles levels in seep water as a water supply was being treated. The 
concentrations of a number of volatile organic compounds, such as toluene, 
benzene, methyl ethyl ketone, TCA, DCA, xylenes, ethylbenzene and 
C2-Benzenes, were continuously followed during the treatment process for 
destroying the compounds. 
One advantage of the present invention is that no water samples need be 
transferred, treated and then disposed of, especially if the samples are 
classified as a hazardous waste, a significant benefit over other methods 
of water analysis. 
Shown in FIG. 1 is system 10 which comprises extraction means 20 for 
continuously extracting volatiles from liquid 210, such as water, liquid 
displacing means 30, such as a pump, for continuously displacing liquid 
210 into extraction means 20 at a predetermined flow rate, carrier gas 
supply 40, such as a pressurized gas cylinder of helium having a pressure 
regulator and a flow meter attached thereto, for continuously supplying 
carrier gas and gas analyzing means 50, such as a mass spectrometer as 
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,337 to Thompson et al incorporated herein 
by reference thereto, for continuously analyzing the volatile components 
of liquid 210. Extraction means 20 comprises closed container 60, carrier 
gas directing means 70 and liquid directing means 80, such as a tube 
closed at one end and having a hole or holes in the walls of the tube. 
Closed container 60 has inside wall 90, liquid inlet port 100, liquid 
outlet port 110, carrier gas inlet port 120 and sample gas outlet port 
130. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of liquid directing means 80 showing 
liquid outlet port 200. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional top view along line 
3--3 of FIG. 2 of liquid directing means 80 showing liquid outlet port 200 
having a diameter from about 0.005 to about 0.007 inches positioned to 
provide stream 205 of liquid 210, shown in FIG. 1, from liquid directing 
means 80 to inside wall 90 of closed container 60. Sample gas outlet port 
130 of closed container 60 has liquid condensing means 135, such as a 
porous screen covering sample gas outlet port 130. Liquid displacing means 
30 has liquid inlet port 140 and liquid outlet port 150. Liquid outlet 
port 150 of liquid displacing means 30 is in communication with liquid 
inlet port 100 of closed container 60. Carrier gas supply 40 is in 
communication with carrier gas inlet port 120 of closed container 60. 
Carrier gas directing means 70 has a carrier gas inlet port 160 and 
carrier gas outlet port 170. Carrier gas inlet port 160 of carrier gas 
directing means 70 is in communication with carrier gas inlet port 120 of 
closed container 60. Sample gas outlet port 130 of closed container 60 is 
in communication with sample gas inlet port 180 of gas analyzing means 50. 
Liquid directing means 80 has a liquid inlet port 190 and liquid outlet 
port 200. Liquid inlet port 190 of liquid directing means 80 is in 
communication with liquid inlet port 100 of closed container 60. Liquid 
outlet port 200 of liquid directing means 80 contained within closed 
container 60 is positioned for directing liquid 210 against inside wall 90 
of closed container 60. 
A method for continuously analyzing the volatile components contained in 
liquid 210, such as water, utilizing system 10 comprises the following: 
System 10 is provided. Liquid inlet port 140 of liquid displacing means 30 
is placed in liquid 210 to be tested. Liquid 210 is continuously displaced 
through liquid displacing means 30 at a predetermined flow rate into 
liquid directing means 80 contained in closed container 60 of extraction 
means 20. The predetermined flow rate is sufficient to direct liquid 210 
from liquid outlet port 200 of liquid directing means 80 against inside 
wall 90 of closed container 60 at a force sufficient to atomize liquid 210 
within closed container 60 to form atomized liquid 220. Carrier gas 230, 
such as helium, is continuously provided from carrier gas supply 40 into 
closed container 60 through carrier gas directing means 70 at a flow rate 
sufficient to co-mingle with atomized liquid 220 sufficient to extract the 
volatiles contained in liquid 210 from atomized liquid 220 to form sample 
gas 240 and to exit sample gas 240 from closed container 60 through sample 
gas outlet port 130 of closed container 60 into sample gas inlet port 180 
of gas analyzing means 50. The continuous flow of sample gas 240 
comprising carrier gas 230 containing extracted volatiles from atomized 
liquid 220 into gas analyzing means 50 is continuously analyzed for the 
volatiles contained in carrier gas 230 with gas analyzing means 50. 
A test was run comparing the efficiency using system 10 shown in FIG. 1 of 
the present invention with the efficiency of extracting volatiles, such as 
chlorine, from tap water by purging a vial containing tap water with a 
bubble purge of helium carrier gas and analyzing the helium carrier gas 
containing extracted volatiles from the tap water in a mass spectrometer 
system. The same tap water was used in the comparison and the same mass 
spectrometer system was used as depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,337 to 
Thompson et al. Incorporated herein by reference thereto. The volatile 
extraction efficiency of the atomizing procedure utilizing system 10 of 
the present invention was three times better than the volatile extraction 
efficiency of purging procedure utilizing the bubble purging of a vial of 
tap water with a helium carrier gas to extract the volatiles in the tap 
water. The pump used for the liquid displacing means 30 of system 10 for 
continuously analyzing volatile components of a liquid was a Xolox 
Corporation, Fort Wayne, Indiana, gear pump, model number 1261. The normal 
low pressure performance of this pump at 12V is 486 ml/min (7.67 GPH). The 
pressure rating of the exit port is 125 psig max. The inlet port of the 
pump is connected to an inlet strainer of 80 mesh maximum--(mesh 
size--0.007'maximum or 178 microns). The liquid outlet port 200 of liquid 
directing means 80 shown in FIG. I is a hole drilled perpendicularly into 
the side of liquid directing means 80. The hole diameter was 0.007 inches. 
Alternative uses of the present invention include in situ sampling of 
ground water in wells and continuous monitoring of process or waste 
streams in industrial plants, hazardous waste site characterizations and 
for site remediations. 
While there has been shown and described what is at present considered the 
preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those 
skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made 
therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by 
the appended claims.