Patent GB-1439483-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for treating liquid samples
IPC: G01N35/08
Filed: 1973-08-29
Abstract: 1439483 Apparatus units for treating samples for analysis HITACHI Ltd 29 Aug 1973 [14 Sept 1972] 40708/73 Heading G1B [Also in Division B 1] Apparatus for treating liquid samples for analysis comprises Fig. 6 an enclosed vessel 501 or 502, lines for conveyance of samples, communicating by selectively openable valves with the upper part and bottom of the vessel respectively, sources of gas at atmospheric pressure, increased pressure and reduced pressure in communication with the upper part of the vessel via further selectively openable valves and means for selective manipulation of the valves to control the pressure of the atmosphere in the vessel and thereby to transfer sample into or out of the vessel. Vessels as above may be connected in series for carrying out a series of analytical operations on each sample in turn or, when one step in an analytical procedure takes more time than the others, the vessels may be connected partly in parallel, Fig. 7 (not shown). Arrangements are disclosed for simple transfer of sample from one vessel to another (from 501 to 502, as shown), addition of reagent to stirred sample, Fig. 8 (not shown). for obtaining a given volume of liquid, Fig. 9 (not shown), when the vessel is opened to a reduced pressure line (162) and a sample input line (152), and sample flows in until its level in the vessel reaches the tip of a nozzle (160), for dilution of sample, Figs. 10 and 11 (not shown), when diluent flows under gravity into the sample in the vessel until the level of the diluted sample reaches that of a photoelectric detection device or an electrical conductivity measurement device, for washing the vessel, Fig. 12 (not shown), for adjusting the pH of the sample using a glass electrode (256), Fig. 13 (not shown), when the adjustment of pH is carried out in the centre one of three vessels, so that sample can be transferred to and from this vessel without application of extremes of pressure to the electrode, for filtration of samples, Figs. 14 and 15 (not shown), using either a filter paper held by suction in a cone-shaped filter (276) having a washing sprinkler (279) mounted at its upper end or a glass filter plate (302) also connected to washing means, for solvent extraction of samples and separation of light and heavy layers so produced using sample take-off lines set at different levels in the settling vessel, Figs. 16 and 17 (not shown), together with the increased and reduced pressure lines connected at the upper part of this vessel, for incubation of samples using a jacketed vessel, Fig. 18 (not shown), for aeration of samples, Fig. 19 (not shown), thermal concentration of samples, Fig. 20 (not shown) when the vessel has a capillary tube extending towards its bottom and fed with increased pressure gas, to prevent bumping, for distillation of samples, Fig. 21, when the distillate line includes a float valve 473 and the receiver chamber may hold an absorbent material, and for agitating and heating samples, Figs. 23, 24a and 24b (not shown). The automatic determination of ammonium ions using the apparatus of the invention and reagents comprising zinc sulphate, acid and alkali, EDTA, phenolate and hypochlorite is disclosed.