Patent ID: 7285243

Claim:
An apparatus for the quantitative determination of atmospheric hydroperoxyl radical comprising: (i) a source of a liquid phase atmospheric sample which includes a carrier stream conduit for directing said liquid phase atmospheric sample within a carrier stream, wherein said liquid phase atmospheric sample is produced by treating an atmospheric sample with a liquid phase scrubbant in a scrubbing station which comprises a chamber containing housing for said liquid phase scrubbant, wherein said liquid phase scrubbant is capable of dissolving atmospheric hydroperoxyl radical, and wherein said chamber containing housing has an inlet for atmosphere, has an air outlet, and is connected to the carrier stream conduit; (ii) a source of a chemiluminescent compound selected from the group consisting of 2-methyl-6-phenyl-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-α]pyrazin-3-one and 2-methyl-6-(p-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-α]pyrazin-3-one in a reagent stream which includes a reagent stream conduit for directing said reagent stream wherein said reagent stream comprises an aqueous-based solvent capable of dissolving said chemiluminescent compound; (iii) each of said carrier stream conduit and said reagent stream conduit which are directed to a contact zone whereby said liquid phase atmospheric sample is contacted with said chemiluminescent compound; and (iv) a chemiluminescence detector which detects luminescence intensity resulting from contacting said liquid phase atmospheric sample and said chemiluminescent compound and forming a liquid phase atmospheric sample-chemiluminescent compound mixture, wherein said chemiluminescence detector is connected to said contact zone by a contact zone conduit.