Patent ID: 7691329

Claim:
A method for detecting contaminants in a liquid, comprising: contacting a sensor with the liquid, wherein the sensor comprises a film, a purge chamber defined by a manifold having an inlet and an outlet, and a transducer in fluid communication with the purge chamber, and wherein a first surface of the film is in fluid communication with the liquid and the purge chamber is in fluid communication with a second surface of the film that is opposite the first surface, and wherein the film is made of a material that allows ionic transport of the contaminant from the liquid, through the film, and into the purge chamber; generating electrical information based upon a concentration of the contaminant in the liquid; transmitting the electrical information to a controller; determining the concentration of a contaminant in the liquid; and purging the purge chamber by causing a purge media to flow through the inlet of the manifold, into the purge chamber such that the purge media is in fluid contact with the transducer, and through the outlet of the manifold.