Techniques for toxic metal detection and speciation in aqueous matrices
US11650191B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 11, 2021 |
| Grant date | May 16, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 29, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N33/2858
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An in-situ measurement apparatus automatically draws aqueous samples on an intermittent or ad-hoc basis and measures specific metal specie concentration. The apparatus can perform both raw measurement of specific metal specie, as well as processing to convert other species of the same metal to the specific metal specie or to destroy or remove unwanted masking agents (e.g. organics). In one application, “dirty” water from a scrubber is measured for Se(IV) presence (using a renewable voltametric system), both with and without the masking agents present; in addition, selective processing converts other selenium species to Se(IV), permitting assessment of total selenium and measurement of Se(VI) presence. Automated reactions can then be taken to remove detected toxic substances from waste water without excess reliance on treatment chemicals, and so as to ensure that only water complaint with regulatory standards is released into the environment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.