Patent · US Expired

Method and device for determining the organic carbon content of a sample

US4352673A · kind A · utility

25Cited by
4References
6Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateDec 24, 1980
Grant dateOct 5, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 24, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T436/23
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The method of the invention comprises the successive steps of: (a) heating the sample in an inert atmosphere to a first temperature capable of cracking at least a fraction of the organic material contained in the sample; (b) measuring the amount of organic carbon contained in at least a fraction of the effluent resulting from this cracking; (c) heating the sample in an oxidizing atmosphere to a second temperature at most equal to the first temperature; (d) measuring the amount of organic carbon in the effluent produced by the oxidation of the organic material, and (e) deriving from the above measurements the total organic carbon content of the sample. In order to perform the method of the invention, there is also provided means for performing each of the successive steps. In a further refinement, the method also includes steps for determining the mineral carbon content so that the total carbon content of the sample can be determined.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.