Method for automatically testing and controlling surface-active contents in aqueous solutions used in a process

US6617165B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien · DE

Inventors

• Werner Opitz · Langenfeld, DE
• Hans-Willi Kling · Wuppertal, DE
• Ibolya Bartik-Himmler · Wuppertal, DE
• Ludger Buetfering · Abenden, DE
• Friedhelm Siepmann · Essen, DE
• Bernd Schenzle · Troy, US
• Wolfgang Krey · Wuppertal, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 27, 2000
• Grant date: Sep 9, 2003
• Expiry date: Nov 27, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T436/163333
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method for the automatic monitoring and control of the content of surfactants of an aqueous process solution, wherein, under program control: a sample having a predetermined volume is taken from the aqueous process solution; the content of surfactants in the sample is determined utilizing measuring equipment capable of analyzing the sample; the results of the analysis are output by the system; the functional capacity of the measuring equipment is checked by determining the surfactant content of one or more standard solutions if the results of the analysis of the content of surfactants on two consecutive drawn samples differs by a preselected value; and corrective action is automatically taken if the check of the measuring equipment reveals any problems. Bath maintenance measures may be initiated automatically or by request from a remote location according to pre-determined criteria. The method reduces the number of staff for bath monitoring and bath maintenance and increases process safety.