Method and apparatus for measuring deposit forming capacity of fluids using an electrochemically controlled pH change in the fluid proximate to a piezoelectric microbalance
US6942782B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 22, 2002 |
| Grant date | Sep 13, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 22, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/0426
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for measuring the deposit forming propensity of a continuously flowing fluid having a bulk pH of about 1 to about 12 comprising measuring the rate at which deposit forms on a quartz crystal microbalance having a top side comprising a working electrode in contact with the fluid and a bottom side isolated from the fluid, wherein the pH of the fluid proximate to the microbalance is controlled electrochemically at about 1 to about 14 by applying to the working electrode a cathodic current of about −0.001 to about −100 mA/cm2 or an anodic current of from about 0.001 to about 100 mA/cm2 and wherein the working electrode is coated with or made of a conductive material on which the rate of hydrogen gas evolution is at least 10 times lower than on a gold cathode in acidic solution.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.