US2920201A - Method and apparatus for exciting atoms in fluids - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for exciting atoms in fluids Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US2920201A
US2920201A US696979A US69697957A US2920201A US 2920201 A US2920201 A US 2920201A US 696979 A US696979 A US 696979A US 69697957 A US69697957 A US 69697957A US 2920201 A US2920201 A US 2920201A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
electrodes
atoms
electrode
fluid
sample
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US696979A
Inventor
Max R Annis
Jr Fred A Brooks
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Jersey Production Research Co
Original Assignee
Jersey Production Research Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Jersey Production Research Co filed Critical Jersey Production Research Co
Priority to US696979A priority Critical patent/US2920201A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2920201A publication Critical patent/US2920201A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/62—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light
    • G01N21/66—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light electrically excited, e.g. electroluminescence
    • G01N21/69—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light electrically excited, e.g. electroluminescence specially adapted for fluids, e.g. molten metal

Definitions

  • Atoms can be raised from their normal state to higher energy states by bombarding them with electrons, or by subjecting them to high temperatures in a flame 'or an electric arc, or by allowing them to absorbradiant energy from an external source.
  • a higher than normal energy state is generally referred to as an excited state; When the atoms return to a state of lower energy, radiation is emitted in the form of photons of very definite frequency.
  • the emission spectrograph is commonly used for the analysis of chemical elements and occasionally for the analysis of certain chemical compounds.
  • the sample atoms and molecules are first excited. Upon returning to normal they emit the characteristic radiations in the form of light rays. These light rays are passed through a lens system, a collumation system, a ditfraction grating, and then usually displayed on a photographic plate. The light rays are recorded on the photographic plate as vertical lines at a position determined by the frequency of the light. The frequency of any line of the emission spectrum is proportional to the difference between the values of the energies of two states of the atom or molecule emitting the radiation; that is,
  • E is the initial energy of the atom or molecule
  • E is the final energy of the molecular or atom
  • h is the Planck constant
  • the invention described herein is a new method and apparatus for exciting atoms of a fluid by arcing method.
  • a voltage isdeveloped across a pair of electrodes having suflicient energy to excite the atoms of a fluid to be investigated.
  • a disadvantage of current methods of exciting atoms of a sample by the means of the arcing method is that unwanted background appears and contaminates the photographic plate, thereby interfering'with the detection of the desired light rays.
  • This unwanted background arises from the interaction of the material the electrodes are made of with elements of the air contained in the arc. For example, with carbon electrodes, the carbon of the electrodes and the nitrogen atoms of the air are violently thrown together and frequently combine.
  • the CN molecules give ofi a very large number of bands of light rays that are poorly resolved which give rise to an unwanted background.
  • the unwanted background produced thereby is commonly referred to as the cyanogen bands. These bands may range from 3590 to 3583, 3883 to 3850, and 42l6'to 4152 angstroms. In actual operation, this background appears as a universal darkening throughout much of the wave length region of interest on the photographic plates.
  • the cyanogen band makes this diflicult and consequently prevents the detection of lines caused by small amounts of a given chemical element which produces very light emission lines.
  • the cyanogen band interferes with the detection of small amounts of rubidium.
  • the emission line of rubidium appears at 4202 angstroms.
  • This invention is a new method and apparatus for excit-' ing atoms of a fluid sample which substantially eliminates; the production of unwanted background caused by the interaction of the material of the electrodes with elements contained in the air in the arcing region.
  • our new method and apparatus substantially eliminates the production of the cyanogen band when carbon electrodes are used.
  • the method consists of providing a continuous supply of liquid to each electrode.
  • the sample fluid may be supplied to both electrodes, or in the alternative, to one electrode with distilled water supplied to the other.
  • a voltage is then applied across the electrodes of sufficient magnitude to excite the atoms in the fluid sample to higher energy states.
  • One type of apparatus which is used in carrying out the new method includes a means for placing fluid on both electrodes. Means are provided for producing a voltage across the electrodes (which have fluid thereon) suflicient to excite the atoms in the fluid sample to a higher energy state.
  • the figure shows a first electrode 10 which is supported by an electrode supporting member 12.
  • Electrode 10 may be substantially cylindrical in shape and has a fluid chamber 14 formed therein. Some fluid be the solution to be analyzed or may be distilled water.
  • the electrode 10 may be made of carbon, which is a preferred material. The use of carbon insures excitaton of all of the elements of the fluid sample. Also, the carbon is porous, thus permitting the fluid in chamber 14 v to difiuse through the porous tip 16 of the electrode 10.
  • a fluid container support 18 is positioned below the electrode support 12.
  • a fluid sample container 20 is disposed on container support 18. A portion of the fluid to be analyzed is placed in the fluid container 20.
  • a rotatable disc electrode 22 is mounted in spaced relation below the cylindrical electrode 10.
  • the rotatable disc electrode 22, which is preferably also made of carbon, is disposed so as to dip into the fluid in container 20 and carry some of the fluid into the region between electrodes 10 and 22.
  • Voltage of sufficient magnitude to excite all of the atoms of the fluid is applied across the electrodes 10 and 22 to produce an arc in the arcing region between said electrodes.
  • This is shown schematically by an AC. voltage source 24 having one terminal thereof connected to electrode 10 through line 26, and the other terminal connected to electrode 22 through line 28.
  • An apparatus for use .in exciting the atoms of elements of a liquid sample comprising: a substantially cylindrical electrode having a chamber in which some liquid is contained, said electrode being porous to permit liquid flow toward an end thereof; a container for holding some of the sample liquid; a rotatable disc electrode mounted in spaced relation to the cylindrical electrode and disposed so as to dip into the sample liquid in said container and carry some of the sample liquid into the region between said two electrodes; and means for producing a voltage across the electrodes sufiicient to excite the atoms of the sample liquid in said region to a higher energy state.
  • a method of exciting atoms of elements of a liquid sample by the arcing method using two spaced electrodes comprising the steps of: providing a continuous supply of liquid to one electrode and a continuous supply .of sample liquid to the second electrode; and applying a voltage across the electrodes suflicient to excite the atoms in the sample liquid to higher energy states.
  • a method of exciting atoms of elements of a liquid sample by the arcing method using two spaced electrodes comprising the steps of: providing a continuous supply of distilled water to one electrode and a continuous supply of sample liquid to the second electrode; and applying a voltage across the electrodes sufiicient to excite the atoms in the sample liquid to higher energy states.
  • a method of exciting atoms of elements of a liquid sample by the arcing method using two spaced electrodes comprising the steps of: providing a continuous supply of sample liquid to one electrode and a continuous supply of sample liquid to the second electrode; and applying a voltage across the electrodes sufiicient'to excite the atoms in the sample liquid to higher energy states.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Analysing Materials By The Use Of Radiation (AREA)

Description

M. R. ANNIS ErAl. 2,920,201
APPARATUS FOR EXCITING ATOMS IN FLUIDS Filed Nov. 18, 1957 Jan. 5, 19601 METHOD AND INVENTOR. MAX R. A'NNIS, FRED A. BROOKS JR.
4M4 xTaM ATTORNEY.
United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXCITING ATOMS IN FLUIDS .Max R. Annis, Baytown, and Fred A. Brooks, In, Houston,,Tex., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Jersey Production ResearchCompany, Tulsa, Okla., a corporation of Delaware Application November 18, 1957, Serial No. 696,979 5 Claims. (Cl. 250-495 sparking method.
Atoms can be raised from their normal state to higher energy states by bombarding them with electrons, or by subjecting them to high temperatures in a flame 'or an electric arc, or by allowing them to absorbradiant energy from an external source. A higher than normal energy state is generally referred to as an excited state; When the atoms return to a state of lower energy, radiation is emitted in the form of photons of very definite frequency.
The emission spectrograph is commonly used for the analysis of chemical elements and occasionally for the analysis of certain chemical compounds. The sample atoms and molecules are first excited. Upon returning to normal they emit the characteristic radiations in the form of light rays. These light rays are passed through a lens system, a collumation system, a ditfraction grating, and then usually displayed on a photographic plate. The light rays are recorded on the photographic plate as vertical lines at a position determined by the frequency of the light. The frequency of any line of the emission spectrum is proportional to the difference between the values of the energies of two states of the atom or molecule emitting the radiation; that is,
Where 1 is the frequency of the light, E is the initial energy of the atom or molecule; E is the final energy of the molecular or atom, and h is the Planck constant.
The invention described herein is a new method and apparatus for exciting atoms of a fluid by arcing method. In using the arcing method, a voltage isdeveloped across a pair of electrodes having suflicient energy to excite the atoms of a fluid to be investigated.
A disadvantage of current methods of exciting atoms of a sample by the means of the arcing method is that unwanted background appears and contaminates the photographic plate, thereby interfering'with the detection of the desired light rays. This unwanted background arises from the interaction of the material the electrodes are made of with elements of the air contained in the arc. For example, with carbon electrodes, the carbon of the electrodes and the nitrogen atoms of the air are violently thrown together and frequently combine. In the process of combining and disassociating, the CN molecules give ofi a very large number of bands of light rays that are poorly resolved which give rise to an unwanted background. The unwanted background produced thereby is commonly referred to as the cyanogen bands. These bands may range from 3590 to 3583, 3883 to 3850, and 42l6'to 4152 angstroms. In actual operation, this background appears as a universal darkening throughout much of the wave length region of interest on the photographic plates.
is contained in the chamber 14. This fluid may suitably In attempting to detect the presence and darkness of an individual line representative of a specific chemical element, it is necessary to clearly distinguish this line from the unwanted background. The cyanogen band makes this diflicult and consequently prevents the detection of lines caused by small amounts of a given chemical element which produces very light emission lines. For example, the cyanogen band interferes with the detection of small amounts of rubidium. The emission line of rubidium appears at 4202 angstroms.
This invention is a new method and apparatus for excit-' ing atoms of a fluid sample which substantially eliminates; the production of unwanted background caused by the interaction of the material of the electrodes with elements contained in the air in the arcing region. For example, our new method and apparatus substantially eliminates the production of the cyanogen band when carbon electrodes are used. p
Briefly described, the method consists of providing a continuous supply of liquid to each electrode. The sample fluid may be supplied to both electrodes, or in the alternative, to one electrode with distilled water supplied to the other. A voltage is then applied across the electrodes of sufficient magnitude to excite the atoms in the fluid sample to higher energy states.
One type of apparatus which is used in carrying out the new method includes a means for placing fluid on both electrodes. Means are provided for producing a voltage across the electrodes (which have fluid thereon) suflicient to excite the atoms in the fluid sample to a higher energy state.
A better understanding of the invention, as well as its many advantages, may be had by reference to the detailed description to follow and the single figure which shows a schematic drawing of our new apparatus for carrying out our new method.
The figure shows a first electrode 10 which is supported by an electrode supporting member 12.
Electrode 10 may be substantially cylindrical in shape and has a fluid chamber 14 formed therein. Some fluid be the solution to be analyzed or may be distilled water.
The electrode 10 may be made of carbon, which is a preferred material. The use of carbon insures excitaton of all of the elements of the fluid sample. Also, the carbon is porous, thus permitting the fluid in chamber 14 v to difiuse through the porous tip 16 of the electrode 10.
A fluid container support 18 is positioned below the electrode support 12. A fluid sample container 20 is disposed on container support 18. A portion of the fluid to be analyzed is placed in the fluid container 20.
A rotatable disc electrode 22 is mounted in spaced relation below the cylindrical electrode 10. The rotatable disc electrode 22, which is preferably also made of carbon, is disposed so as to dip into the fluid in container 20 and carry some of the fluid into the region between electrodes 10 and 22.
Voltage of sufficient magnitude to excite all of the atoms of the fluid is applied across the electrodes 10 and 22 to produce an arc in the arcing region between said electrodes. This is shown schematically by an AC. voltage source 24 having one terminal thereof connected to electrode 10 through line 26, and the other terminal connected to electrode 22 through line 28.
By providing means for placing fluid on both ofthe electrodes 10 and 22, the fluid sample is excited without the production of the unwanted association and disassocia- .It is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the foregoing method and apparatus without departing from the scope of the appended claims.
We claim:
1. An apparatus for use .in exciting the atoms of elements of a liquid sample comprising: a substantially cylindrical electrode having a chamber in which some liquid is contained, said electrode being porous to permit liquid flow toward an end thereof; a container for holding some of the sample liquid; a rotatable disc electrode mounted in spaced relation to the cylindrical electrode and disposed so as to dip into the sample liquid in said container and carry some of the sample liquid into the region between said two electrodes; and means for producing a voltage across the electrodes sufiicient to excite the atoms of the sample liquid in said region to a higher energy state.
2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electrodes are made of carbon.
3. A method of exciting atoms of elements of a liquid sample by the arcing method using two spaced electrodes comprising the steps of: providing a continuous supply of liquid to one electrode and a continuous supply .of sample liquid to the second electrode; and applying a voltage across the electrodes suflicient to excite the atoms in the sample liquid to higher energy states.
4. A method of exciting atoms of elements of a liquid sample by the arcing method using two spaced electrodes comprising the steps of: providing a continuous supply of distilled water to one electrode and a continuous supply of sample liquid to the second electrode; and applying a voltage across the electrodes sufiicient to excite the atoms in the sample liquid to higher energy states.
5. A method of exciting atoms of elements of a liquid sample by the arcing method using two spaced electrodes comprising the steps of: providing a continuous supply of sample liquid to one electrode and a continuous supply of sample liquid to the second electrode; and applying a voltage across the electrodes sufiicient'to excite the atoms in the sample liquid to higher energy states.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,344,719 Nusbaum et al. Mar. 21, 1944 2,643,574 Todd Ian. 30, 1953 2,753,479 Aughey et al July 3, 1956 OTHER REFERENCES Catalogue from United Carbon Products Co., Inc..
circa-.March .1955, R0. Box 269, Bay City, Michigan.
US696979A 1957-11-18 1957-11-18 Method and apparatus for exciting atoms in fluids Expired - Lifetime US2920201A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US696979A US2920201A (en) 1957-11-18 1957-11-18 Method and apparatus for exciting atoms in fluids

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US696979A US2920201A (en) 1957-11-18 1957-11-18 Method and apparatus for exciting atoms in fluids

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2920201A true US2920201A (en) 1960-01-05

Family

ID=24799297

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US696979A Expired - Lifetime US2920201A (en) 1957-11-18 1957-11-18 Method and apparatus for exciting atoms in fluids

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US2920201A (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1245175B (en) * 1961-03-31 1967-07-20 Chirana Praha Np Device for feeding flammable liquids to be examined by spectral analysis into a spark or arc discharge
US3736059A (en) * 1971-06-17 1973-05-29 W Schuhknecht Device for spectrochemical analysis of solutions
WO1986001892A1 (en) * 1984-09-18 1986-03-27 Dieter Knapp Process and device for testing liquid medicaments
US5278629A (en) * 1991-07-12 1994-01-11 Biotronics Technologies, Inc. Atomic emission spectrometry
US5408306A (en) * 1992-05-01 1995-04-18 Spectro Incorporated Rotating disk electrode method and apparatus for multi-elemental determination of concentration of particles in used oil
US8559004B1 (en) * 2011-03-29 2013-10-15 Zhou Zhou Method and appratus for emission spectroscopy utilizing a flat plate for sample holding and excitation

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2344719A (en) * 1942-06-04 1944-03-21 Gen Motors Corp Spectrochemical analysis method
US2643574A (en) * 1951-02-14 1953-06-30 Todd Floyd Method and excitation chamber for spectroscopic analyses
US2753479A (en) * 1953-04-08 1956-07-03 Du Pont Spark cell assembly

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2344719A (en) * 1942-06-04 1944-03-21 Gen Motors Corp Spectrochemical analysis method
US2643574A (en) * 1951-02-14 1953-06-30 Todd Floyd Method and excitation chamber for spectroscopic analyses
US2753479A (en) * 1953-04-08 1956-07-03 Du Pont Spark cell assembly

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1245175B (en) * 1961-03-31 1967-07-20 Chirana Praha Np Device for feeding flammable liquids to be examined by spectral analysis into a spark or arc discharge
US3736059A (en) * 1971-06-17 1973-05-29 W Schuhknecht Device for spectrochemical analysis of solutions
WO1986001892A1 (en) * 1984-09-18 1986-03-27 Dieter Knapp Process and device for testing liquid medicaments
US4746213A (en) * 1984-09-18 1988-05-24 Dieter Knapp Process and device for testing liquid medicaments
US5278629A (en) * 1991-07-12 1994-01-11 Biotronics Technologies, Inc. Atomic emission spectrometry
US5408306A (en) * 1992-05-01 1995-04-18 Spectro Incorporated Rotating disk electrode method and apparatus for multi-elemental determination of concentration of particles in used oil
US8559004B1 (en) * 2011-03-29 2013-10-15 Zhou Zhou Method and appratus for emission spectroscopy utilizing a flat plate for sample holding and excitation

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5892364A (en) Trace constituent detection in inert gases
US3612686A (en) Method and apparatus for gas analysis utilizing a direct current discharge
Rhodes et al. Analysis of polyaromatic hydrocarbon mixtures with laser ionization gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
Faulkner et al. Electrogenerated chemiluminescence. I. Mechanism of anthracene chemiluminescence in N, N-dimethylformamide solution
US5095247A (en) Plasma discharge apparatus with temperature sensing
JP2008508511A (en) Ion mobility spectrometer with corona discharge ionization element
Melton et al. Appearance Potentials of Positive and Negative Ions by Mass Spectrometry
US2920201A (en) Method and apparatus for exciting atoms in fluids
Houpt Physical phenomena and analytical applications of helium microwave discharges
Naito et al. Effect of rare gas dilution on CH3 radical density in RF-discharge CH4 plasma
Ivanov Barrier discharge in helium at medium pressures. Afterglow spectroscopy
Parker et al. Electrochemiluminescence of 9, 10-dimethylanthracene in dimethylformamide
US3238367A (en) Device for the analysis of a fluent material by bombarding the same with photoelectrons
US3185845A (en) Method of and apparatus for analyzing chemical compounds
JPH0640072B2 (en) Electrodeless discharge device
Colón et al. Detectors in modern gas chromatography
Patel et al. Design and operation of temperature-controlled multiple element electrodeless discharge lamps for atomic fluorescence spectrometry
Grieman et al. The laser induced fluorescence spectrum of trapped CD+
Skerbele et al. Vibrational Intensities of the A 1Π← X 1Σ+ Transition in Carbon Monoxide
Hood et al. Use of external heavy atom effect to increase sensitivity of measurement in phosphorimetry
US4873862A (en) Ionization detectors for gas chromatography
US3126479A (en) X-ray analyzer system with ionization
US7309864B2 (en) Method for analysing physical and/or chemical properties of the surface layer of a solid body (variants)
Sirkin et al. Multiphoton ionization of nitric oxide in the presence of foreign gases
JPS62217145A (en) Method and device for analyzing gaseous mixture and visible emission spectrum generator therefor