Analyte-Retaining Membrane for Solvent-Free Hydrocarbon Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining hydrocarbon content in water are either time-consuming, labor-intensive, or require the use of solvents that are environmentally hazardous, making them inefficient and unsafe for widespread use.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses an analyte-retaining membrane to capture hydrocarbons from water samples without solvent extraction, allowing for rapid analysis using infrared spectroscopy, which differentiates between Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and Total Oil and Grease (TOG) without separate sample preparation, and is designed to handle real-world particulates and interferents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If liquid-liquid extraction with solvents is used to measure hydrocarbon content, then measurement accuracy is improved, but environmental safety deteriorates and measurement time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful solvent component from the measurement system while retaining the essential liquid-liquid extraction function. It uses a solvent-free extraction approach where hydrocarbons are directly separated from water through phase separation without requiring additional organic solvents, thus eliminating environmental hazards while maintaining measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical extraction mechanism (using solvents) with a physical separation mechanism. It employs direct phase separation and filtration methods that rely on physical properties differences between hydrocarbons and water, substituting chemical interactions with mechanical/physical separation processes to eliminate solvent usage
2Measurement precision
If GC-FID method is used to differentiate TPH from BTEX and Grease, then measurement precision is improved, but measurement time and labor intensity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hydrocarbon measurement into direct physical separation stages that naturally differentiate components based on their physical properties. Instead of using complex GC-FID chromatographic separation, it divides the measurement into sequential filtration and phase separation steps that automatically distinguish TPH, BTEX, and Grease based on solubility and phase behavior
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary separation of hydrocarbon components before measurement through physical filtration and phase separation. This preliminary action pre-differentiates the components based on their physical properties, eliminating the need for time-consuming GC-FID analysis while maintaining component differentiation capability
3Quantity of substance
If solvent-based extraction methods are used, then hydrocarbon recovery is improved, but sample contamination and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the solvent medium from the extraction process while maintaining effective hydrocarbon recovery. It uses direct phase separation where hydrocarbons are extracted from water through density and solubility differences alone, eliminating the need for solvent addition, evaporation, and handling steps
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the sample system to perform its own separation function without external solvent assistance. The hydrocarbons and water naturally separate based on their inherent physical properties (density, solubility, phase), allowing the system to self-differentiate and recover hydrocarbons without requiring complex solvent-based extraction protocols
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides accurate, rapid, and environmentally friendly hydrocarbon analysis with minimal processing time, reducing sample degradation and contamination, and is scalable for automated sampling and analysis, effectively addressing the limitations of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
an analyte-retaining membrane to capture hydrocarbons from water samples
Implementation Method 2
Infrared absorption measurements have been the preferred basis of measurement for over twenty years
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~7
AI summary
An apparatus and method to determine analytes in a fluid. One aspect of the present invention is for the determination of the oil content of water using UV, near-IR, IR or Raman spectroscopy or radiometry. In certain embodiments, a solid membrane material absorbs analytes from fluid brought into contact with it. The membrane is subsequently placed in a FTIR spectrometer, which spectrometer is enabled to determine the concentration of analytes in fluid by calibration. Certain embodiments can determine the type of hydrocarbon present, and thus can differentiate Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) from Total Oil and Grease (TOG), without any separate sample preparation.