Oil Concentration Measurement Using Non-Halogenated Solvents
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining oil concentration in water lack precision and accuracy, and often use environmentally harmful halogenated solvents, failing to directly obtain oil mass concentration.
Innovation Solution
A molecular spectrophotometric method using non-halogenated solvents like cyclohexane or kerosene to create calibration solutions, measuring absorbance, and developing a mass calibration curve to directly determine oil concentration in water samples with high precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If halogenated solvents are used for oil extraction and quantification, then measurement precision and accuracy are improved, but environmental harm increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the solvent from halogenated to non-halogenated hydrocarbons. This substitution maintains the extraction and measurement functionality while eliminating the environmental harm associated with halogenated solvents, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and environmental harm.
2Ease of manufacture
If volumetric calibration curves are used, then calibration is simplified, but direct oil mass concentration determination is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the calibration parameter from volumetric fraction to mass concentration. By preparing calibration solutions with known mass concentrations of oil and measuring their absorbance, the method creates a direct relationship between absorbance and oil mass concentration, enabling direct determination without complex conversions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex mathematical models and empirical expressions based on density and activity coefficients with a direct spectrophotometric measurement system. The mass calibration curve directly correlates absorbance with oil mass concentration, eliminating the need for additional calculations involving density or activity coefficients.
3Measurement precision
If biphasic oil-in-water solutions are used for calibration, then calibration can be performed, but handling difficulties reduce measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an organic solvent as an intermediary medium. Instead of working directly with biphasic oil-in-water solutions, the method dissolves oil in an organic solvent to create homogeneous calibration solutions. This intermediary approach simplifies handling while maintaining measurement accuracy, as the organic solvent provides a stable, homogeneous medium for calibration.
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 method achieves highly precise and accurate oil concentration measurements in water, reducing response times and variability, with improved accuracy compared to prior art methods, and uses environmentally friendly solvents.
Implementation Method 1
extracting oil from a sample using toluene
Implementation Method 2
extracting oil from said sample using said organic solvent
Implementation Method 3
measuring absorbance of oil dissolved in said organic solvent
Implementation Method 4
measuring absorbance corresponding to each of said plurality of calibration solutions
Data Source
AI summary
A molecular spectrophotometric method of high precision and accuracy for determining concentration of oil-derived hydrocarbons in water is described. The method allows to obtain direct measurements of oil mass concentration in a water sample and uses environmentally friendly solvents.