Sorbent Sampling for Cargo Container Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for sampling confined spaces, such as shipping containers, face challenges including contamination, tampering, and increased background noise, which can lead to sampling errors and the inability to rapidly determine the composition of analytes within these spaces.
Innovation Solution
The use of a sorbent surface to absorb and analyze analyte molecules within the container, combined with an atmospheric ionizer to ionize these molecules, allowing for their detection using spectroscopy systems, while minimizing contamination and tampering risks through strategic placement of containment tubes and gas-ion separators within the container framework.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional sampling methods are used to determine analyte composition in confined spaces, then sampling can be performed, but contamination and tampering occur leading to sampling errors
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling system performs preliminary actions by inserting the sampling probe and initiating analyte collection before any potential contamination or tampering can occur. The system is pre-configured with containment tubes and sorbent materials that are sealed and activated only when inserted into the confined space, ensuring that the sampling process begins under controlled conditions that prevent contamination from the external environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary sampling system that acts as a barrier between the analyte source and the external environment. The containment tube with sorbent material serves as an intermediary medium that captures analytes within the confined space without requiring direct access to the sample container, thereby preventing tampering and contamination while maintaining sample integrity throughout the analysis process.
2Loss of information
If sampling is performed in confined spaces, then analyte composition can be determined, but background noise increases leading to detection difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling system extracts analytes from the complex confined space environment by using selective sorbent materials that specifically capture target analytes while leaving background interference substances behind. The containment tube design allows for selective extraction of volatile organic compounds and other analytes of interest, separating them from the background noise of the confined space atmosphere, thereby improving detection capability.
3Productivity
If rapid determination of analyte composition is achieved, then monitoring speed increases, but sampling accuracy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary concentration and pre-separation of analytes using sorbent materials within the containment tube before the actual analysis. This preliminary action allows the system to rapidly concentrate analytes from large volumes of gas, enabling fast monitoring without sacrificing accuracy, as the analytes are already concentrated and purified before entering the detection instrument.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sampling procedures with a streamlined system that uses sorbent-based capture and thermal desorption. Instead of requiring manual sample collection, transfer, and preparation, the system automatically captures analytes on sorbent material and then thermally desorbs them directly into the analysis instrument, eliminating time-consuming mechanical steps while maintaining or improving accuracy.
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
Enables rapid and accurate monitoring of container contents, reducing the risk of contamination and tampering, and allowing for the detection of controlled substances before they pose a threat, while maintaining the integrity of the sampling process.
Implementation Method 1
a sorbent surface to sample the atmosphere inside the container
Implementation Method 2
an atmospheric ionizer to ionize analyte molecules present on the sorbent surface
Data Source
AI summary
In various embodiments of the invention, a cargo container can be monitored at appropriate time intervals to determine that no controlled substances have been shipped with the cargo in the container. The monitoring utilizes reactive species produced from an atmospheric analyzer to ionize analyte molecules present in the container which are then analyzed by an appropriate spectroscopy system. In an embodiment of the invention, a sorbent surface can be used to absorb, adsorb or condense analyte molecules within the container whereafter the sorbent surface can be interrogated with the reactive species to generate analyte species characteristic of the contents of the container.