UV Absorption Probe for Dissolved Organic Carbon Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in aqueous samples are costly, require high-temperature combustion, and involve cumbersome, expensive instrumentation, making them unsuitable for real-time, cost-effective measurements in water treatment applications.
Innovation Solution
A compact absorption probe that uses ultraviolet light to measure DOC, comprising a housing with a light reflector and detector, allowing for portable and in-line measurements without the need for high temperatures or sophisticated equipment, utilizing Beer's-Lambert Law for signal processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-temperature combustion and infrared absorption instrumentation are used to measure DOC, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal combustion system with a photochemical oxidation system using UV light. Instead of heating samples to high temperatures for combustion, the invention uses UV irradiation at 254nm to photochemically oxidize organic carbon to CO2, which is then detected. This substitution eliminates the need for complex high-temperature furnaces and sophisticated infrared instrumentation while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from direct infrared detection of combustion products to UV absorption measurement of photochemically generated CO2. By measuring the absorbance of UV light at 254nm through the sample, the system determines DOC concentration without requiring high-temperature combustion infrastructure. This parameter change simplifies the device while preserving analytical accuracy.
2Reliability
If high-temperature combustion is used for DOC determination, then complete oxidation of organic carbon is achieved, but energy consumption and operational cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes photochemical phase transition where UV light energy transforms organic carbon directly into CO2 gas phase through photooxidation. The UV photons at 254nm provide sufficient energy to break chemical bonds and oxidize organic matter without requiring thermal phase transitions associated with high-temperature combustion. This photochemical pathway achieves complete oxidation while consuming significantly less energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes thermal energy input with photochemical energy input. Instead of using thermal combustion to oxidize organic carbon, the system employs UV photochemistry where light energy directly drives the oxidation reaction. This substitution eliminates the need for high-temperature heating while ensuring complete oxidation of organic carbon to CO2, thereby reducing energy consumption.
3Measurement precision
If conventional DOC measurement techniques are used, then accurate measurement is achieved, but sample preparation time and procedural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates preliminary photochemical oxidation action within the measurement cell itself. Rather than requiring separate pre-treatment steps for oxidation, the system performs the oxidation reaction in-situ during the measurement process by irradiating the sample with UV light. This preliminary action integrated into the measurement flow path eliminates time-consuming separate preparation steps while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the oxidation step and the measurement step into a single integrated process. The photochemical oxidation of organic carbon and the UV absorption measurement of generated CO2 occur in the same cell and time frame. This merging of functions eliminates the sequential time loss between separate oxidation and measurement operations, enabling faster total analysis time while preserving analytical 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 real-time, cost-effective, and portable measurement of DOC in water samples, providing accurate results down to low parts per billion ranges, suitable for both hand-held and in-line applications, with a compact design that simplifies sample preparation and reduces operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
photochemically by UV-irradiation, with or without the presence of an oxidizing agent
Implementation Method 2
Carbon dioxide is typically quantified by infrared absorption
Implementation Method 3
a light reflector disposed within said housing... to detect radiated light reflected from said reflector
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments relate to an absorption probe for measuring an amount of dissolved organic carbon in an aqueous sample, the absorption probe comprising:a housing defining an analysis zone for the containment or passage of an aqueous sample;a light reflector disposed within said housing;an ultraviolet light emitting device disposed within said housing and operable to radiate ultraviolet light along an optical path that passes through the aqueous sample to impinge on said reflector; anda light detector disposed within said housing and operable to detect radiated light reflected from said reflector and to output a received signal from said detected reflected light, said received signal indicative of a measure of an amount of dissolved organic carbon in the aqueous sample.