Water Foreign Substance Detection via Distillation Spectroscopy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting foreign substances in water, such as endocrine active substances and pollutants, are costly, time-consuming, and require significant personnel and instrument resources, making it difficult to detect leaks or critical contaminations in a timely manner.
Innovation Solution
A method and device utilizing sample preparation by distillation followed by spectroscopic analysis, specifically UV/VIS or fluorescence spectroscopy, with multivariate calibration techniques, to selectively separate and accurately detect foreign substances in water, enabling continuous monitoring with reduced time and resource expenditure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If selective analysis techniques (gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, ICP-MS) are used to detect foreign substances in water, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to high time consumption and personnel requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and measures multiple foreign substances simultaneously using a single spectroscopic measurement approach, rather than analyzing each substance separately through multiple chromatographic or mass spectrometric methods. This extraction of the core measurement function enables parallel detection of multiple pollutants, significantly improving productivity while maintaining measurement precision through the use of multivariate calibration methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The spectroscopic device is designed to detect multiple types of foreign substances (organic compounds, inorganic substances, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, endocrine active substances) using a single universal measurement principle. This multi-functional capability eliminates the need for multiple specialized instruments and methods, thereby improving both productivity and resource efficiency while maintaining accurate detection across different substance classes.
2Productivity
If multiple foreign substances are detected simultaneously using spectroscopic methods, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to interference from water matrix impurities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by conducting a distillation step before spectroscopic measurement to separate and purify the water sample from interfering impurities. This preliminary purification removes humic substances and other matrix components that would otherwise interfere with the spectroscopic detection, thereby maintaining high measurement precision even when detecting multiple foreign substances simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces multivariate calibration methods as an intermediary computational step between the raw spectroscopic signal and the final concentration values. These calibration methods mathematically compensate for remaining interferences and enhance the accuracy of foreign substance quantification, acting as a mediator that preserves measurement precision despite the complexity of simultaneous multi-substance detection.
3Reliability
If continuous monitoring is implemented to detect leaks timely, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to required infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The spectroscopic device is designed to be self-sufficient by integrating all necessary functions (sampling, distillation, spectroscopic measurement, and data evaluation) into a single automated system. The device performs self-calibration and automatic analysis without requiring complex external infrastructure or extensive personnel intervention, thereby achieving reliable continuous monitoring while minimizing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical separation and analysis systems (multiple chromatographs, mass spectrometers requiring extensive sample preparation) with a streamlined spectroscopic system that uses optical fields instead of complex mechanical processes. This substitution simplifies the monitoring infrastructure while maintaining reliable detection capability through the use of light-based spectroscopic methods combined with automated distillation and multivariate analysis.
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
This approach allows for reliable and cost-effective continuous monitoring of foreign substances in water, reducing analysis time to under an hour and enabling the detection of multiple substances with high accuracy, while minimizing personnel and material costs.
Implementation Method 1
sample preparation by distillation followed by spectroscopic analysis, specifically UV/VIS or fluorescence spectroscopy
Implementation Method 2
UV/VIS or fluorescence spectroscopy
Implementation Method 3
UV/VIS or fluorescence spectroscopy
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for detecting foreign substances, particularly harmful substances, in water, particularly in potable water, preferably suitable for implementation with a device according to one of claims 10-15, comprising the steps a) extraction of a sample, b) preparation of the extracted sample, wherein the preparation of the sample comprises an at least partial distillation of the extracted sample, c) analysis of the prepared sample by means of absorption and/or emission spectroscopy, wherein the analysis comprises the following steps: c1) excitation of the prepared sample with light, particularly a laser or a deuterium lamp, having at least one excitation wave length, and c2) recording of at least one absorption and/or emission spectrum of the light transmitted through the sample and/or of the light emitted by the sample by means of a detector, and d) determination of at least one of the foreign substances in the analysed sample on the basis of at least one of the recorded emission and/or absorption spectra. The invention likewise relates to a corresponding device.