Automatic Sampling Apparatus for Water Analyte Concentration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring biopolymers and bioparticles in water or wastewater, such as viruses and micropollutants, are inefficient due to high time and personnel requirements, making systematic monitoring and early warning systems impractical for large areas.
Innovation Solution
An automatic sampling apparatus with a pump device, sample containers, and an electronic control system that concentrates and extracts analytes from liquid samples using collection matrices, allowing for partial or complete automation of the sampling and analysis process, enabling efficient transport of reduced sample volumes to laboratories for further analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual sampling and laboratory examination methods are used for detecting analytes in water or wastewater, then measurement precision can be maintained, but time consumption and personnel effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling apparatus performs self-service by automatically concentrating and extracting analytes from sampled liquid directly in the field, eliminating the need for manual laboratory preparation. The system autonomously prepares samples for analysis, reducing both time consumption and personnel involvement while maintaining measurement precision through integrated concentration and extraction functions.
2Measurement precision
If manual laboratory examination methods are used for systematic monitoring of wastewater, then measurement precision is maintained, but productivity decreases due to high time and personnel requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus autonomously performs sampling, concentration, and extraction operations, enabling systematic monitoring of multiple wastewater sources without proportionally increasing personnel requirements. This self-service capability significantly improves productivity by automating the entire sample preparation workflow while maintaining analytical precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary concentration and extraction of analytes directly at the sampling location before transport to the laboratory. This preliminary action reduces the workload at the laboratory stage, enabling faster processing of multiple samples and thereby improving overall monitoring productivity while preserving measurement accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If large volumes of liquid samples are transported to laboratories for analysis, then measurement precision can be ensured, but device complexity and transport requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus extracts only the necessary analytes from large volumes of liquid sample and concentrates them into small-volume preparations suitable for transport. This extraction function reduces transport requirements and simplifies logistics while maintaining measurement precision by providing concentrated analyte samples that require less handling and storage capacity.
4Productivity
If automated sampling and concentration functions are integrated into the apparatus, then productivity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus merges sampling, concentration, and extraction functions into a single integrated device. This combination improves productivity by automating multiple operations sequentially without requiring separate equipment for each function. While integration increases device complexity, it eliminates the need for multiple separate apparatuses and manual transfer steps, ultimately simplifying the overall workflow.
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
Facilitates systematic monitoring of biopolymers and bioparticles across multiple geographical areas, reducing time and personnel effort, and enables the use of automatic analysis systems for early warning systems in water or wastewater networks.
Implementation Method 1
means for concentrating and/or extracting the analyte present in the liquid sample
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic sampling apparatus for taking liquid samples for the qualitative or quantitative determination of at least one analyte contained in the sample liquid includes a sample line that can be fluidically connected to the sampling station, a pump device, at least one sample container that can be fluidically connected to the sample line, and an electronic control system. The electronic control system is configured to fluidically connect the sample line to the sample container such that a fluid flow path extending from the sampling station through the sample line into the sample container is formed. The electronic control system is further configured to transport, using the pump device, a definable volume of the sample liquid, in the form of a liquid sample, along the fluid flow path into the sample container. The sampling apparatus is configured for concentrating or extracting the analyte present in the liquid sample.