US 11,867,681 B2
TOC analyzer and method for moistening a binder in a TOC analyzer
Daniel Schweitzer, Remshalden (DE); Ulrich Kathe, Ludwigsburg (DE); and Michael Ingelmann, Vaihingen/Enz (DE)
Assigned to Endress+Hauser SE+Co. KG, Gerlingen (DE)
Filed by ENDRESS+HAUSER CONDUCTA GMBH+CO. KG, Gerlingen (DE)
Filed on Dec. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/645,158.
Claims priority of application No. 102020134417.1 (DE), filed on Dec. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0196627 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 33/18 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/1846 (2013.01) 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A TOC analyzer for determining a carbon content of a sample, wherein the sample contains at least one analyte and water, the analyzer comprising:
an inlet adapted to convey a carrier gas, wherein the carrier gas is provided as to transport a carbon dioxide gas resulting from oxidation of the sample to an analysis unit;
a processing unit configured to remove carbon dioxide gas from the carrier gas before the oxidation of the sample, wherein the processing unit includes a binder selected for binding the carbon dioxide gas from the carrier gas, wherein a defined water content is provided within the binder, wherein the processing unit is further configured to moisten the binder using water vapor contained in the carrier gas;
a high-temperature furnace configured to vaporize and/or oxidize the sample at a high temperature to form water vapor and carbon dioxide gas;
an injection unit adapted to inject the sample into the high-temperature furnace;
a condensation unit configured to condense the water vapor resulting from the vaporization and/or oxidation of the sample to form a condensate, wherein the condensation unit includes an outlet for the condensate and is connected to a moistening unit;
the moistening unit, which is adapted to moistening the carrier gas using the condensate; and
the analysis unit, which is configured to determine the carbon content of the sample based on the carbon dioxide gas resulting from the oxidation of the sample.