Patent Application
20070041871
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and a portable kit for performing gravimetric titration analyses in a field setting.
2. Background Art
Titration is a well known analytic method for determining the concentration of an unknown solute in a test solution as well as determining the characteristics of a particular fluid (e.g., the acidity of the fluid). Currently, volumetric titration is the predominant technology for analyzing solute/solvent constituents in fluids. Generally, the volumetric titration procedure involves the measured addition of a titrant into a test fluid that contains the unknown concentration of solute. Eventually, enough titrant is added to the test fluid to bring a particular chemical reaction to completion, also known as the reaction's “endpoint.” The endpoint can be determined by observing a change in color of an indicator that has been added to the test fluid. Phenolphthalein is one example of an indicator. The color change can be detected with the naked eye or by an electronic color detector. U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,509 discloses a titration apparatus comprising an optical detector to measure the endpoint.
When the titration reaction reaches its endpoint, the known quantity of expended titrant can be used to calculate the unknown concentration of the solute. In a laboratory, the volumetric titration procedure is carried out with precise instruments, such as a glass burette for measuring the volume of titrant added to the test fluid. In the field, the procedure is carried out with instruments that are much less precise than those used in the laboratory. The reasons for this include the need to carry the titration instruments into the field and the harsh, nonuniform environments typically found in the field that would damage and destroy sensitive laboratory equipment (such as equipment made of glass). Accordingly, practitioners working in the field use titration equipment that is both lightweight and durable. A prime example of such portable instrumentation would be a plastic drop bottle, instead of a glass burette, for adding a titrant to the test fluid.
Basic volumetric titration technologies involve certain drawbacks when performed outside of a laboratory with portable instruments. For instance, the drop-size, which is the basis for a “drop count” utilized to complete titrations, is non-standard and highly variable. Many factors, including the angle at which the bottle is held, the pressure applied to the bottle, and the wall thickness of bottles, tip fouling, tip distortions, titrant surface tension, titrant adhesive forces can vary the volume contained within a drop. Similarly, when the test fluid is poured or placed in a container, a visual reading is ordinarily made regarding the level of the fluid in the container. However, the meniscus at the top of the fluid in the container often creates optical distortion and difficulty in reading the precise volume in question. This can lead to a significant inaccuracy when calculating analyte concentrations. The current inaccuracy of drop-count volumetric titration kits ranges from 5 to 20%.
Gravimetric titrations are inherently more precise and more accurate than volumetric titrations. The advent of highly-precise and consistent digital scales has enabled scientists to achieve higher level accuracy in titration analyses than previously recognized. However, the development of an efficient and portable method and kit for gravimetric titrations in the field has been previously unrecognized and unreported.
An additional problem encountered in field titrations involves the recording of data. In the field, there is a need to hand-record data regarding drop count and fluid volumes. Later, the recorded data is manually entered into a computer for computation of test results. This manual process leads to inefficiencies and potential transcription errors in processing test data. Furthermore, some field titrations must be performed at night or in inadequate lighting, making it even more difficult to accurately record data.
In many instances, such inaccuracy is not acceptable. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved field titration technology that allows for increased accuracy over existing technologies. Additionally, there is a need for a titration technology that allows for rapid, efficient, and accurate transmission of field-titration data. Finally, there is a need for titration technology that is easily implementable in a variety of field settings.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an easily portable kit and method for performing accurate gravimetric titrations in a variety of field settings. Test samples and titrant amounts gravimetrically measured between 0.01 to 0.001 g yield accuracies of 99+%. Such accuracy has previously been exceedingly difficult to achieve in the field. The kit is designed to improve the accuracy of titration readings taken in the field, as well as allow a user to easily obtain readings in a variety of outdoor conditions. The titration kit is preferably comprised of the following: a durable case with built-in leveling mechanism; adjustable legs attached to the case; vibration control pads; radiation protection; a digital weighing device capable of weighing samples with 0.001 g readability; a microprocessor located within said weighing device and programmed to perform certain specific titration calculations; an electronic data storage device installed in said weighing device; dropper bottles with fine tip dispensers; syringe with fine tip dispenser; sample collection and weighing containers; analytical reagent systems; a self-stirring device; a battery-powered light affixed to the case; and a USB port, FireWire port, or wireless communications adapter (e.g., a Wi-Fi card) installed in said weighing device.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a portable gravimetric titration kit containing all necessary apparatus, equipment and reagents to conduct highly precise field titrations with an accuracy equaling that of laboratory titrations. Referring to
Within the case 2, the titration kit 1 includes a digital weighing device 3 to perform precise gravimetric measurements. The weighing device 3 includes a display 4 capable of displaying at least one numerical digit. The weighing device 3 is used to weigh test samples and titrant amounts. Preferably, the weighing device 3 is a handheld weighing device and has a readability of at least 0.001 g. While the weighing device 3 can be any digital weighing device commercially available with at least a 0.01 g readability, the preferred models for the titration kit 1 include the My Weigh iBAL 201® and the Ohaus Scout®. Preferably, the weighing device 3 sits inside a vibration control pad 7. The vibration control pad 7 is shaped to fit inside the case 2. The vibration control pad 7 is preferably made of polyurethane foam, although any industrial strength foam can be used.
In the preferred embodiment, a microprocessor capable of performing calculations, such as the microprocessor disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,757,306, is installed inside the weighing device 3. The readings taken by the weighing device 3 are processed by the microprocessor according to which property the user desires to test. Such properties may include: acidity, alkalinity, carbon dioxide concentration, chlorine levels, dissolved oxygen levels, total hardness, calcium hardness, nitrate concentration, and salinity levels. These properties are calculated by the microprocessor according to stoichiometric equations that are well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art and have been initially programmed into the microprocessor. One example of such an equation calculated by the customized weighing device 3 is as follows:
In the preferred embodiment of the titration kit 1, the weighing device 3 includes a series of function buttons that can be pre-programmed to correspond to particular stoichiometric equations. When the user wishes to determine a certain property of the test sample, he simply pushes the button that activates the customized weighing device 3 to process that calculation and display the result in the weighing device's digital display 4.
Preferably, the results are also stored in a data storage device that is installed inside the weighing device 3. The data storage device can be any device typically used to permanently store electronic data, such as a Flash memory card. In an alternative embodiment, a USB port or RS232 port is attached to the weighing device 3 to allow the transmission of data from the weighing device 3 to a personal computer or other data-receiving device. In a further embodiment of the titration kit 1, a wireless communications adapter, such as the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,873,611, is installed inside the weighing device 3 to allow for wireless transmission of test data.
In the preferred embodiment, the titration kit 1 includes a self-stirring device 6. Preferably, the self-stirring device 6 is located in the case 2 next to the weighing device 3. The self-stirring device 3 can be any commercially available magnetic stirrer, such as the Vernier Stir Station®.
The titration kit 1 includes chemical titrants, indicators, and related chemicals for performing a variety of titrations in the field. The titrants and indicators can be any chemical generally used in the art to perform analytic titrations. Titrant examples include: sodium hydroxide, acetic acid, and hydrochloric acid. Indicator examples include: phenolphthalein, methyl orange and phenol red. Sturdy, plastic sample vials and dropper bottles or dispensing syringes are used to store the titrants and indicators as well as add them to the test fluid. The plastic containers take the place of expensive, fragile volumetric glassware and burettes that can be easily damaged in harsh field environments. Preferably, the titrants, indicators and equipment typically used in the art to perform titrations are stored in a customized drawer 10 located in the front of the case 2. The drawer 10 pulls outwards from the case 2 to allow for easy storage and access to the selected materials required for gravimetric titrations.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/708,811 filed Aug. 16, 2005.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60708811 | Aug 2005 | US |
