Claims
- 1. A method of preparing isotope-containing samples for use in studies utilizing radioactive isotopes, said method comprising the steps of
- a. combusting a sample of material containing the isotope tritium in a combustion chamber to produce combustion products containing tritiated water vapor,
- b. continuously exhausting the tritiated water vapor from said combustion chamber during the combustion of said material,
- c. continuously cooling the exhausted combustion products in a heat exchanger to convert the tritiated water vapor to a liquid during the combustion of said material,
- d. continuously removing said isotope-containing liquid from said heat exchanger during the combustion of said material and transferring said liquid to a sample collection vessel to provide a liquid sample containing the recovered isotope for use in studies utilizing radioactive isotopes,
- e. and purging said combustion chamber and heat exchanger between the
- 2. A method of preparing samples as set forth in claim 1 wherein said exhausting, cooling, and removing steps are continued after completion of the burning of the sample material until substantially all the .sup.3
- 3. A method of preparing samples as set forth in claim 1 which includes the step of flushing said combustion chamber with a fluid subsequent to the burning step so as to sweep any residual combustion products out of said chamber and on through said heat exchanger to achieve substantially complete recovery of the .sup.3 H.sub.2 O while purging the system prior
- 4. A method as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by the step of collecting the liquid removed from said heat exchanger in a sample vial attached to the exit of the heat exchanger and directing inert gas from said heat exchanger into said vial so that any oxygen contained in the vial headspace may be displaced to the atmosphere when the vial is removed
- 5. A method as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by the step of pre-heating the walls of the combustion chamber prior to said burning step so as to maintain said walls above the condensation temperature of the
- 6. A method as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by the step of maintaining said combustion products above the condensation temperature of the vapors contained therein until said combustion products are cooled in
- 7. A method as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by the step of supplying a liquid to the inlet end of said heat exchanger subsequent to the burning step so that said liquid flows through the heat exchanger to
- 8. A method as set forth in claim 7 further characterized in that said
- 9. A method as set forth in claim 7 further characterized in that said
- 10. A method as set forth in claim 7 further characterized in that a liquid scintillator and a liquid solvent are supplied sequentially to the inlet
- 11. A method of preparing isotope-containing samples for use in studies utilizing radioactive isotopes, said method comprising the steps of
- a. combusting a sample of material containing a radioactive isotope in a combustion chamber to produce combustion products containing the radioactive isotope in the form of a gaseous product containing tritiated water vapor, said combustion chamber having side walls extending upwardly and inwardly above said sample of material so as to approximate the shape of the flame of a burning sample to minimize the oxygen-containing atmosphere around the flame,
- b. continuously exhausting said isotope-containing combustion products from said combustion chamber during the combustion of said material,
- c. continuously cooling the exhausted combustion products in a heat exchanger to condense any tritiated water vapor and other vapors contained therein during the combustion of said material,
- d. continuously separating the condensed isotope-containing vapors from the remaining gaseous combustion products during the combustion of said material and transferring the condensed vapors to a sample collection vessel to provide a liquid sample containing the recovered isotope for use in studies utilizing radioactive isotopes,
- e. and purging said combustion chamber and heat exchanger between the
- 12. A method of preparing samples as set forth in claim 11 wherein said exhausting, cooling, and separating steps are continued after completion of the burning of the sample material until substantially all the
- 13. A method of preparing samples as set forth in claim 12 which includes the step of flushing said combustion chamber with a fluid subsequent to the burning step so as to sweep any residual combustion products out of said chamber and on through said heat exchanger to achieve substantially complete recovery of the isotope while purging the system prior to
- 14. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said heat exchanger comprises a tube made of thermally conductive material and forming an elongated fluid passageway designed to provide laminar flow of gases and vapors passing therethrough in the absence of condensation, the cross section of said passageway being sufficiently small in at least one direction transverse to the fluid flow to provide a pulsating fluid pressure at the inlet end of said passageway in the presence of condensation therein, the walls of said passageway being maintained at a temperature at least as low
- 15. A method of preparing isotope-containing samples for use in studies utilizing radioactive isotopes, said method comprising the steps of
- a. combusting a sample of material containing a radioactive isotope in a combustion chamber to produce combustion products containing the radioactive isotope in the form of a gaseous product containing tritiated water vapor,
- b. continuously exhausting said isotope-containing combustion products from said combustion chamber during the combustion of said material,
- c. continuously cooling the exhausted combustion products in a heat exchanger to condense any tritiated water vapor and other vapors contained therein during the combustion of said material, said heat exchanger comprising a tube made of thermally conductive material and forming an elongated fluid passageway designed to provide laminar flow of gases and vapors passing therethrough in the absence of condensation, the cross section of said passageway being sufficiently small in at least one direction transverse to the fluid flow to provide a pulsating fluid pressure at the inlet end of said passageway in the presence of condensation therein, the walls of said passageway being maintained at a temperature at least as low as the condensation temperature of the vapors passing therethrough,
- d. continuously separating the condensed isotope-containing vapors from the remaining gaseous combustion products during the combustion of said material and transferring the condensed vapors to a sample collection vessel to provide a liquid sample containing the recovered isotope for use in studies utilizing radioactive isotopes,
- e. and purging said combustion chamber and heat exchanger between the
- 16. A method of preparing samples as set forth in claim 15 wherein said exhausting, cooling, and separating steps are continued after completion of the burning of the sample material until substantially all the
- 17. A method of preparing samples as set forth in claim 16 which includes the step of flushing said combustion chamber and said heat exchanger with a fluid subsequent to the burning step to achieve substantially complete recovery of the isotope while purging the system prior to combustion of the next sample.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of my copending application Ser. No. 728,939, filed May 14, 1968, and entitled "Method and Apparatus For Processing Fluid Materials, Particularly In the Preparation of Samples for Radioactive Isotope Tracer Studies", now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
"Organic Scintillation Detectors" by E. Schram and R. Lambaert, 1963 Ed., pp. 76, 77, 80-83 and 85, Elsevier Pub. Co., New York. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
728939 |
May 1968 |
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