SUMMARY
A method for diluting a sample includes drawing an aliquot of the sample past a mixing junction. The method also includes supplying the sample to the mixing junction and supplying a second fluid to the mixing junction. The second fluid mixes with the sample at the mixing junction to generate a diluted sample. The method further includes supplying the diluted sample from the mixing junction.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
DRAWINGS
The Detailed Description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. The use of the same reference numbers in different instances in the description and the figures may indicate similar or identical items.
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an autosampler assembly, where the autosampler assembly is configured to rinse a sample probe at a rinsing station in accordance with example embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of an autosampler assembly, where the autosampler assembly is configured to insert a sample probe to collect a sample from a sample vial in accordance with example embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of an autosampler assembly, where the autosampler assembly is configured to draw a sample from a sample vial past a mixing junction in accordance with example embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of an autosampler assembly, where the autosampler assembly is configured mix a sample with another fluid at a mixing junction in accordance with example embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of an autosampler assembly, where the autosampler assembly is configured to provide a diluted sample to a sample vial in accordance with example embodiments of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, a system 100 for performing offline mixing is described. The system 100 includes a sampling assembly (e.g., autosampler assembly 102) having a sample probe 104 for collecting samples (e.g., from a sample vial of the autosampler assembly 102). As shown in FIG. 1, the sample probe 104 is rinsed at rinsing station 106. As shown in FIG. 2, the sample probe 104 is inserted into a sample vial 108 to collect a sample 110 from the sample vial 108. As shown in FIG. 3, a volume of the sample 110 (e.g., an aliquot) is drawn into a sample line 112 of the system 100 past a mixing junction (e.g., a tee 114). In embodiments of the disclosure, the aliquot of the sample 110 is drawn into the sample line 112 past the tee 114 by a pump (e.g., a syringe pump 116). As shown in FIG. 4, the sample 110 is then pushed back through the sample line 112 to the tee 114 (e.g., by a carrier fluid 118 pumped by the syringe pump 116). At the tee 114, the sample 110 is mixed with another fluid (e.g., a diluent 120). In embodiments of the disclosure, the diluent 120 is pushed to the tee 114 by a pump (e.g., a syringe pump 122). The diluent 120 is supplied at a flow rate to provide a predetermined amount of the diluent 120 with respect to the volume of the sample 110. In this manner, a predetermined dilution of the sample 110 is provided, and the diluted sample 124 is supplied from the tee 114. As shown in FIG. 5, the diluted sample 124 is then supplied to a sample vial 126 of the autosampler assembly 102 where it is collected. In this manner, offline mixing of the sample 110 is provided by the system 100.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or process operations, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.