초록 ▼

The process of this invention comprises providing a membrane for separating CO.sub.2 into a first CO.sub.2 sample phase and a second CO.sub.2 analyte phase. CO.sub.2 is then transported through the membrane thereby separating the CO.sub.2 with the membrane into a first CO.sub.2 sample phase and a se

The process of this invention comprises providing a membrane for separating CO.sub.2 into a first CO.sub.2 sample phase and a second CO.sub.2 analyte phase. CO.sub.2 is then transported through the membrane thereby separating the CO.sub.2 with the membrane into a first CO.sub.2 sample phase and a second CO.sub.2 analyte liquid phase including an ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species. Next, the concentration of the ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species in the second CO.sub.2 analyte liquid phase is chemically amplified using a water-soluble chemical reagent which reversibly reacts with undissociated CO.sub.2 to produce conductivity changes therein corresponding to fluctuations in the partial pressure of CO.sub.2 in the first CO.sub.2 sample phase. Finally, the chemically amplified, ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species is introduced to a conductivity measuring instrument. Conductivity changes in the chemically amplified, ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species are detected using the conductivity measuring instrument.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A process for determining the concentration of CO.sub.2 or partial pressure of CO.sub.2 in a seawater or water sample, which comprises:providing a control solution, including an alkanolamine chemical reagent, that absorbs large quantities of CO.sub.2 by a reversible reaction with C

[ We claim:] [1.] A process for determining the concentration of CO.sub.2 or partial pressure of CO.sub.2 in a seawater or water sample, which comprises:providing a control solution, including an alkanolamine chemical reagent, that absorbs large quantities of CO.sub.2 by a reversible reaction with CO.sub.2 producing conductive ionic CO.sub.2 reaction products;providing a membrane contactor having a membrane located therewithin for separating said seawater or water sample and said control solution, said membrane being permeable to CO.sub.2 but impermeable to conductive ionic CO.sub.2 reaction products;measuring the specific conductance of the control solution before exposure to CO.sub.2 ;introducing said seawater or water sample and said control solution into said membrane contactor, the seawater or water sample flowing through the membrane contactor on the opposite side of the membrane from the control solution;transporting CO.sub.2 from said seawater or water sample through the membrane into said control solution;chemically amplifying conductive species in the said control solution through reversible reactions between CO.sub.2 and the chemical reagent which produces said conductive ionic CO.sub.2 reaction products;measuring the specific conductance of the control solution including said conductive ionic CO.sub.2 reaction products; anddetermining partial pressure of CO.sub.2 or CO.sub.2 concentration in the seawater or water sample by comparing the difference between the specific conductance of the control solution including said conductive ionic CO.sub.2 reaction products and the specific conductance of the control solution before exposure to CO.sub.2, and comparing this difference to known partial pressure of CO.sub.2 or CO.sub.2 calibration values.