TECHNIQUES FOR ACTIVE PASSIVATION

摘要

In one embodiment, active (continuous or intermittent) passivation may be employed to prevent interaction of sticky molecules with interfaces inside of an instrument (e.g., an infrared absorption spectrometer) and thereby improve response time. A passivation species may be continuously or intermittently applied to an inlet of the instrument while a sample gas stream is being applied. The passivation species may have a highly polar functional group that strongly binds to either water or polar groups of the interfaces, and once bound presents a non-polar group to the gas phase in order to prevent further binding of polar molecules. The instrument may be actively used to detect the sticky molecules while the passivation species is being applied.

主权项

1. A method for preventing interaction of sticky molecules with interfaces inside of an instrument, comprising:
applying a sample gas stream including the sticky molecules to an inlet of the instrument; while the sample gas stream is being applied, continuously applying a passivation species to the inlet, the passivation species being a species that includes a polar functional group that binds to either water or polar groups of the interfaces, and once bound presents a non-polar group to prevent further binding of polar molecules; and using the instrument to detect the sticky molecules while the passivation species is being applied to the inlet.