Device and method for diluting a sample

摘要

The present invention provides a pump device 50 which is usable to dilute a sample 52 before analysis. A first pump 54 pumps the sample to a mixing region 58 where it mixes with a diluent 66. A second pump 64 pumps the diluted sample to the analysis instrument. The flow of the diluent to the mixer is equal to the difference of the flow of the sample to the mixer and the flow of the diluted sample to the instrument. Pumps 54 and 64 are independently controllable by a controller unit which is arranged so that data from the instrument can be used to determine the dilution factor of the sample. Thus, the controller can control this dilution factor in real time, upon receipt of such data from the instrument, by change either one of (or both) the pump's flow rate.

主权项

1. A method of diluting a sample for performing trace element spectrometry analysis of the sample, the sample comprising one or more trace elements and matrix, the method comprising the steps of:
a) diluting a portion of the sample by a dilution factor; b) analyzing the diluted portion of the sample to determine a matrix level in the diluted portion of the sample; and c) adjusting the dilution factor to be used when diluting the remainder of the sample based on a comparison between the determined matrix level and a pre-determined matrix level.