AU744898B2

AU744898B2 - Apparatus for the analysis of liquid and gaseous media

Info

Publication number: AU744898B2
Application number: AU52297/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Dieter Binz; Sean Keeping; Albrecht Vogel
Original assignee: ABB Ltd Ireland
Current assignee: ABB Ltd
Priority date: 1996-11-22
Filing date: 1997-11-21
Publication date: 2002-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 2017-11-21
Also published as: WO1998022816A1; AU5229798A; DE19648441A1

Description

WO 98/22816 PCT/GB97/03207 -1- APPARATUS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF LIQUID AND GASEOUS MEDIA The invention relates to apparatus for the analysis of liquid and gaseous media, in particular environmentally sensitive media such as, treated and untreated sewage and river water. The invention particularly relates to such apparatus which is designed to measure a plurality of parameters, such as for example measuring a number of different features of the chemical composition.

Thus for example, in the field of environental waste control, it is usual to monitor water sources for the presence of nitrate, ammonia and phosphates and to monitor the biological oxygen demand.

Devices are already known for determining the biological oxygen demand, in which the oxygen consumption of the water sample is measured. These methods may be subdivided into laboratory methods and on-line measuring methods. The laboratory methods are standardized and described in DIN 38409 Part 51. A typical procedure is a so-called dilution method with which the content of biological degradable substances in the water sample is determined. In the laboratory this test can take five days to complete.

Another technique is based upon use of a fermentation calorimeter, which measures the heat production of metabolic processes. In this method, the heat product of the fermentation material is compensated for by appropriate cooling.

The cooling rate determined is proportional to the metabolic heat produced and hence is also proportional to the metabolic activity of the biomass. However, the cost outlay on apparatus is high, and corresponding devices are too expensive for use as a process measuring device.

Also known are enzyme thermistors which measure the heat which is produced when an immobilized layer of enzymes reacts with an organic substance.

This is measured, for example, by means of two absolute temperature sensors that are located in the feed or discharge lines of the reaction vessel having the I WO 9 h2816 WO 9822816PCT/GB97/03207 -2immobilized enzymes. In so-called "flow systems" using this method, the sample under test flows through an enzyme column and, the temperature is measured determined at the end of the column. An uncoated column is used as reference.

The difference between the signals from the two temperature sensors is a measure of the reaction heat.

Known devices of this type need to operate for a very long time without having to be maintained. However, the need for storage of the bacteria and enzymes which are needed for the analysis causes problems, as these only have a limited lifetime, they have to be renewed frequently. In the cases of known devices, this is not so simple since the biocomponents need to be located in reaction chambers, and these are not easily accessible.

In the case of apparatus for carrying out analyses on bodies of water, such as the treatment tanks, holding tanks and discharge channels of a waste water treatment plant, known apparatus is bulky and is installed adjacent the body of water to be analysed. Apparatus is also known in which the analysis apparatus is designed as a buoy which floats in the body of water. See e.g. W094/25875 S.:andWO94/25876. Such buoys require the necessary reagents to be stored within the buoy and the buoy is provided with means for taking on board samples of water to be analysed, performing the required analyses and transmitting data relating to the analysis results.

In known apparatus, especially of the type designed to float on the body of water to be analysed, problems have been encountered in devising a design which is economical to produce, is robust with a relatively low number of moving parts, can be maintained easily with long intervals between maintenance times and in which replaceable components and stores of reagents can be readily interchanged.

It would be advantageous if at least some embodiments of the present invention provided apparatus for the analysis of liquid and gaseous media which overcomes the above problems and in addition allows simple storage of the reagents necessary for the analysis.

Lt addition apparatus can be designed in accordance with the invention which is compact, with the entire apparatus and its components having very small dimensions.

3 In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus for analysing liquid or gaseous media, said apparatus having a generally planar carrier formation into which is at least partially integrated a component selected from either a pump or a measuring device, wherein said carrier formation also includes a plurality of ports configured for communication with respective fluid containers and wherein a plurality of fluid pathways, formed integrally within said carrier formation, provide fluid flow pathways to or from said ports and wherein said apparatus includes an inlet port coupled to receive a sample of said media whereby said media is conveyed through at least one fluid pathway in said carrier formation.

Preferably said at least partially integrated component is a pump.

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00 Preferably said pump is of generally planar construction.

S.

•0 Preferably said pump is fully integrated within said carrier formation.

S0 Preferably said pump is a piezoelectric pump.

00.

Preferably electric contacts for said pump are provided on an external surface of said carrier formation.

Preferably said at least partially integrated component is a measuring device.

25 Preferably said measuring device is of generally planar construction.

Preferably said measuring device is fully integrated within said carrier •formation.

Preferably said measuring device includes a measuring cell to which medium to be analysed and reagents for carrying out the analysis can be fed via feed lines and wherein said measuring cell is at least partially integrated within said carrier formation.

Preferably a reaction taking place in said measuring cell is monitored by at least one measuring means operating optically, chemically or electrochemically.

4 Preferably the apparatus includes optical measuring means, wherein a recess in said carrier formation into which said measuring device is fitted, is provided with reflective sidewalls.

Preferably the apparatus has at least one component for performing a unit operation selected from fluid transport, reaction between an analysis reagent and the media to be analysed, detection of a reaction product and fluid discharge.

Preferably said component is at least partially integrated into said carrier 1o formation.

Preferably said carrier formation is produced from a material which is mechanically stable, corrosion resistant and reaction free in relation to the media to be analysed and to the analysis reagents.

s Preferably said carrier formation is formed from silicon.

SS S O0S fe Preferably at least one of said ports is configured for fluid connection with a .feed line from a respective fluid container.

Preferably said at least one port is provided with a frangible diaphragm configured to receive a hollow needle from said feed line to provide a flow path between said fluid container and said port.

SeeS 25 Preferably at least one of said ports is provided with a hollow needle configured to pierce a frangible diaphragm provided in a fluid container to provide a flow path between said fluid container and said port.

Sees Preferably said at least one of said ports is configured for fluid connection with an external component for performing a unit operation selected from fluid transport, reagent addition, reaction between reagent and analyte, detection of reaction product and fluid discharge.

Preferably said at least one port is provided with a frangible diaphragm configured to receive a hollow needle from said external component to provide a flow path between said external component and said port.

5 Preferably said at least one port is provided with a hollow needle configured to pierce a frangible diaphragm provided in said external component to provide a flow path between said external component and said port.

The term "generally planar carrier formation" as used herein, refers to a component which may be generally flat or plate like, i.e. it is bounded by one or preferably two generally planar surfaces. The transverse dimension of such a component would generally be substantially greater than its thickness, i.e. the ratio of transverse dimension:thickness would normally be in the range 500:1-10:1, preferably 200:1-10:1, more preferably 100:1-10:1 and most preferably 50:1-10:1.

In terms of absolute dimensions, the maximum transverse of the flat component would normally be in the range 5-50 cm and typically in the range 5-30 cm.

The thickness would primarily depend upon the material from which the flat component was manufactured and would normally be less than 10 cm in thickness, preferably less than 5 cm in thickness and most preferably less than 2 cm in thickness.

The minimum thickness of the flat component would generally be dictated by the S rigidity of the material from which the component was constructed and the requirement for one or more functional components to be at least partly integrated therein. Normally the flat component would be greater than 0.2 cm in thickness and preferably greater than 0.5 cm in thickness.

o• Conveniently, the flat component is formed from a sheet, slab or wafer of a material which has sufficient rigidity to be self-supporting. The material should be 25 chosen to allow the various functional elements of the apparatus according to the invention to be at least partly integrated with the flat component. Thus the functional elements (which include flow components such as bores, measuring cells, reaction chambers and pumps) may be integrated within the flat component itself. Certain of the aforementioned functional elements may be accommodated within flow channels or recesses formed in one or both of the planar surfaces of the flat component, or such channels or recesses may form one or more boundaries or side walls of the functional elements themselves.

In addition to channels and recesses formed in the planar surfaces of the flat component, the flat component may be provided with bores extending through its full thickness. Such bores would, in use, be connected to flow lines connected to other elements of the apparatus according to the invention. Conveniently such bores may be ~~iii~ n.uic~ 4 -6 terminated with suitable connection devices, for example hollow needles arranged to pierce and enter into fluid communication with sealable elements of other parts of the apparatus. Thus, for example, such sealable elements may consist of diaphrams or septumns of other parts of the apparatus adapted to matingly engage with the flat component.

As indicated, the overall size and shape of the flat component will normally be dictated by the size and shape of the remaining parts of the apparatus with which it is designed to interact. Thus to fit within a cylindrical casing, the flat component may, for example, be circular in cross-section.

In a preferred construction, the flat component is in the form of a wafer, and 000 flow conduits for transporting fluid to one or more of said component for performing a unit operation selected from fluid transport, reagent addition, reaction between reagent and analyte, detection of reaction product and fluid discharge are provided in the form of channels in said wafer. The apparatus may be arranged so that a plurality .00 of analysis operations may be performed at separate analysis stations, each of which 0, 0:includes a set of devices for performing unit operations selected from fluid transport, *.00.

reagent addition, reaction between reagent and analyte, detection of reaction product and fluid discharge. Thus a plurality of said reaction stations may be provided at respective spaced locations on a carrier element having at least one substantially :planar surface, and a plurality of said devices for performing unit operations selected from fluid transport, reagent addition, reaction between reagent and analyte, detection of reaction product and fluid discharge are integrated into said carrier element and/or :25 positioned in recesses in said carrier element.

Desirably, a removable cartridge assembly charged with reagents is arranged to be matingly engaged with said substantially planar surface of the carrier element so see: as to enable reagents to be transferred to conduits leading to said devices.

The flat component is preferably produced from a material which is mechanically stable, corrosion-resistant and reaction-free in relation to the medium to be analysed and to the analysis reagents. Examples include silicon, corrosion-resistant metals such as stainless steel and plastics material. Silicon is preferred, because it allows fabrication of the flat component from a silicon wafer using production techniques developed in the semiconductor industry.

WO 98/22816 PCU/GB97/03207 7 The apparatus according to the invention preferably includes at least one measuring cell and at least two pumps combined in a single measuring unit or module. Further, the flat component or module preferably has at least one, and most preferably a plurality of measuring units or modules entirely integrated into the surface thereof.

The or each measuring unit or module is connected to a feed line for the medium to be analysed and the or each measuring unit or module can be fed reagents via respective feed lines. A chamber may be provided to accommodate a filter which is integrated into each feed line, preferably directly downstream of the inlet end. Each feed line may then be connected to a main line that is connected to the measuring cell of the measuring unit. A pump and a flow sensor may be connected downstream of the pump, integrated into each feed line, downstream of the chamber. Further, each feed line and each main line of each measuring unit may be formed by a U-shaped recess in the surface of the component, and a cover plate is arranged on the surface of the flat component by means of which the entire surface is tightly sealed to the outside.

Each measuring unit or module may be equipped with one or more piezoelectric pumps, and flow sensors and the electric contacts of the pumps may be installed on the surface of a cover plate. Each pump and each flow sensor are preferably arranged to be connected individually to and disconnected individually from an associated measuring unit.

Measuring cells may be assigned to respective measuring devices which are operated optically, chemically or electrochemically, to monitor the reactions in the measuring cell. Thus, for example, each measuring cell and the associated measuring device may be arranged directly adjacent to each other in a common recess in the flat component. When an optical measuring device is used, this recess may be provided with reflecting side walls and the cover plate may be of transparent design. Then each optical measuring device may be divided into a light WO 98/22816 PCT/GB97/03207 8 emitting module and a light-receiving module, the first module being installed at the first end and the second unit at the second end of a measuring cell.

Various methods of feeding fluids to the flat component may be adopted, but preferably at least one feed line is provided, one end of which is connected to a bore that passes through the flat component. The bore may then be connected to a line in the form of a hollow needle.

The apparatus according to the invention may be constructed with the flat component adapted to be attached to a component in the form of a container for holding one or more of the following: supply bags and/ar storage containers for reagents, a water treatment system, at least one storage container for a biocomponent, and a reaction chamber having two oxygen sensors, as well as at least one cooling device for the reagents and a heating element for the biocomponent. The container may be partly of double-wall design. The storage containers for the reagents, water treatment system, storage container for a biocomponent, and reaction chamber having two oxygen sensors, as well as at least one cooling device for the reagents and a heating element for the biocomponent, may then be arranged between the lateral outer and inner wall of the container.

A hollow needle may be inserted into each supply bag and/or storage container, through which the medium to be examined can be fed from outside, via a feed line, into the container, and a distributor, may be connected to each bore on the underside of the component, plugged onto the end of the feed line.

Flow lines are preferably provided so that the contents of a measuring cell can be fed to a respective reaction chamber, the contents of which can then be led out of the container via a flow line, and the contents of the other measuring cells can be led into the interior of the container via another respective line. The apparatus may also have connected to each storage container, a flow line onto which one flow line of the flat component can be plugged The medium to be

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9examined can then be led from outside, via a feed line, into the container, the feed line being connected to a distributor chamber that is provided with flow lines to which the flow lines of the flat component are attached. Similarly, the apparatus may be arranged so that the contents of a measuring cell can be fed to a reaction chamber, and the contents of the measuring cells and of the reaction chamber can be led out of the container via flow lines.

In a second aspect the present invention provides a system for analysing liquid or gaseous media, said system including: a casing; a plurality of fluid containers arranged within said container; a generally planar carrier formation into which is at least partially integrated a component selected from either a pump or a measuring device, and wherein said carrier formation also includes a plurality of ports configured for communication with said fluid containers and wherein a plurality of fluid pathways, formed integrally within *:said carrier formation, enable fluid flow to or from said ports at least one additional component for performing unit operations selected from fluid transport, reagent C addition, reaction between reagent and analyte, detection of reaction product and **fluid discharge.

Preferably said casing is of partially double walled design and wherein at least see@ :one of said plurality of containers or said additional component is situated between a *5**lateral outer wall and a lateral inner wall of the casing.

0ee 25 Preferably at least one of said plurality of containers and said at least one 0*0 additional component are connected to respective ones of said plurality of ports on said carrier formation.

Preferably the medium to be analysed is introduced into said system from an external feed line which is connected to at least one of said plurality of ports, said partially integrated component or said at least one additional component.

Preferably the system is for analysing a liquid. Preferably said liquid is a waste liquid.

r~t~Q~ 9a Preferably said waste liquid is analysed to determine its biological oxygen demand.

Preferably said waste liquid is analysed to determine the concentration of phosphates present therein.

Preferably said waste liquid is analysed to determine the concentration of nitrates present therein.

Preferably said waste liquid is analysed to determine the concentration of ammonium present therein.

The invention will be explained in more detail below using schematic drawings, in which: 00 1 Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of apparatus for analyzing liquids in accordance with the 0 invention.

.00. :Fig. 2 shows a top view of the flat component of the apparatus of Fig. 1, 0: Fig. 3 shows a portion of the flat component illustrated in Fig. 2, *.Fig. 4 shows a variant of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1.

The apparatus 1 illustrated in Fig. 1 is essentially formed by a flat component 2 and a container 3 which is open at its upper end. In the case of the exemplary *006 embodiment illustrated here, four measuring units or modules 4 are integrated into the 0 0 *0flat component 2. These measuring units are illustrated only schematically. The flat :25 component 2 is shown in more detail in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 shows a detail of the flat component 2, in which only one of these measuring units 4 is illustrated.

Each measuring unit or module 4 is designed in such a way that each of its *so:.

components can be connected and disconnected as required. For this reason, it is possible to use measuring units or modules 4 of identical construction, so that each measuring unit or module 4 has the same number of pumps and flow sensors. In the case of the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, four measuring units or modules 4 of identical construction are used. They are therefore provided with the same reference symbols. Each measuring unit or module 4 is equipped with a measuring cell 5, to which a maximum of six liquids to be used for the analysis i.e. reagents (not illustrated) and the liquid to be analyzed can be fed. If fewer reagents are required for the analysis, then correspondingly fewer pumps and flow WO 98/22816 PCT/GB97/03207 10 sensors need to be activated by the microprocessor (the function of which will be described below), If required, it is also possible for a greater or less number of measuring units or modules 4 to be used. The number is not restricted to four.

All the measuring units or modules 4 are integrated embedded) into the surface 2S, of the flat component. For this purpose, the surface 2S is provided with recesses (not illustrated) whose dimensions are selected such that all the components of the measuring units 4 have adequate space to be accommodated therein. These recesses may be formed using known etching or milling methods.

These methods are not described in more detail here, since they are well known in the art.

According to the invention, flat component 2 may be produced from a material in the form of a metalloid, a metal, a metal alloy or a plastic. Care should be taken during the selection of the material that this has a very good mechanical stability and does not react with the reagents used for the analysis. In the case of the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the flat component 2 is of disc shaped design and has a diameter of 10 cm. Its thickness depends on the depth of the recesses which have to be constructed for the measuring units 4. In the embodiment shown, it is about 0.8 cm. Since all the components of the measuring units 4 are arranged in recesses, it is possible for a cover plate 2D to be placed onto the surface 2S, as is illustrated in Fig. 2. This plate rests on a flat surface, so that the flat component 2 is sealed tightly at its upper surface. The size of the cover plate 2D is selected so that it covers the surface 2S completely, i.e. as far as the rim of the component 2. The cover plate 2D may be permanently connected to the flat component 2. The cover plate 2D may be produced from an electrically nonconducting material. When optically operating measuring devices are used, a transparent cover plate 2D may be used.

Each measuring unit or module 4 has a measuring cell 5 to which the gaseous or liquid medium 100 to be examined can be fed. The measuring cell has a capacity of about IpL. If required, it can also be designed to be larger or WO 98/22816 PCT/GB97/03207 11 smaller. Each measuring cell 4 is provided with a feed line 10, whose first end opens into a bore 1 OB in the flat component 2, via which bore the medium 100 to be examined can be fed. The feed line 10 is formed by a U-shaped recess (not illustrated) which, just like the abovementioned recesses for the components of the measuring unit 4, is etched or milled into the surface 2S. The bore 10B extends as far as the underside 2U of the component 2.

The bores 1 OB of all the measuring units 4 are connected at the underside 2U of the component 2 to a common distributor 3K. As Fig. 3 shows, a chamber in which for example a filter (not illustrated) can be arranged, is firstly integrated into each feed line 10, directly downstream of the bore 1 OB. In addition, a pump 30 and a flow sensor 40 are incorporated into each feed line downstream of the chamber 20. The second end of each feed line 10 is connected to a main line 50, which opens into the measuring cell 5. In the case of the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the measuring cell 5 can be fed with six liquid reagents (not illustrated) necessary for the analysis, in addition to the medium 100 to be examined. For this purpose, six further feed lines 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 are provided. The first end of each of these feed lines 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 opens in each case into a bore IIB, 12B, 13B, 14B, 15B, 16B. These are all designed like the bore lOB. By appropriate modification of the connections to each measuring cell 5 (not illustrated), further liquids for the analysis reagents) can also be provided. At the underside 2U, all the bores 11 B, 12B, 13B, 14B, 16B are connected to lines 60, which in the case of the exemplary embodiment illustrated here are designed as hollow needles. Each feed line 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 opens on the upper side 2S directly downstream of the bore 11 B, 12B, 13B, 14B, 15B, 16B, firstly into a chamber 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, which contains a filter (not illustrated).

Furthermore, in this case a pump 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and a flow sensor 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 are also integrated into each feed line 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. All the feed lines 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 open into the main line With the aid of the pumps 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, the medium 100 to be s- I~Lr~ H WO 98/22816 PCT/GB97/03207 12 examined, the reagents and/or liquids which are required for the analysis, can be sucked up via the feed lines 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and transported to the measuring cells 5. Flow sensors 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, ensure that the desired amounts of liquid reagents reach the respective measuring cell The pumps 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and the flow sensors 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 are connected via signal lines (not illustrated) to a microprocessor (not illustrated), which controls the pumps 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and the flow sensors 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46. Also stored in this microprocessor is a program through which the analyses are controlled. In the case of the measuring unit 4 illustrated in Fig. 3, each measuring cell 5 is assigned a measuring device operating optically, chemically or electrochemically. Using the measuring devices 5M, the reactions progressing in the measuring cells 5 can be registered.

The optically operating measuring devices 5M comprises two modules 50M and 51M. As Fig. 3 shows, in each case one module 50M, 51M is installed at the first and at the second end of the measuring cell 5 in such a way that light from one module 50M in each case can be radiated into the measuring cell 5. The light which passes through the measuring cell 5 is registered by the second module 51M for the evaluation. The flat component 2 is designed in such a way that one measuring cell 5 and the associated measuring device 5M can be arranged lying directly alongside each other in a common recess (not illustrated).

Recesses which are provided to accommodate a measuring cell 5 having an optically operating measuring device 5M have reflecting side walls (not illustrated).

The measured signals produced by each measuring device 5 are forwarded via a signal line (not illustrated) to the microprocessor (not illustrated) to be stored and evaluated. The electric supply to the pumps 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, flow sensors 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 and the measuring devices SM is carried out via flat lines (not illustrated), which are either laid within the flat component 2 or, to the extent necessary, led over the cover plate 2D.

L- WO 98/228 16 PCT/GB97/03207 13 According to the invention, the measuring units 4 can be equipped with piezoelectric pumps 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 (not illustrated). The electric contacts which are necessary for this are in this case installed on the surface of the cover plate 2D.

In operation of the apparatus 1 according to the invention, the flat component 2 is placed onto the open end 3A of the container 3. In the case of the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the latter is of cylindrical design, since the flat component 2 has a circular cross-section. The outer diameters of the two components 2 and 3 are matched to each other. According to the invention, the two components 2 and 3 may also be provided with different cross-sections.

Arranged within the container 3 are supply bags 3V and/or storage containers for the reagents (not illustrated). With the aid of cooling devices 3F, which are arranged alongs ide the supply bags 3V, the reagents are kept at a predefined temperature. The capacity of the supply bags 3V is dimensioned so as to contain sufficient reagent suffice for about 10,000 measurements. When the reagents are used up, the flat component 2 may be removed from the container 3 and placed onto a new container 3 having filled supply bags 3V. The exchanging of the container 3 is possible in a simple way, since all the connections between the component 2 and the container 3 are merely plugged into one another. This form of connection is enabled by the fact that all the connections of the bores 11 B, 1 28, 13B, 14B, 15B, 16B on the underside of the component 2 are designed as pluggable hollow needles 60, and the bores 1 OB are connected to a common pluggable distributor 3K. During the connection of the two components 2 and 3, a hollow needle 60 is in each case stuck into a supply bag 3V. Each supply bag 3V is closed on the side facing a hollow needle 60 by an elastic covering (not illustrated). This covering can be pierced by any hollow needle 60. The hollow needles 60 are enclosed in a leakproof manner by the coverings. During the connection of the two components 2 and 3, the distributor 3K is plugged onto the end of a feed fine 3Z, which is led from below in a leakproof manner into the container 3. Via this feed line 3Z, the medium 100 to be examined is introduced into the container 3. Via the distributor 3K, the medium 100 to be examined is WO 98/22816 PCT/GB97/03207 14 distributed uniformly to the lines 10 of the measuring units 4, and is fed from there to the measuring cells 5 with the aid of the pumps 30. The outflow 5F of each measuring cell 5 opens into a bore 58 which, at the underside 2U of the component 2, is connected to a line 90. Three of these flow lines90 open into the interior of the container 3. With the aid of the liquid 101 which collects in the container 3, pressure is exerted on the supply bags 3V, so that the latter empty more easily. Should the liquid 101, which flows out of the flow lines90 into the container 3, not be sufficient, then additional liquid can be introduced into the container 3 via the feed line 3Z (not illustrated). The emptying of the supply bags 3V can also be aided using a gas (not illustrated) which, for this purpose, is introduced into the container 3. However, this measure in only possible if the container 3 is closed in a gastight manner by the component 2.

According to the invention, one of the four flow lines 90 may be plugged onto the connecting line 91 L of a reaction chamber 91, which is likewise arranged within the container 3. This reaction chamber 91 is provided in order to determine the biological oxygen demand.

According to the invention, the said chamber 91 may contain a biocomponent in the form of microorganisms or enzymes. Supply bags 92, which are arranged directly alongside the reaction chamber 91, contain buffer solution and/or calibration solution. These can be introduced into the reaction chamber 91 (not illustrated). Pure water, to dilute a liquid to be examined, can likewise be introduced into the reaction chamber 91. The pure water is produced by a water treatment system which is explained in more detail below.

With the aid of a heating element 3H, which is installed alongside the supply bag 92, the biocomponent can be kept at a defined temperature. The reaction chamber 91 has an oxygen sensor 93 connected upstream and an oxygen sensor 94 connected downstream. Also installed in the container 3 is a water treatment system 3W. If the analysis of waste water 100 is carried out using the device according to the invention, then pure water can be produced with the apparatus.

h -S -S~ WO 98/22816 PCT/GB97/03207 15 The pure water is then mixed with the waste water 100 to be examined before it is introduced into the measuring cells 5, in order to lower the concentration of the pollutants contained in the waste water to a value which is suitable for the measurement (not illustrated). Using the apparatus 1 according to the invention, it is possible, for example, to check waste water 100 from a sewerage treatment plant (not illustrated) for its content of ammonium, nitrate and phosphate. At the same time, the biological oxygen demand of the waste water 100 can be determined. For this purpose, the waste water 100 is fed to the four measuring cells Three of the measuring units or modules 4 are provided for the detection of phosphate, nitrate and ammonium. In each measuring unit 4, the detection of in each case one of the three chemical compositions in the form of phosphate, nitrate or ammonium is carried out. The liquid 100 to be examined, in this case the waste water, is therefore precisely mixed on the way into a measuring cell with reagents for the detection of phosphate, nitrate or ammonium (not illustrated).

With the aid of the measuring device 5M, it is established whether a reaction has taken place in the associated measuring cell 5. If this is the case, a measuring signal is output by the measuring device 5M to a microprocessor (not illustrated).

In order to determine the biological oxygen demand, the waste water 100 is led into the measuring cell 5 without the addition of a reagent. For this, the line which is connected to the bore 5B of this measuring cell 5, is plugged into the feed fine 91L of the reaction chamber 91 during the connection of the two components 2 and 3. The waste water 100 then flows from the measuring cell 5 past the oxygen sensor 93, which measures the oxygen content of the waste water 100 and sends its measuring signal to the microprocessor. In the reaction chamber 91, the biologically degradable substances contained in the waste water 100 are converted into heat and biomass, for example by bacteria which are filled from the storage container 92 into the reaction chamber 91 or are already contained therein.

During this procedure, oxygen is consumed. The oxygen proportion in the waste water 100, which is led out of the reaction chamber 91 to the outside via the line I- t- ~-fiiiiiF=ii 5 k SU; WO 98/22816 PCT/GB97/03207 16 is determined with the oxygen sensor 94. In the microprocessor (not illustrated), the amount of biologically degradable substances in the waster water 100 is determined from the measured signals from the two oxygen sensors 93 and 94. If ammonium, nitrate or phosphate are contained in the waste water 100, then an appropriate signal from the microprocessor is passed to an indicating device (not illustrated).

As Fig. 4 shows, the flat component 2 can also be arranged in the interior of a container 3 open on one side. In the case of the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the container 3 has a diameter of 16 cm. Its height is 12 cm. The distance between the lateral outer wall 3A and the lateral inner wall 38 is selected to be sufficiently large that storage containers 3V for reagents can be arranged in the space 3R remaining in between. Furthermore, cooling devices 3F for the reagents are provided. Connected to each storage container 3V is a line 70. The flow lines 70 are led at the bottom of the cylindrical component 3 as far as the underside the component 2, specifically such that the flow lines 60 that are connected at the underside 2U of the component 2 to bores 11 B, 12B, 13B, 14B, 16B can be plugged onto the flow lines 70 when the component 2 is inserted into the cylindrical component 3. Before the insertion of the component 2, the flow lines 70 are closed at their ends by a film or a diaphragm (not illustrated), so that no reagents flow out of the storage containers 3V before the connection to the flow lines60 has been produced. The capacity of the storage containers 3V is dimensioned such that the reagents suffice for about 10,000 measurements.

When the reagents are used up, the flat component 2 is removed from the cylindrical component 3, and inserted into a new component 3, whose storage containers 3V are filled. The exchanging of the component 3 is possible in a simple way, since all the connections between the component 2 and the component 3 are only plugged in.

As Fig. 1 shows, a feed line 3Z is led from below into the component 3. Via the feed line 3Z, the medium 100 to be examined is introduced into a distributor chamber 3K that is arranged underneath the component 2. Instead of using the iX*~ *WO 98/22816 PCT/GB97/03207 17 feed line 3Z, the medium 100 can also be sucked up directly into the distributor chamber 3K via a diaphragm (not illustrated). The distributor chamber 3K has connections 80 onto which the flow lineslOL arranged on the underside 2U of the component 2 can be plugged. From the distributor chamber 3K, the medium 100 can be fed to the measuring cells 5 with the aid of the pumps 30. The outflow of each measuring cell 5 is connected to a bore 52, which is connected on the underside 2U of the component 2 to a line 90 which is led out of the cylindrical component 3. According to the invention, at least one line 90 can be connected to a reaction chamber 91 that is arranged in the space 3R. This reaction chamber 91 is provided in order to determine the biological oxygen demand.

e Biocomponents, for example in the form of bacteria, can be fed to this "*.reaction chamber 91 from a storage container 92. The reaction chamber 91 has ~n oxygen sensor 93 connected upstream and an oxygen sensor 94 connected Sdownstream. Furthermore, the cylindrical component 3 has, also in the case of this exemplary embodiment, a water treatment system 3W. Using this apparatus 1, the same measurements can be carried out and also evaluated as in the case of the apparatus 1 illustrated in Figs. 1-3 and explained in the associated description.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such .reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms a part of the common 'general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

0 *000 1

Claims

1. An apparatus for analysing liquid or gaseous media, said apparatus having a generally planar carrier formation into which is at least partially integrated a component selected from either a pump or a measuring device, wherein said carrier formation also includes a plurality of ports configured for communication with respective fluid containers and wherein a plurality of fluid pathways, formed integrally within said carrier formation, provide fluid flow pathways to or from said ports and wherein said apparatus includes an inlet port coupled to receive a sample of said media whereby said media is conveyed through at least one fluid pathway in said carrier formation. 0e

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least partially integrated component is a pump.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said pump is of generally planar construction.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said pump is fully integrated within said carrier formation.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said pump is a piezoelectric pump. •o 6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein electric contacts for said pump are 25 provided on an external surface of said carrier formation.

7. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said at •-least partially integrated component is a measuring device.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said measuring device is of generally planar construction.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said measuring device is fully integrated within said carrier formation. An apparatus according to any one of claims 7, 8 or 9 wherein said measuring device includes a measuring cell to which medium to be analysed 1 Th- p 19 and reagents for carrying out the analysis can be fed via feed lines and wherein said measuring cell is at least partially integrated within said carrier formation.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein a reaction taking place in said measuring cell is monitored by at least one measuring means operating optically, chemically or electrochemically.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10 including optical measuring means, wherein a recess in said carrier formation into which said measuring device is fitted, is provided with reflective sidewalls. S• 13. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims having at least one component for performing a unit operation selected from fluid transport, 15 reaction between an analysis reagent and the media to be analysed, o• "i detection of a reaction product and fluid discharge. .00.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said component is at least partially integrated into said carrier formation. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said carrier formation is produced from a material which is mechanically stable, .oo corrosion resistant and reaction free in relation to the media to be analysed 00• and to the analysis reagents. 0

16. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said carrier formation is formed from silicon.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said ports is configured for fluid connection with a feed line from a respective fluid container.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said at least one port is provided with a frangible diaphragm configured to receive a hollow needle from said feed line to provide a flow path between said fluid container and said port. ii~ri~in~f~-~r~~- 20

19. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein at least one of said ports is provided with a hollow needle configured to pierce a frangible diaphragm provided in a fluid container to provide a flow path between said fluid container and said port. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said at least one of said ports is configured for fluid connection with an external component for performing a unit operation selected from fluid transport, reagent addition, reaction between reagent and analyte, detection of reaction product and fluid discharge.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said at least one port is provided 00.0with a frangible diaphragm configured to receive a hollow needle from said external component to provide a flow path between said external component and said port. :22. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said at least one port is provided 0 with a hollow needle configured to pierce a frangible diaphragm provided in said external component to provide a flow path between said external component and said port. :23. A system for analysing liquid or gaseous media, said system including: a casing; a plurality of fluid containers arranged within said container; a generally planar carrier formation into which is at least partially integrated a component selected from either a pump or a measuring device, and wherein said carrier formation also includes a plurality of ports configured for communication with said fluid containers and wherein a plurality of fluid pathways, formed integrally within said carrier formation, enable fluid flow to or from said ports at least one additional component for performing unit operations selected from fluid transport, reagent addition, reaction between reagent and analyte, detection of reaction product and fluid discharge.

24. A system according to claim 23 wherein said casing is of partially double walled design and wherein at least one of said plurality of containers or said additional component is situated between a lateral outer wall and a lateral inner wall of the casing. -21 A system according to claim 23 or claim 24 wherein at least one of said plurality of containers and said at least one additional component are connected to respective ones of said plurality of ports on said carrier formation.

26. A system according to any one of claims 23, 24 or 25 wherein the medium to be analysed is introduced into said system from an external feed line which is connected to at least one of said plurality of ports, said partially integrated component or said at least one additional component.

27. A system according to any one of claims 23 to 26 for analysing a liquid. 0O

28. A system according to claim 27 wherein said liquid is a waste liquid. S

29. A system according to claim 28 wherein said waste liquid is analysed to determine its biological oxygen demand. *30. A system according to claim 28 wherein said waste liquid is analysed to determine the concentration of phosphates present therein.

31. A system according to claim 28 wherein said waste liquid is analysed to o• determine the concentration of nitrates present therein. eoe 25 32. A system according to claim 28 wherein said waste liquid is analysed to determine the concentration of ammonium present therein.

33. An apparatus for analysing liquid or gaseous media substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

34. A system for analysing liquid or gaseous media substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 2nd day of January 2002 ABB INSTRUMENTATION LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK C- RA4/