Optical tracers

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS, 264 Intrusive Probes, 265 Steady State Tracers, 267 Impulse Tracers, 269 Optical Tracers, 274 Chemical Reaction, 276... 

Measurement techniques for the gas phase in CFB risers are becoming increasingly more sophisticated and accurate, and many find application in industrial-size equipment. In this section, we classify the different methods into five categories intrusive probes, steady state tracers, impulse (non-steady state) tracers, chemical reaction, and optical tracers. No single tracer technique is capable of quantifying... 

The NMR pulsed-field-gradient measurements given in Fig. 1 [50] for PAA and MBBA, and similar results for countless other materials [24,42,43] such as n-alkyl-or -alkoxycyanobiphenyls (n-CBs, u-OCBs [43,55], Fig. 2) in the nematic phase always reveal, within the error hmits, a simple Arrhenius-type temperature behavior of both D and with only slightly different activation energies (20-70 kJ mor ), and so one obtains nearly temperature independent anisotropy ratios of 0.5-0.7. The transition to the isotropic phase is discontinuous, but not in the way expected according to (D). Such findings are in remarkable disagreement with many results obtained by radioactive and optical tracer and NMR T, methods (e.g. with optical measurements of 5-CB [56])... 

Cross Correlation. Considerable research has been devoted to correlation techniques where a tracer is not used. In these methods, some characteristic pattern in the flow, either natural or induced, is computer-identified at some point or plane in the flow. It is detected again at a measurable time later at a position slightly downstream. The correlation signal can be electrical, optical, or acoustical. This technique is used commercially to measure paper pulp flow and pneumatically conveyed soHds. 

The detection and determination of traces of cobalt is of concern in such diverse areas as soflds, plants, fertilizers (qv), stainless and other steels for nuclear energy equipment (see Steel), high purity fissile materials (U, Th), refractory metals (Ta, Nb, Mo, and W), and semiconductors (qv). Useful techniques are spectrophotometry, polarography, emission spectrography, flame photometry, x-ray fluorescence, activation analysis, tracers, and mass spectrography, chromatography, and ion exchange (19) (see Analytical TffiTHODS Spectroscopy, optical Trace and residue analysis). 

The cyanine class of dyes is also useful in biological, medical, laser, and electro-optic appHcations. Dyes marketed as Povan [3546-41-6] (5) and Dithiazanine [7187-55-5] (6) are useful anthelmintics, and Indocyanine Green [3599-32-4] (7) is an infrared-absorbing tracer for blood-dilution medical diagnoses. "Stains-AU." is a weU-studied biological stain (8) and Merocyanine 540 s photochemotherapeutic activity is known in some detail (9). Many commercially available red and infrared laser dyes are cyanines (10). 

A Similar aphical presentation of the spatial distribution of a tracer g is or a real contaminant and thereby to some extent the airflow in the studied area is based on the use of computed tomography and optical remote sens-jt]g I2.M beams are sent out horizontally and reflected back to an IR analytical instrument, analyzing the average concentration of the contaminant along the IR beam. By combining data from several measured tines it is possible ro present data in a similar way to Fig. 12.8. Those methods presuppose access ro an expensive and complicated sampling/data processing system. 

Much of the difficulty in demonstrating the mechanism of breakaway in a particular case arises from the thinness of the reaction zone and its location at the metal-oxide interface. Workers must consider (a) whether the oxide is cracked or merely recrystallised (b) whether the oxide now results from direct molecular reaction, or whether a barrier layer remains (c) whether the inception of a side reaction (e.g. 2CO - COj + C)" caused failure or (d) whether a new transport process, chemical transport or volatilisation, has become possible. In developing these mechanisms both arguments and experimental technique require considerable sophistication. As a few examples one may cite the use of density and specific surface-area measurements as routine of porosimetry by a variety of methods of optical microscopy, electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction at reaction temperature of tracer, electric field and stress measurements. Excellent metallographic sectioning is taken for granted in this field of research. 

The operator acquires the target by means of a magnifying optical device. As soon as the missile enters his field of vision after launch, the operator commands it to his line of sight by means of a joy-stick. The signals are transmitted over wires trailed from the missile. Tracer flares are installed on the rear of the missile for visual reference. When installed in a helicopter or ship, the simple sighting device used for land vehicles is replaced by a special stabilized sight... 

Several experimental techniques may be used, such as acid/base titration, electrical conductivity measurement, temperature measurement, or measurement of optical properties such as refractive index, light absorption, and so on. In each case, it is necessary to specify the manner of tracer addition, the position and number of recording stations, the sample volume of the detection system, and the criteria used in locating the end-point. Each of these factors will influence the measured value of mixing time, and therefore care must be exercised in comparing results from different investigations. 

PIV has become the most popular technique to measure velocity and turbulent properties (Figure 15.1). The movement of seed particles in a millimeter-thick laser sheet is measured by correlating two photos taken a few milliseconds apart. With two cameras, it is also possible to obtain a 3D vector of the velocity in that plane. The method gives, in general, very good resolution of the flow, but it requires optical access. Also, measurement close to walls can be problematic due to light reflections that disturb the measurements. One extension of PIV is the micro-PIV that uses fluorescent tracer particles, which allows all direct light, for example, reflections at the walls, to be filtered out [1]. 

While methods employing radiaoactive tracer techniques have become a classical tool for the study of adsorption on electrodes, optical methods for the study of electrodes and processes occurring on them at an atomic or molecular level have undergone enormously rapid progress, which is characteristic for the contemporary development of electrochemistry. 

A fiber optic immunosensor (FOI) has also been reported for detection of PCBs in Aroclors [204]. The quartz fiber surface is coated with PAbs against PCBs and the competitive assay takes place using as fluorescent tracer, an analog of the analyte coupled to 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxybutyrate (TCPB) on the Ab-coated fiber. The LOD achieved is around 10 pg L L... 

Using the same PAbs an optical biosensor system has been developed for 2,4,6-TCP [224]. The principle is the detection of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) in single microdroplets by a homogeneous quenching fluorescence immunoassay (QFIA). The competitive immunoassay occurs in microdroplets (d=58.4 mm) produced by a piezoelectric generator system. A continuous Ar ion laser (488 nm) excites the fluorescent tracer and its fluorescence is detected by a spectrometer attached to a cooled, charge-coupled device (CCD) camera... 

An evanescent wave fiber optic immunosensor has been used for the detection of ricin in river water.(131) A tapered fiber optic waveguide with covalently bound anti-ricin IgG is used in a sandwich format, with tetramethylrhodamine-labeled antibody as tracer. In a two-step format, ricin in the sample is bound to the fiber first, and then the fiber is exposed to the tracer antibody. Sensitivity is 1 ng/ml for the two-step assay. The one-step assay, in which the fiber optic probe contacts the sample and labeled antibody simultaneously is less sensitive, but more convenient. 

Ng and Assirelli have carried out a mixing study in batch stirred vessels with working volumes of 3 L to 20L using a fiber-optic UV-vis monitoring technique. Bromophenol blue sodium salt was used as a non-reactive tracer. The results on traditional Rushton turbines and 45° angled pitched blade turbines showed good agreement with a typical conductivity technique and a correlation proposed in literature. 

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