US-12616969-B2 - Systems and methods for inline, dual-stage sample dilution

Abstract

Sample preparation systems and methods are described having pump control, valve configurations, and control logic that facilitate automatic, inline preparation dilutions of a sample according to at least two dilution operating modes. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to a first pump configured to drive a carrier fluid; a second pump configured to drive a diluent; and a plurality of selection valves fluidically coupled with the first pump and the second pump, the plurality of selection valves being configured to direct fluid flows from the first pump and the second pump according to at least two modes of operation to provide a single-stage sample dilution according to a first operating mode and to provide a dual-stage sample dilution according to a second operating mode.

Inventors

• Daniel R. Wiederin
• Austin Schultz

Assignees

• ELEMENTAL SCIENTIFIC, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240115

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A method for single-stage and multi-stage dilution of a sample, comprising: introducing, via a pump system, a sample and a diluent to a selection valve system, the selection valve system configured to provide a single-stage sample dilution of a sample according to a first operating mode and to provide a multi-stage sample dilution of the sample according to a second operating mode; mixing the sample and the diluent inline in the selection valve system when the selection valve system in the first operating mode and in the second operating mode to provide a diluted sample; and mixing the diluted sample and the diluent in the selection valve system when the selection valve system is in the second operating mode to provide a further diluted sample.
2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein mixing the diluted sample and the diluent in the selection valve system when the selection valve system is in the second operating mode includes mixing the diluted sample and the diluent in the selection valve system when the selection valve system is in the second operating mode and not when the selection valve system is in the first operating mode.
3. 3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising coupling the selection valve system to a first fluid holding line, the selection valve system having a first fluid flow configuration that fluidically couples the first fluid holding line with a sample source to load the sample into the first fluid holding line, the selection valve system having a second fluid flow configuration that fluidically couples the pump system with the first fluid holding line to drive a carrier fluid through the first fluid holding line.
4. 4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising coupling the selection valve system to a second fluid holding line, the selection valve system having a third fluid flow configuration that directs the diluted sample into the second fluid holding line, the selection valve system having a fourth fluid flow configuration that fluidically couples the pump system with the second fluid holding line to drive the carrier fluid through the second fluid holding line.
5. 5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transferring the diluted sample from the selection valve system to an analysis instrument when the selection valve system in the first operating mode.
6. 6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transferring the further diluted sample from the selection valve system to an analysis instrument when the selection valve system in the second operating mode.
7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pump system includes a pump configured to drive an internal standard, the pump in fluid communication with the selection valve system during each of the first operating mode and the second operating mode.
8. 8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising mixing the internal standard and the diluted sample in the selection valve system with the selection valve system in the first operation mode.
9. 9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising mixing the internal standard and the further diluted sample in the selection valve system with the selection valve system in the second operation mode.
10. 10 . A method for single-stage and multi-stage dilution of a sample, comprising: introducing, via a pump system, a sample and a diluent to a selection valve system, the selection valve system configured to provide a single-stage sample dilution of a sample according to a first operating mode and to provide a multi-stage sample dilution of the sample according to a second operating mode; mixing the sample and the diluent inline in the selection valve system when the selection valve system in the first operating mode to provide a diluted sample; and mixing the diluted sample and the diluent inline in the selection valve system when the selection valve system is in the second operating mode and not when the selection valve system is in the first operating mode to provide a further diluted sample.
11. 11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising coupling the selection valve system to a first fluid holding line, the selection valve system having a first fluid flow configuration that fluidically couples the first fluid holding line with a sample source to load the sample into the first fluid holding line, the selection valve system having a second fluid flow configuration that fluidically couples the pump system with the first fluid holding line to drive a carrier fluid through the first fluid holding line.
12. 12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising coupling the selection valve system to a second fluid holding line, the selection valve system having a third fluid flow configuration that directs the diluted sample into the second fluid holding line, the selection valve system having a fourth fluid flow configuration that fluidically couples the pump system with the second fluid holding line to drive the carrier fluid through the second fluid holding line.
13. 13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising transferring the diluted sample from the selection valve system to an analysis instrument when the selection valve system in the first operating mode.
14. 14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the analysis instrument includes an inductively coupled plasma analysis instrument.
15. 15 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising transferring the further diluted sample from the selection valve system to an analysis instrument when the selection valve system in the second operating mode.
16. 16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the pump system includes a pump configured to drive an internal standard, the pump in fluid communication with the selection valve system during each of the first operating mode and the second operating mode.
17. 17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising mixing the internal standard and the diluted sample in the selection valve system with the selection valve system in the first operation mode.
18. 18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising mixing the internal standard and the further diluted sample in the selection valve system with the selection valve system in the second operation mode.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/678,573, filed Feb. 23, 2022, and titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INLINE, DUAL-STAGE SAMPLE DILUTION,” which in turn is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/094,246, filed Nov. 10, 2020, and titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INLINE, DUAL-STAGE SAMPLE DILUTION,” which in turn is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/709,250, filed Dec. 10, 2019, and titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INLINE, DUAL-STAGE SAMPLE DILUTION,” which in turn is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/119,228, filed Aug. 31, 2018, and titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INLINE, DUAL-STAGE SAMPLE DILUTION,” which in turn claims the benefit of 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/555,323, filed Sep. 7, 2017, and titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INLINE, DUAL-STAGE SAMPLE DILUTION.” U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/555,323 and U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 16/119,228, 16/709,250, 17/094,246, and 17/678,573 are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties. BACKGROUND Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) spectrometry is an analysis technique commonly used for the determination of trace element concentrations and isotope ratios in liquid samples. ICP spectrometry employs electromagnetically generated partially ionized argon plasma which reaches a temperature of approximately 7,000K. When a sample is introduced to the plasma, the high temperature causes sample atoms to become ionized or emit light. Since each chemical element produces a characteristic mass or emission spectrum, measuring the spectra of the emitted mass or light allows the determination of the elemental composition of the original sample. Sample introduction systems may be employed to introduce the liquid samples into the ICP spectrometry instrumentation (e.g., an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP/ICP-MS), an Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer (ICP-AES), or the like) for analysis. For example, a sample introduction system may withdraw an aliquot of a liquid sample from a container and thereafter transport the aliquot to a nebulizer that converts the aliquot into a polydisperse aerosol suitable for ionization in plasma by the ICP spectrometry instrumentation. Prior or during transportation of the aliquot to the nebulizer, the sample aliquot may be mixed with hydride generation reagents and fed into a hydride gas/liquid separator that channels hydride and/or sample gas into the nebulizer. The aerosol generated by the nebulizer is then sorted in a spray chamber to remove the larger aerosol particles. Upon leaving the spray chamber, the aerosol is introduced into the plasma by a plasma torch assembly of the ICP-MS or ICP-AES instruments for analysis. SUMMARY Sample preparation systems and methods for dilution of fluid samples are described, where the samples are diluted inline in single or multi-stage dilution processes to achieve extreme accuracy in high dilution factors (e.g., dilution factors of 10,000 times and greater). A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to a first pump configured to drive a carrier fluid; a second pump configured to drive a diluent; and a plurality of selection valves fluidically coupled with the first pump and the second pump, the plurality of selection valves being configured to direct fluid flows from the first pump and the second pump according to at least two modes of operation to provide a single-stage sample dilution according to a first operating mode and to provide a dual-stage sample dilution according to a second operating mode. This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. DRAWINGS The Detailed Description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. The use of the same reference numbers in different instances in the description and the figures may indicate similar or identical items. FIG. 1 is a schematic of a sample preparation system operating in a first sample dilution mode, in accordance with an embodiment of this disclosure. FIG. 2 is a schematic of a sample preparation system operating in a first stage of a second sample dilution mode, in accordance with an embodiment of this disclosure. FIG. 3 is a schematic of a sample preparation system operating in a second stage of a second sample dilution mode, in accordance with an embodiment of this disclosure. FIG. 4 is a schematic of a control protocol of a sample preparation system, such as the sample preparation system(s) described with reference to FI