Development of a Miniature Laser Capillary SpectrophotometerProbe for Liquid Dispersions

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目是分析和表面化学的主题领域，也是过程仪表的子领域。这项活动的重点是研究建立一种能够测量非均质液体分散体中多元（大小和浓度）液滴分布数据的仪器的可行性。这种类型的仪器作为研究设备和过程监测工具都具有重要的价值。在各种化学、石化、制药、核和冶金过程中，需要这样的装置来获得基本知识并改进液-液接触设备的设计。Phaedron Technologies, Inc.打算在第一阶段的活动中证明，这种微型探针可以用于这些应用，并以适度的成本提供。Phaedron最近在开发和利用激光毛细管分光光度计（LCS）系统获得二元液滴分布数据方面的成功，支持了实现这一目标的可能性。计划中的研究将针对微型LCS探头的设计、制造和测试，以直接引入工艺容器中，以满足各种工艺要求。LCS技术是基于测量脉冲宽度和电信号的高度，这是由于色散在两个平行激光束的路径上被迫通过毛细管而衰减的光造成的。探测器将连接到光纤束上，以传输和接收光信号。在第一阶段，将开发适合的光电电路进行数据采集和必要的数据分析软件，以实现概念设计，并制造和测试该器件。经济竞争力将从控制生产专门定制的特种化学品中获得，因为迄今为止不可能具备监测能力。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in the topical area of analytical and surface chemistry and in the subfield of process instrumentation. Research designed to establish the feasibility of an instrument capable of measuring multivariate (size and concentration) drop distribution data in heterogeneous liquid dispersions is the thrust of this activity. An instrument of this type can have significant value both as a research device and as a process monitoring tool. Such a device is needed to obtain fundamental knowledge and to improve the design of liquid-liquid contact equipment in various chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, nuclear and metallurgical processes. Phaedron Technologies, Inc. intends to demonstrate during this Phase I activity that such a miniature probe can be developed for these applications and made available at modest costs. The likelihood of attaining this goal is supported by Phaedron's recent success in the development and utilization of a Laser Capillary Spectrophotometer (LCS) system to obtain bivariate drop distribution data. The planned research will be directed towards the design, fabrication and testing of a miniature LCS probe for direct introduction into process vessels to meet various process requirements. The LCS technique is based on the measurement of a pulse width and height of an electrical signal due to attenuated light as the dispersion is forced through a capillary across the path of two parallel laser beams. The probe will be connected to optical fiber bundles to transmit and receive light signals. In Phase I, a suitable photoelectric circuit for data acquisition and the necessary software for data analysis will be developed to implement the conceptual design, and the device will be fabricated and tested. Economic competitiveness would accrue from controlled production of specifically tailored specialty chemicals due to monitoring capabilities heretofore not possible.