Inventors:
James E. Atwater - Eugene OR
James R. Akse - Roseburg OR
Jeffrey DeHart - Yoncalla OR
Assignee:
Umpqua Research Company - Myrtle Creek OR
International Classification:
G01N 3318
Abstract:
The process of this invention comprises providing a membrane for separating CO. sub. 2 into a first CO. sub. 2 sample phase and a second CO. sub. 2 analyte phase. CO. sub. 2 is then transported through the membrane thereby separating the CO. sub. 2 with the membrane into a first CO. sub. 2 sample phase and a second CO. sub. 2 analyte liquid phase including an ionized, conductive, dissociated CO. sub. 2 species. Next, the concentration of the ionized, conductive, dissociated CO. sub. 2 species in the second CO. sub. 2 analyte liquid phase is chemically amplified using a water-soluble chemical reagent which reversibly reacts with undissociated CO. sub. 2 to produce conductivity changes therein corresponding to fluctuations in the partial pressure of CO. sub. 2 in the first CO. sub. 2 sample phase.