James S Kuwabara

US Patent:

8051727, Nov 8, 2011

Filed:

Apr 22, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/107331

Inventors:

Fred Murphy - San Jose CA, US
James S. Kuwabara - Menlo Park CA, US
Brent R. Topping - San Jose CA, US
Francis Parchaso - San Francisco CA, US
Robert C. Myhre - Hillborough CA, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Interior - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01N 1/10

US Classification:

7386474

Abstract:

A pore-water profiler and method for sampling pore water. The pore-water profiler includes a sample intake probe that receives the fluid to be sampled. A clog-resistant first filter filters the fluid as it enters the sample intake probe. A second filter, which has a pore size less than the pore size of the first filter, filters the fluid a second time before the fluid enters a sample container. A sample triggering system connected to the sample container initiates sampling by causing the fluid to be drawn into the sample intake probe. The profiler provides high-resolution (centimeter-scale) vertical pore-water profiles. The sequential filtration of the pore water avoids the problem of sample-circuit clogging, even in sediments dominated by fine or organic-rich particles. The profiler has all non-metallic, acid-washable components that contact the fluid sample, making the profiler suitable for trace-inorganic studies.