Fluid analysis with particulate reagent suspension

Abstract

In an analytical method for determining the presene or concentration of analyte in a solution comprising detecting a dissolved detectable substance in solution by passing a solution containing a detectable substance through a detection device for determining the presence of concentration of detectable substance in the solution, the improvement including mixing the solution with one or more particulate reagents to form a suspension, thereby modifying the solution to yield a concentration of total detectable substance which correlates with the concentration of original analyte, and passing the solution through the detecting device. The particles can be used to replace an analyte with a detectable substance or an intermediate which can be reacted in solution to form a detectable substance. Alternatively, the particles can be used to suppress or remove an interfering substance. The apparatus for sample detection includes a continuous flow sample source such as a process liquid source, carrier liquid-injected sample separator column such as an ion exchange column or chromatographic column, or a capillary zone electrophoresis sample separator. It also includes detector for detecting dissolved sample species, connecting apparatus including a flow pasageway communicating with the sample source and detector, a particulate reagent reservoir for reagant particles having a particle size of less then 2 microns, and a flow control communicating with the reservoir and with the flow passageway for metering particulate reagent flow into the flow passageway. The detector should be capable of detecting dissolved sample species in the presence of a particulate reagent.