Development of a miniature, continuous measurement, stochastic perturbation gas chromatograph
Name
897133668-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
18.76 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
e8e3c3408edb89a25c48714524b040c8
Author(s)
Paster, Eli (Eli Travis)
Advisor(s)
Ian W. Hunter.
Date Issued
2014
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Gas chromatography is one of the most widely used analytical chemistry techniques for separating and analyzing chemical compounds. Chromatographic methods are used to identify constituent species within a compound and determine the purity and relative concentrations of those species. Current gas chromatographs are heavy, bench top instruments that require large capital expenditures, kilowatt power sources, and trained technicians. Additionally, traditional chromatographic measurements are non-continuous. The first part of this thesis explores the application of stochastic system identification techniques applied to chromatography to enable continuous chromatographic measurements, multiplexing of instrument components, and the ability to optimally tune instrumentation parameters and reduce chromatogram noise. The second part of this thesis explores the development of a miniaturized, standalone gas chromatograph. A handheld, low-cost gas chromatograph has been developed over the course of five device generations, through the implementation of localized heating techniques, on-demand gas generation, and the integration of electrical, mechanical, and chemical processes into a compact volume. Characterization of the device shows comparable operating parameters and performance to equivalent bench top instruments at 0.5% total cost and 0.03% total volume. These contributions reduce the barrier-to-entry for performing high quality chemical measurements, and enable more widespread use of chromatography in monitored, closed-loop, remote operation and automated systems.
Description
Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2014.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 150-154).
Subjects
Mechanical Engineering.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
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