On-line deposition monitor

Abstract

Online methods of quantitatively and qualitatively monitoring the biofilm and deposition organic and inorganic contaminants in paper processing equipment provided. Spectroscopic methods, and more specifically attenuated total reflectance techniques are disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of monitoring an aqueous paper process medium for the presence of organic and inorganic contaminants, comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing a paper process water stream to a flow cell containing an internal reflectance element, wherein organic and inorganic contaminants present in said paper process water stream are permitted to be adsorbed onto a surface of said internal reflectance element and wherein said internal reflectance element does not corrode in the presence of the paper process water of said paper process water stream;    b. radiating said internal reflectance element with a beam of infrared radiation;    c. permitting said infrared radiation to contact a portion of said organic and inorganic contaminants which adsorb onto said surface of said internal reflectance element, wherein molecules present in said organic and inorganic contaminants absorb said infrared radiation at particular wavelengths;    d. detecting and measuring transmitted infrared radiation emerging from said internal reflectance element.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said radiating step involves an attenuated total reflectance spectroscopic technique.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said internal reflectance element is zinc selenide.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said paper process water stream flows through said flow cell at a rate which permits said organic and inorganic contaminants to be monitored over extended periods of time.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for monitoring an aqueous paper process medium for the presence of organic and inorganic contaminants, comprising: 
 a. a flow cell containing an internal reflectance element, wherein organic and inorganic contaminants present in a paper process water stream are adsorbed onto a surface of said internal reflectance element and wherein said internal reflectance element does not corrode in the presence of the paper process water of said paper process water stream;    b. an infrared radiation source for providing a beam of infrared radiation to said internal reflectance element;    c. a spectrometer for detecting and measuring transmitted infrared radiation emerging from said internal reflectance element, wherein said infrared radiation contacts a portion of said organic and inorganic contaminants which deposit onto a surface of said internal reflectance element and wherein molecules present in said organic and inorganic contaminants absorb said infrared radiation at particular wavelengths.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising signal processing algorithms for calculating data obtained from said spectrometer and generating process output signals.