FLUID ANALYSIS WITH PARTICULATE REAGENT SUSPENSION

An improvement in the analytical method for determining the presence or concentration of analyte in a solution comprising detecting a dissolved detectable substance in solution with a detecting means, for example, by passing a solution containing a detectable substance through a detection means for determining the presence of concentration of detectable substance in the solution. The improvement comprises mixing the solution with one or more particulate reagents to form a suspension, the particulate reagents 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 means. 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 is an improvement in systems for sample detection comprising a continuous flow sample source such as a process liquid source, carrier liquid-injected sample source sample separator column such as an ion exchange column or chromatographic column, or a capillary zone electrophoresis sample separator. It also includes a detector for detecting dissolved sample species, and connecting means including a flow passageway communicating with the sample source and detector means. The improvement comprises a particulate reagent reservoir for reagent particles having a particle size of less then 2 microns, and flow control means communicating with the particulate reagent reservoir and with the connecting means 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.