Abstract: A photoionization detector comprising multiple ionization cells for detecting the presence of chemical compounds in multiple fluid samples. The photoionization detector uses a single source of ultraviolet (UV) radiation to emit high energy photons into at least two ionization cells. Each ionization cell comprises at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet. Independent samples of fluid can be introduced into each cell and exposed to the UV radiation such that any molecules with an ionization energy lower that the energy of the photons are ionized. Each ionization cell also comprises a set of at least two electrodes arranged to generate an electric field such that ionized molecules are attracted to the electrode at lower voltage potential resulting in an electrical current.

Abstract: A device for detecting contaminants in returned bottles, particularly in a high-speed bottle line, is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, a sample chamber is rotated on a carousel unit between top and bottom bulkheads. The surfaces of the bulkheads facing the chamber are flat and substantially parallel, and the chamber has two open ends which face the two bulkheads, respectively. A blast of air is directed into the mouth of the bottle to be sampled, forcing the contents of the bottle through an aperture in the lower bulkhead and into the sample chamber. In the preferred embodiment, the analyzer contains a UV absorption analyzer and a photoionization detector. The carousel unit contains four sample chambers which rotate between a sampling station, the two detectors, and a purge station. The analyzer is controlled by a computer which issues a reject instruction to a bottle reject mechanism if the level of contaminants detected by either detector exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a detection system for the detection of gaseous or vaporous ionizable chemical species entrained in air as a carrier gas. The system includes a gas chromatograph column for separating the chemical species to be detected and a photoionization detector designed for use with air as the carrier gas.