LIQUID IDENTIFICATION USING MAGNETIC PARTICLES HAVING A PRESELECTED CURIE TEMPERATURE

摘要

Methods are disclosed for uniquely identifying liquids so that a particular liquid may be distinguished from other similar liquids. In one embodiment, an identification tag comprising sub-micron size magnetic particles of at least one pre-selected-Curie temperature is introduced into the liquid to be tagged. That liquid is then distinguishable from other similar liquids by its unique identification tag. Identification of a particular liquid, such as crude oil, for example, is then achieved by detecting the presence of the previously introduced identification tag. In the event of an "oil spill," for example, the party liable for the spill can then be readily determined, merely by measuring the Curie temperatures of magnetic particles extracted from a sample of the spilled oil.