Abstract: The invention encompasses systems for column-based separations, methods of packing and unpacking columns and methods of separating components of samples. In one aspect, the invention includes a method of packing and unpacking a column chamber, comprising: a) packing a matrix material within a column chamber to form a packed column; and b) after the packing, unpacking the matrix material from the column chamber without moving the column chamber.

Abstract: An improved photoacoustic vessel and method of photoacoustic analysis. The photoacoustic sample vessel comprises an acoustic detector, an acoustic couplant, and an acoustic coupler having a chamber for holding the acoustic couplant and a sample. The acoustic couplant is selected from the group consisting of liquid, solid, and combinations thereof. Passing electromagnetic energy through the sample generates an acoustic signal within the sample, whereby the acoustic signal propagates through the sample to and through the acoustic couplant to the acoustic detector.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for altering a carbon-containing compound in an aqueous mixture. According to a first aspect of the present invention, it has been discovered that for an aqueous mixture having a carbon containing compound with an ozone reaction rate less than the ozone reaction rate of pentachlorophenol, use of corona discharge in a low or non-oxidizing atmosphere increases the rate of destruction of the carbon containing compound compared to corona discharge an oxidizing atmosphere. For an aqueous mixture containing pentachlorphenol, there was essentially no difference in destruction between atmospheres. According to a second aspect of the present invention, it has been further discovered that an aqueous mixture having a carbon-containing compound in the presence of a catalyst and oxygen resulted in an increased destruction rate of the carbon containing compound compared to no catalyst.

Abstract: The composite material and methods of making the present invention rely upon a fully dense monolayer of molecules attached to an oxygenated surface at one end, and an organic terminal group at the other end, which is in turn bonded to a polymer. Thus, the composite material is a second material chemically bonded to a polymer with fully dense monolayer there between.

Abstract: The invention encompasses systems for column-based separations, methods of packing and unpacking columns and methods of separating components of samples. In one aspect, the invention includes a system for column-based separations, comprising: a) a fluid passageway, the fluid passageway comprising a column chamber and a flow path in fluid communication with the column chamber, the flow path being obstructed by a retaining material permeable to a carrier fluid and impermeable to a column matrix material suspended in the carrier fluid, the flow path extending through the column chamber and through the retaining material, the flow path being configured to form a packed column within the column chamber when a suspension of the fluid and the column matrix material is flowed along the flow path; and b) the fluid passageway extending through a valve intermediate the column chamber and the retaining material.

Abstract: A method for improving the calibration of a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer wherein the frequency spectrum of a sample has been measured and the frequency (f) and intensity (I) of at least three species having known mass to charge (m/z) ratios and one specie having an unknown (m/z) ratio have been identified.

Abstract: A jet disturber used in combination with an ion funnel to focus ions and other charged particles generated at or near atmospheric pressure into a relatively low pressure region, which allows increased conductance of the ions and other charged particles. The jet disturber is positioned within an ion funnel and may be interfaced with a multi-capillary inlet juxtaposed between an ion source and the interior of an instrument maintained at near atmospheric pressure. The invention finds particular advantages when deployed to improve the ion transmission between an electrospray ionization source and the first vacuum stage of a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A method for destroying carbon carryover created in high temperature plasma waste treatment systems whereby the carbon carryover is mixed with a wetting agent and returned to the high temperature plasma waste treatment system for further processing. The method may further utilize the carbon carryover to first capture the hydrocarbons produced in a high temperature plasma waste treatment system, and then feed the thus captured hydrocarbons back into the high temperature processing system to be converted into useful products together with the carbon carryover.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively removing oxygen from a gas stream containing NOx and oxygen by contacting the gas stream with an electrochemical cell made from an electrode consisting of La1-XMXFeO3, (where M is selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ba, Ca, and combinations thereof, and X is between 0.05 and 0.5), a solid oxide electrolyte and a counter electrode, wherein the La1-XMXFeO3 electrode is on one side of a solid oxide electrolyte, and a counter electrode is on the opposite side of the solid oxide electrolyte, and applying a voltage to the electrochemical cell. The apparatus is preferably employed in a two chambered NOx sensor utilizing solid electrolyte electrochemical cells, wherein an electrochemical cell capable of catalyzing oxygen reduction without catalyzing NOx decomposition is formed as integral to the first chamber.

Abstract: The invention is a secure container for the transport and storage of materials that can alert the user as to the location and condition of materials, as well as container status. This provides cargo and access information that is critical in high-value or controlled shipments. The container uses a wound fiber-optic layer embedded in a covering. A transmitted light signal is sent through the fiber-optic layer to a receiver. Any change in the light signal causes an alarm or indication. The container also gives real time read outs, remotely or locally, as to the conditions of the contents and the container itself.

Abstract: A method whereby a mass spectra generated by a mass spectrometer is calibrated by shifting the parameters used by the spectrometer to assign masses to the spectra in a manner which reconciles the signal of ions within the spectra having equal mass but differing charge states, or by reconciling ions having known differences in mass to relative values consistent with those known differences. In this manner, the mass spectrometer is calibrated without the need for standards while allowing the generation of a highly accurate mass spectra by the instrument.

Abstract: Disclosed is a is an improved flood source, and method of making the same, which emits an evenly distributed flow of energy from a gamma emitting radionuclide dispersed throughout the volume of the flood source. The flood source is formed by filling a bottom pan with a mix of epoxy resin with cobalt-57, preferably at 10 to 20 millicuries and then adding a hardener. The pan is secured to a flat, level surface to prevent the pan from warping and to act as a heat sink for removal of heat from the pan during the curing of the resin-hardener mixture.

Abstract: The present invention includes a catalyst having (a) a non-metallic support having a plurality of pores; (b) a metal heteropoly acid salt that is insoluble in a polar solvent on the non-metallic support; wherein at least a portion of the metal heteropoly acid salt is dispersed within said plurality of pores. The present invention also includes a method of depositing a metal heteropoly acid salt that is insoluble in a polar solvent onto a non-metallic support having a plurality of pores.

Abstract: A method for processing lanthanum oxide solids in an aqueous solution. An aqueous solution containing a partially soluble or insoluble salt forming anion is provided. A soluble lanthanum oxide solid is then added to the solution, and the anion is then reacted with at least a portion of the lanthanum in the lanthanum oxide solid, thereby forming a partially soluble or insoluble salt coating around the lanthanum oxide solid.

Abstract: An improved inlet tube is positioned within an aperture through the device to allow the passage of ions from the ion source, through the improved inlet tube, and into the interior of the device. The inlet tube is designed with a larger end and a smaller end wherein the larger end has a larger interior diameter than the interior diameter of the smaller end. The inlet tube is positioned within the aperture such that the larger end is pointed towards the ion source, to receive ions therefrom, and the smaller end is directed towards the interior of the device, to deliver the ions thereto. Preferably, the ion source utilized in the operation of the present invention is a standard electrospray ionization source. Similarly, the present invention finds particular utility in conjunction with analytical devices such as mass spectrometers.

Abstract: The present invention is a glass-ceramic material and method of making useful for joining at least two solid ceramic parts. The seal is a blend of MAO—MBOy—SiO2 that substantially matches a coefficient of thermal expansion of the solid electrolyte. According to the present invention, a series of glass ceramics in the MAO—MBOy—SiO2 system can be used to join or seal both tubular and planar ceramic solid oxide fuel cells, oxygen electrolyzers, and membrane reactors for the production of syngas, commodity chemicals and other products.

Abstract: The present invention is a process wherein sulfide production by bacteria is efficiently turned on and off, using pH adjustment. The adjustment of pH impacts sulfide production by bacteria by altering the relative amounts of H2S and HS— in solution and thereby control the inhibition of the bacterial metabolism that produces sulfide. This process can be used to make a bioreactor produce sulfide “on-demand” so that the production of sulfide can be matched to its use as a metal precipitation reagent. The present invention is of significance because it enables the use of a biological reactor, a cost effective sulfide production system, by making the biological reactor produce hydrogen sulfide “on demand”, and therefore responsive to production schedules, waste stream generation rate, and health and safety requirements/goals.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding containers of feed material into a process chamber is disclosed. The apparatus is designed to maintain the atmosphere within the process chamber as separate from the atmosphere surrounding the process chamber. The apparatus has a feeder housing having at least two internal seals, which form an airtight seal about the feeding canisters as the canisters are passed through the seals. The seals are separated by a distance less than the length of the container.

Abstract: A method for automatically partitioning an unstructured electronically formatted natural language document into its sub-topic structure. Specifically, the document is converted to an electronic signal and a wavelet transform is then performed on the signal. The resultant signal may then be used to graphically display and interact with the sub-topic structure of the document.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding electrodes into a process chamber is disclosed. The apparatus is designed to maintain the atmosphere within the process chamber as separate from the atmosphere surrounding the process chamber. The apparatus has an air-tight tube having at least two internal sealing mechanisms, an outer sealing mechanism and an inner sealing mechanism, sealing mechanisms separated by an expandable section of the tube; penetration in the tube for the introduction of a purge gas in between the inner and outer sealing mechanisms; and an electrical contact for transmitting electrical power to the electrode.