Abstract: There is provided a method of determining the solubility of a chemical compound containing one or more acidic or basic groups. The method involves preparing a close to saturated solution with solid present of said chemical compound; measuring the pH of the test solution at regular intervals until a consistent rate of pH change; adding a known aliquot of base or acid titrant to the test solution to adjust the pH slope; and repeating steps (b) and (c) until the measured pH slope changes sign. The solubility of the compound is determined as the concentration of unionised compound in solution when the measured pH slope is interpolated to zero.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring a sample having `solid` and `liquid` content using a magnetic field generator and subjecting the sample to a static magnetic field in the first direction to cause the magnetic vectors of nuclei to precess about the first direction. Thereafter, the bulk magnetic vector of the sample is reoriented so as to gain a component in a plane orthogonal to the first direction and monitoring the resultant FID. A pulse sequence is then carried out that causes the spins of the nuclei to rephase and produce echoes from which the solid and liquid components of the sample can be defined.

Abstract: An apparatus for the detection of airborne, low volatility materials, comprising a mobile carrier, preferably made of silica, onto which material to be detected is caused to be deposited. The mobile carrier is arranged to carry the material to the first location where unwanted volatile materials are purged from the trap, then to a second location where the remaining material is caused to be ionized and then to a third location where the ionized material is caused to be lifted off the carrier into an ion collector.