Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining the distribution according to size of particles which make up a noncontinuous phase dispersed within a matrix which is not completely soluble in an aqueous solution. The method involves dissolving the matrix containing the particles in an essentially nonaqueous liquid causing the particles to be suspended. The suspension is then eluted through a separating medium which sorts the particles according to size. A detector monitors the effluent from the separating medium and creates a record of the data. This record is then compared to data obtained from known standards in order to estimate the size distribution in the sample.

Abstract: Improved capillary electrophoresis apparatus of the type that generally includes a capillary tube, the capillary tube having a sample inlet end and an outlet end, a first electrode in electrical communication with the inlet end of the capillary tube, a second electrode in electrical communication with the outlet end of the capillary tube and a high voltage power supply in electrical communication with the first and second electrodes. The improvement is to connect a miniature Ion Chromatography membrane suppressor to the outlet end of the capillary tube, to connect a conductivity detector to the membrane suppressor and to place the second electrode in the regenerant compartment of the membrane suppressor.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining the distribution according to size of particles which make up a noncontinuous phase dispersed within a matrix which is not completely soluble in an aqueous solution. The method involves dissolving the matrix containing the particles in an essentially nonaqueous liquid causing the particles to be suspended. The suspension is then eluted through a separating medium which sorts the particles according to size. A detector monitors the effluent from the separating medium and creates a record of the data. This record is then compared to data obtained from known standards in order to estimate the size distribution in the sample.

Abstract: The invention describes a large volume on-column gas chromatographic method for analyzing trace levels of high molecular weight and polar compounds in a sample and an apparatus for performing the method. A column inlet coupled to an analytical column is heated rapidly to concentrate difficult to chromatograph compounds onto the analytical column resulting in an increase in the detectability of the compounds.

Abstract: A sensor and a method for determining the concentration or the partial pressure of oxygen comprising:(a) means for transmitting and collecting light to and from a light modifying medium; and(b) a light modifying medium containing a luminescent dye dispersed in or upon a matrix and the dye is accessible to oxygen, wherein said luminescent dye contains a hexanuclear core of molybdenum, tungsten or mixtures thereof having 14 coordination sites, wherein each coordination site is occupied by a ligand.

Abstract: A method for adhesively bonding a first body to a second body, the first body comprising a metallic substrate, such as a piece of steel, or comprising a metallic substrate and a filler therein, such as ceramic fiber reinforced aluminum, the second body comprising any type of substrate, such as a piece of glass, plastic or metal. The first body is pretreated by placing it in the path of an energy beam, such as a laser beam, to form projections on the metallic substrate by evaporation and/or melting of the metallic substrate of the first body, substantially all of the projections being less than 20 micrometers in height, or to expose filler by evaporation of the metallic substrate of the first body. The second body can be untreated, pretreated as above or pretreated another way, such as by solvent washing or sandblasting. An adhesive is then coated on the pretreated area of the first body and the first body adhered to the second body.

Abstract: A disposable mixing cell and method for evaluating the thermal hazard due to mixing substances includes a first container adapted for the accommodation of a sample of one substance and a second container in the form of a syringe adapted to accommodate a sample of a second substance. The syringe is operable to discharge the second substance into the substance in the first container and includes a paddle by means of which the two substances may be mixed. The syringe is sealed within the first container, except for the outer end of its operating plunger which is accessible externally of the first container. The mixing cell is placed in a batch type fluid calorimeter which is capable of indicating the thermal reaction resulting from the mixing of the two substances. A gas conduit may be provided to conduct gas evolved from the mixing of the two substances outward of the cell.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for on-line coupled liquid chromatography and gas chromatography analysis includes a retention gap which allows injection of a substantial volume of sample-carrying eluent and concentrates bands, obviating adverse effects on the resolution or peak shape of the components of interest. The retention gap is used to simultaneously receive and vaporize liquid solvent in a manner highly suitable for purposes of gas chromatographically separating solutes of interest dispersed in the liquid chromatography solvent.

Abstract: A method for adhesively bonding a first body to a second body, the first body comprising a non-metallic substrate, such as a piece of rubber, or comprising a non-metallic substrate and a filler therein, such as a piece of fiberglass reinforced plastic, the second body comprising any type of substrate, such as a piece of glass, plastic or metal. The first body is pretreated by placing it in the path of an energy beam, such as a laser beam, to form projections on the non-metallic substrate by evaporation of the non-metallic substrate of the first body, or to expose filler by evaporation of the non-metallic substrate of the first body. The second body can be untreated, pretreated as above or pretreated another way, such as by solvent washing or sandblasting. An adhesive is then coated on the pretreated area of the first body and the first body adhered to the second body. The cured adhesive interlocks with the projections and/or the exposed filler to produce a stronger bond.

Abstract: An anion-exchange chromatographic packing composition which comprises:a substrate which consists essentially of particles having cation-exchanging sites at least on their available surfaces, the particles being of a diameter of between about 1 to about 75 microns; anda liquid coating which consists essentially of a hydrophilic, water soluble, film forming resin having anion-exchanging sites which attract available cation-exchanging sites of the substrate, wherein the liquid coating is retained by electrostatic bonds on the available surfaces of the substrate particles. The invention further includes a chromatographic column and process using the described packing composition.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for automatic microbatch reaction including a reactor having a reaction chamber, such as a 1.5 milliliter plastic centrifuge tube having a conical bottom. An automatically actuated injection valve is used to inject less than 1 milliliter of a sample into the reaction chamber. One or more automatically actuated reagent valves are used to introduce respective pressurized reagents into the reaction chamber to process the sample. The volume of the reagent(s) introduced into the reaction chamber is less than 1 milliliter and controlled by the on time of the respective reagent valve. The automatically actuated valves are controlled by a computer based timer. A sensor positioned in the chamber, such as a pH electrode, can be used to analyze the processed sample in place or the processed sample can be analyzed by flowing it from the reaction chamber through a flow-through detector, such as a flow-through spectrophotometer.

Abstract: A liquid chromatographic method and apparatus is disclosed which employs an improved pump not requiring driven pistons or sliding seals. The pump comprises at least one length of tubing forming a chamber disposed between first and second check valves, controllable heating means to periodically heat liquid in said chamber effective to pump relatively low volumes of liquid from the chamber at relatively high pressures, means for measuring the pressure developed by the pump, and control means to increase and decrease the amount of heat imparted to the liquid to maintain the pump operation at a controlled pressure setpoint.

Abstract: A fiber optic probe adapted to be immersed in a fluid medium has an opening at one end in which is accommodated an optical window through which light may be transmitted from and to the optical fibers. Seals between the optical element and the probe body are provided to prevent the leakage of fluid past the window into the probe body. One or more resilient biasing springs constantly apply a yieldable, compressive force on the seals regardless of thermal expansion and contraction of any part of the probe.

Abstract: A method for determining the wavelength accuracy of a variable wavelength liquid chromatography detector in the low UV range comprising filling the cell of the detector with a test solution and varying the indicated wavelength of detection to find the indicated wavelength of maximum absorbance in a wavelength region around a reference wavelength of the test solution and then calculating the difference between the indicated wavelength of maximum absorbance and the reference wavelength to determine the accuracy of the indicated wavelength of the detector. The test solution contains terbium III ions in a solvent such as n-propanol so that the absorbance maximum of the test solution does not shift more than about 0.5 nm for a spectral bandpass ranging from 2 to 6 nm.

Abstract: A method of assembling a door and a door assembly comprising an outer door shell and inner door supporting member therefor. The supporting member is hinged at one end to a door frame. The other end of the supporting member is slidably accommodated in and occupies the outer door shell through an aperture in a lateral edge of the door shell. The supporting member can carry a window glass holder, such as a channel strip screwed to the supporting member, and this combination is called a cartridge assembly.

Abstract: Scientific apparatus and a method are described for observing simultaneously both structural and thermodynamic properties of materials. An X-ray diffractometer and a thermal analyzer and mounted to cooperate and coact on the same sample and to complete a meaningful analysis in a very few minutes. The diffractometer is equipped with a rapid position-sensitive detector connected to a multichannel analyzer to record and display X-ray diffraction data from the sample over an angle of 20.degree. (two theta) or more. The thermal analyzer is preferably a differential scanning calorimeter. By correlating X-ray diffraction and thermal data taken simultaneously while the sample is passing through a range of temperatures and/or environments, structural changes corresponding to thermal events can be identified and elucidated.

Abstract: Packing tube membranes or membrane channels for Ion Chromatography with inert or charged ion exchange beads greatly increases overall suppressor efficiency. The length of membrane required is reduced, e.g. from 20 feet to 5 feet and bandspreading is reduced from 870 .mu.l to 200 .mu.l. This significant increase in efficiency is attributed to the mixing action of the packing on the flow stream which results in convective radial transport much more rapid than the diffusion controlled transport observed in unpacked membranes. The technique is also described for developing more efficient liquid chromatographic post-column reactors for adding reagent to the column effluent to increase detection sensitivity.

Abstract: The invention is the novel combination of liquid chromatographic separation of water from other components of an injected sample followed by electrochemical detection and quantitation of the separated water.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and process for the separation of at least a portion of one liquid phase from a mixture of immiscible liquid phases using two porous membranes spaced from one another. Each membrane is wetted only by the one liquid phase to be separated. The mixed phases are pressurized on one side of the first membrane. The one phase to be separated passes through the first membrane into the space between the membranes and then through the second membrane to form a finished stream. Any phase that does not ideally wet the first or second membranes theoretically does not pass through the membranes. However, any such phase that nevertheless does pass through the first membrane, due to operational variations or membrane aging effects, is removed from a space between the membranes and does not effectively contaminate the finished stream.

Abstract: The overall mass transport efficiency of hollow fiber membrane separation cells is increased by introducing segmented flow into the bores of the fibers. The invention is preferably practiced by dispersing a gas segmentation phase into a continuous liquid phase and feeding the dispersion into the bores of the fibers to form alternating flowing segments of gas and liquid.