Abstract: A method for estimating the inclusion content of a metal, the method involving three steps. The first step is to section the metal to create an exposed inner surface of the metal. The second step is to measure the reflectance of the exposed inner surface of the metal. The third step is to estimate the inclusion content of the metal from the reflectance. When a physical property of the metal, such as tensile strength, elongation or impact strength, is related to the inclusion content of the metal, then the physical property can be estimated from the reflectance of the exposed inner surface of the metal.

Abstract: This invention relates to a self-regulated apparatus and method for extracting biodegradable and/or strippable constituents from a gaseous stream by the action of biomass which consumes or degrades such substances. Such self-regulation permits the monitoring and optimization of the bioactivity of the system and the overall degree of treatment of the gaseous stream.

Abstract: A process for preparing a cellulose ester liquid chromatographic stationary phase by reacting cellulose with an aromatic acid halide, such as p-toluoyl chloride, in the presence of a base catalyst, such as pyridine, the reaction temperature and the concentration of base catalyst being below the temperature and concentration at which the cellulose ester dissolves, the reaction time being less than the reaction time at which the cellulose ester dissolves. Similarly, a process for preparing a cellulose carbamate liquid chromatographic stationary phase by reacting cellulose with an aromatic isocyanate, such as 3,5-dimethyl phenyl isocyanate, in the presence of a base catalyst, such as pyridine, the reaction temperature and the concentration of base catalyst being below the temperature and concentration at which the cellulose carbamate dissolves, the reaction time being less than the reaction time at which the cellulose carbamate dissolves.

Abstract: Adding at least one biotransformation enhancing agent selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, glycerol, glutamate, a mixture of proteose peptone, beef extract, yeast extract, malt extract, dextrose and ascorbic acid and, and mixtures thereof to halogenated hydrocarbon contaminated soil and/or water.

Abstract: A method for the automated preparation of a standard solution containing at least two solutes wherein the user of the method adds the solutes to a container according to the respective target weights of the solutes. The ratio between the actual weight of the first solute added and the target weight of the first solute is used to update the target weight of the second solute so that the concentration of the second solute in the standard is closer to its desired concentration.

Abstract: Apparatus for interfacing a liquid chromatograph (LC) with a spectrometer such as a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, the LC having an eluant, the eluant containing a solvent and a component of interest. The apparatus includes five basic parts. The first is a means for generating a stream of droplets of the eluant, such as a nebulizer. The second is a means for removing most of the solvent from the stream of droplets of the eluant to thereby generate a stream of particles, the particles containing the component of interest and any residual solvent, such as a membrane solvent separator/momentum separator combination. The third is a cryogenic receiving surface, such as a gold drum.

Abstract: This invention relates to a self-regulated apparatus and method for extracting biodegradable and/or strippable constituents from a fluid stream by the action of biomass which consumes or degrades such substances or by gas stripping. Such self-regulation permits the monitoring and optimization of the bioactivity of the system and the overall degree of treatment of the fluid stream.

Abstract: An electrochromic device comprising three elements. The first element is a first electrode. The second element is a second electrode. The second electrode is spaced apart from the first electrode so that there is a space between the first electrode and the second electrode. The third element is a dispersion positioned in the space. The dispersion is in electrical contact with the first electrode and with the second electrode. The dispersion comprises a polyoxometalate such as H.sub.3 PW.sub.12 O.sub.40, a counter electrode couple such as ferrocene and a solvent selected from the group consisting of propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, nitriles, cyanoethyl ether, water, dimethylsulfoxide, nitromethane, nitrobenzene, acetic acid, dimethoxy benzene, toluene, tetramethylene sulfone, 3-methyl sulfolane, 2-methyl glutaronitrile, cyanoethyl ether, gamma butyrolactone, gamma valerolactone and acetone. The dispersion is resistant to photodegradation such as discoloring in sunlight.

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: An improved multilayer electrochromic device, the improvement being to the electrochromic layer which necessarily must include an anion exchanging polymer having a polyoxometallate electrochromic counter ion. An example is the use of PW.sub.12 O.sub.40.sup.3- as the polyoxometallate electrochromic counter ion of an anion exchanging polymer of 90% quaternized 4-vinylpyridine and 10% styrene. Another example is the use of H.sub.2 W.sub.12 O.sub.40.sup.6- as the polyoxometallate electrochromic counter ion of an anion exchanging polymer of 90% protonated 4-vinylpyridine and 10% styrene.

Abstract: Apparatus for stop flow membrane probe analysis which apparatus is especially suitable for on-line analysis, the apparatus necessarily including five parts. The first part is a reservoir for containing an extractant. The second part is a flow control unit, being a pump or valve, the flow control unit connected to the reservoir, the flow control unit being of the type that can be turned on and off. The third part is a flow through membrane probe, the flow through membrane probe being connected to the flow control unit. The fourth part is a detector, the detector being connected to the flow through membrane probe. The fifth part is a switch for turning the flow control unit on and off so that the apparatus can be used for stop flow analysis. Preferably, the detector is also connected with the reservoir so that the extractant flowing through the probe and detector can be. recycled back to the reservoir. The probe is immersed into a process stream.

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 membrane separation and purification process, and the associated apparatus, provides separation of one membrane-permeable component from another, where both are contained in a multiple-component fluid mixture, as a dynamic function of the differences in respective rates of attainment of and declination from steady-state membrane permeation. The process and apparatus are equally well suited to multi-component fluid mixtures that are liquid or gaseous.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy including a retention gap, a capillary gas chromatography column and a mass spectrometer, the improvement being a valve that facilitates temporarily venting the carrier gas from between the retention gap and the capillary gas chromatography column immediately after the injection of a sample. The valve also facilitates an alternate flow of carrier gas into the mass spectrometer during the venting operation.

Abstract: A chemical sensor and method for in-line chemical analysis including a body having a central cavity. The body also has a pair of openings through it to the cavity. A porous plug, such as a ceramic frit, is sealed into each of these openings so that there is a space between the plugs in the cavity. A vent passageway through the body to the cavity is also provided. A pressurized sample is flowed through one porous plug into the cavity while a pressurized reagent is flowed through the other porous plug into the cavity. A component of interest of the sample reacts with a reactive component of the reagent in the cavity to produce a reaction product. The reaction product is analyzed in the cavity by, for example, absorption spectroscopy. As fresh sample and reagent flow into the cavity, the reaction products flow out of the cavity by way of the vent passageway.

Abstract: The presence and concentration of an optically active constituent of a fluid medium is determined in-situ by immersing in the fluid medium a probe constructed to pass plane polarized light through the fluid medium in first and second passes so as to induce an optical rotation to the plane of polarization. The light is analyzed after the second pass in a manner to provide a plurality of light components whose individual intensities are affected by the induced optical rotation. A light intensity ratio is determined for the individual light components and compared to light intensity ratios obtained from like fluid media having known concentrations of the optically active constituent therein to permit determination of the concentration of the optically active constituent.

Abstract: A probe for use in situ analysis of light absorbing fluids wherein light emitted from a source is collimated by a lens and transmitted through a fluid onto and substantially perpendicular to a reflector. Light is reflected by the reflector back through the fluid and focused by the lens onto a reflected light collector for transmission to analyzing apparatus. The length of the path traversed by the emitted and reflected light is adjustable.

Abstract: A chemical analysis method for the determination of a first organic acid in the presence of a second organic acid both of which are in a solution to be analyzed, the pK.sub.a of the first acid being at least 2 pK.sub.a units larger than the pK.sub.a of the second acid. The method includes three steps. The first step if to form a pH adjusted solution to be analyzed by adjusting the pH of the solution to be analyzed to be between the pK.sub.a of the first acid and the pK.sub.a of the second acid so that the first acid is predominately in its unionized form and so that the second acid is predominately in its ionized form.

Abstract: A reversed permeation membrane assembly and method for collecting one or more compounds of interest from a sample solution. The membrane assembly includes a semi-permeable membrane of predetermined thickness and length, and having inner and outer surfaces. The membrane is attached adjacent its outer surface to a substantially rigid membrane support, and a non-porous barrier contacts the outer surface of the membrane to prevent permeation of compounds beyond the outer surface in use. In a preferred embodiment, the semi-permeable membrane assumes a substantially tubular conformation through which sample solution may be passed. The membrane support also preferably features a tubular conformation within which the semi-permeable membrane is mounted. Because of its unique structure and improved efficiency, the assembly of the present invention may be incorporated for in-line use with liquid and gas chromatography devices and GC/MS units.

Abstract: A process for removing halogen gases from a gas stream containing carbon dioxide such as flue gas from an industrial waste incinerator burning chlorinated organic wastes, the process includes seven steps. The first step is to flow fresh absorption liquor to a gas-liquid contactor (such as a column packed with pall rings) the fresh absorption liquor containing water, base and thiosulfate (such as sodium carbonate and sodium thiosulfate). The second step is to flow the gas stream to the gas-liquid contactor. The third step is to contact the fresh absorption liquor and the gas stream in the gas-liquid contactor to form a contacted gas stream and a contacted absorption liquor. The fourth step is to flow the contacted gas stream from the gas-liquid contactor to form an exhaust gas stream from the process. The fifth step is to flow the contacted absorption liquor from the gas-liquid contactor to form used absorption liquor.