Abstract: A foam detector generally including a pair of leads positioned adjacent to a surface layer of a fluid so that foam created on a surface layer of the fluid contacts at least one lead and sends a signal to a controller connected to the leads.

Abstract: An apparatus for sequentially pyrolyzing a plurality of samples held in sample tubes comprises a substantially vertical passage through which tubes carrying the samples may be passed; an upper gas-tight valve for closing off the upper end of the passage; a lower gas-tight valve for holding a sample tube in the passage; a distribution valve directing purge gas and carrier gas to the top end of the passage and for passing pyrolyzed sample from the bottom of the passage to an analytical device; and an electrical heating element for heating the passage to temperatures at which a sample will be pyrolyzed.