Abstract: A passive dry deposit (Pas-DD) air sampling device and method for sampling volatile, semi-volatile, or particulate matter in air. The Pas-DD device comprises a top cover plate, a bottom plate connected to and spaced a distance apart from the top cover plate, and at least one sampling media supported by the bottom plate and positioned within the device in an orientation accessible for collecting particles in the environment. The top cover plate and bottom plate may be oriented in parallel, and spaced apart a distanced that can be optimized for air sampling a broad size-range of depositing particles. The passive air sampling device and method disclosed are particularly useful for sampling air in regions where access to electricity is difficult, and for estimating atmospheric loadings of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other semi-volatile compounds.

Abstract: A process for isolating at least one target compound, such as manool, geranyl linalool, ethyl guaiacol, eugenol, veratraldehyde, squalene, terpin, cholesterol, beta-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, stigmastenol and dehydroabietic acid, from biomass, the process including steps of: obtaining a condensate from a recovery evaporator, a reverse osmosis retentate of a condensate of a pulp and paper mill, or both, the condensate, retentate or both being substantially free of higher molecular weight (approximately >1000 Da) cellulose and/or lignin and/or lignin-derived material; optionally pH adjusting and filtering the condensate to collect insoluble material; extracting the condensate, the collected insoluble material, or both, with solid phase extraction (SPE), liquid-liquid extraction or solid-liquid extraction to produce an extract containing the at least one target compound; and optionally purifying the extract containing the at least one target compound by thermal fractionation, chromatographic separ

Abstract: A process for isolating at least one target compound, such as manool, geranyl linalool, ethyl guaiacol, eugenol, veratraldehyde, squalene, terpin, cholesterol, beta-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, stigmastenol and dehydroabietic acid, from biomass, the process including steps of: obtaining a condensate from a recovery evaporator, a reverse osmosis retentate of a condensate of a pulp and paper mill, or both, the condensate, retentate or both being substantially free of higher molecular weight (approximately >1000 Da) cellulose and/or lignin and/or lignin-derived material; optionally pH adjusting and filtering the condensate to collect insoluble material; extracting the condensate, the collected insoluble material, or both, with solid phase extraction (SPE), liquid-liquid extraction or solid-liquid extraction to produce an extract containing the at least one target compound; and optionally purifying the extract containing the at least one target compound by thermal fractionation, chromatographic separ

Abstract: A percussive driving apparatus for an environmental sampling or test device. The driving apparatus comprises a percussion stem (10), a weighted percussion plunger (20) having a longitudinal bore through which the percussion stem (10) is received, the percussion plunger (20) being slidable along a length of the percussion stem (10), a lift element (80) to permit lifting of the percussion plunger (20) along at least a portion of said length of the percussion stem (10), and a percussion pad (30) affixed to the percussion stem (10) at or near a first end thereof. The percussion pad (30) is configured to receive percussive driving force from the percussion plunger (20). The percussion tube (10) is also adapted at the first end to connect to a probe (40) (for example a shielded or unshielded piezometer, or a split spoon sampler, a seepage meter, long term data logging monitoring device, or seismic device) for environmental sampling and/or testing.

Abstract: An instrument for obtaining airborne measurements of cloud microphysical parameters. The instrument comprises supporting arms mounted thereon, optics and a detector for measuring the cloud microphysical parameters The supporting arms define an optical path of the instrument and comprise probe tips affixed thereto. The probe tips comprise an outer portion and an inner portion opposite the outer portion. The inner portion of the tips may comprise an angled section having at least one angled surface shaped to deflect particles away from the optical path of the instrument.

Abstract: Provided are decontamination compositions that include an ammonium compound, a ferric/ferrocyanide compound, a polyaminocarboxylic acid compound and a polycarboxylic compound. Depending on the mode of application, the compositions can be used as foams, liquids, gels, strippable coatings, mists, or in other forms. Also provided are kits that include such components in whole or in part along with an optional dispersing device for use of the decontamination composition.

Abstract: A process for isolating at least one target compound, such as manool, geranyl linalool, ethyl guaiacol, eugenol, veratraldehyde, squalene, terpin, cholesterol, beta-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, stigmastenol and dehydroabietic acid, from biomass, the process including steps of: obtaining a condensate from a recovery evaporator, a reverse osmosis retentate of a condensate of a pulp and paper mill, or both, the condensate, retentate or both being substantially free of higher molecular weight (approximately >1000 Da) cellulose and/or lignin and/or lignin-derived material; optionally pH adjusting and filtering the condensate to collect insoluble material; extracting the condensate, the collected insoluble material, or both, with solid phase extraction (SPE), liquid-liquid extraction or solid-liquid extraction to produce an extract containing the at least one target compound; and optionally purifying the extract containing the at least one target compound by thermal fractionation, chromatographic separ

Abstract: An instrument for obtaining airborne measurements of cloud microphysical parameters. The instrument comprises supporting arms mounted thereon, optics and a detector for measuring the cloud microphysical parameters The supporting arms define an optical path of the instrument and comprise probe tips affixed thereto. The probe tips comprise an outer portion for deflecting particles away from the optical path of the instrument and an inner portion opposite the outer portion. The outer portion of the tips have a pyramidal section with a centre ridgeline and flat or concave surfaces effective to reduce water shedding and particle shattering during in-flight collection of data.

Abstract: An instrument for obtaining airborne measurements of cloud microphysical parameters. The instrument comprises supporting arms mounted thereon, optics and a detector for measuring the cloud microphysical parameters The supporting arms define an optical path of the instrument and comprise probe tips affixed thereto. The probe tips comprise an outer portion for deflecting particles away from the optical path of the instrument and an inner portion opposite the outer portion. The outer portion of the tips have a pyramidal section with a centre ridgeline and flat or concave surfaces effective to reduce water shedding and particle shattering during in-flight collection of data.

Abstract: A self contained field sampling system for measuring engine exhaust emissions includes a mini-dilution tunnel adapted for the collection of proportional samples of emissions to be analyzed, an engine air intake flow measurement instrument, a system controller and data acquisition system, and an optionally portable generator to provide electrical power. Several probes withdraw dilute and undiluted exhaust for emission analysis. Various engine emissions may be isolated. As well, engine emissions mass rate may be calculated by reference to engine RPM, inlet flow rate, exhaust temperature and emissions output rate.

Abstract: Particles in a fluid flow are concentrated by a combination of electrical charging and focussing and passage through a virtual impact concentrator. The fluid is passed through an electrical charging section and an electrical focussing section and then to a virtual impact concentrator. The majority of charged particles in a selected size range are collected through a minor discharge passage extending axially from the virtual impact concentrator. The invention is particularly suitable for sampling engine exhaust gases and ambient aerosols.

Abstract: An apparatus for, and a method of, sampling and analyzing thermally-labile chemical species, comprises a quartz tube having a filter member positioned in the bore of the tube. The filter member comprises a plug of quartz beads having a layer of quartz frits on either side. A fluid (gas or liquid) carrying one or more chemical substances associated with particulate matter is passed through the tube, the particulate material being collected by the quartz beads. After sample collection, the material remaining/retained from the original sample is removed, as for example by thermal desorption, and the material is then analyzed.

Abstract: An effect is induced within a chemical system consisting of at least two substances having differing degrees of microwave transparency, by exposing the mixture to focused microwave energy having a generally uniform energy density level, and an energy density at a level exceeding the capacity of at least one of the substances to dissipate the energy as thermal energy. The treatment is carried out until the thermodynamic state of the system is in a non-equilibrium state. The rate at which the effect is carried out is substantially increased over that which would be expected under equilibrium thermodynamic conditions. The effect may consist of an exothermic or endothermic chemical reaction or a separation process including a volatilization process.

Abstract: The generation of volatiles from liquid or solid materials is enhanced and accelerated by exposure to microwave radiation. Normally the energy transfer is effected preferentially toward the liquid or solid materials over the generated gaseous volatiles. Sufficient energy is provided at a selected rate that enhances the generation of volatiles to effect removal as vapor or to produce a pressurized vapor phase. Flow-through separations from a matrix having a microwave-absorbing liquid component are conducted by exposing to microwave radiation to vaporize this component and processing the vapor either by flowing through a selective permeable membrane, or by enclosing the vapor and matrix in a confined space and flowing matrix through a selected separation medium, and recovering residual matrix. These separations are particularly useful in analysis contexts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the treatment of sediment. The apparatus provides a plurality of injection sites for injecting a biochemical oxidant into the sediment. The oxidant is useful for oxidizing a bacterial growth inhibitor to a non-inhibiting form thus permitting bacterial growth and thus greater numbers for sediment detoxification.

Abstract: The generation of volatiles from liquid or solid materials is enhanced and accelerated by exposure to microwave radiation. Normally the energy transfer is effected preferentially toward the liquid or solid materials over the generated gaseous volatiles. Sufficient energy is provided at a selected rate that enhances the generation of volatiles to effect removal as vapor or to produce a pressurized vapor phase. Flow-through separations from a matrix having a microwave-absorbing liquid component are conducted by exposing to microwave radiation to vaporize this component and processing the vapor either by flowing through a selective permeable membrane, or by enclosing the vapor and matrix in a confined space and flowing matrix through a selected separation medium, and recovering residual matrix. These separations are particularly useful in analysis contexts.

Abstract: A method for dehalogenating contaminated ground water and/or soil where the contaminated area is contacted with a titanium carboxylic acid derivative such as titanium oxalate, titanium citrate or titanium nitriloacetate and a corrin or porphyrin catalyst preferably vitamin B12 compound. The result of contact with the contaminated source is that the compounds reductively dehalogenate the contaminates thereby making it less toxic. This is achieved by making use of the non-toxic reagents, namely the corrin or porphyrin catalyst such as vitamin B12 and the titanium carboxylic acid derivative.

Abstract: The process involves improved route for expressing volatilizable components from a mixture containing such components. The improvement involves providing a sample having a mixture of volatile organic compounds and a microwave absorbing compound therein, contacting the mixture with the microwave energy to vaporize the microwave absorbing compound and subsequently volatilizing at least one volatile organic compound contained in the mixture by absorption of energy from the vaporized microwave compound.

Abstract: A new method for sealing off a mass of waste which comprises surrounding the mass of waste, stabilized waste or its placement side with a least one substantially continuous layer of porous material, the layer defining a substantially continuous, waste-encompassing interface, and providing a sufficient amount of an interactive reagent on either side of the interface for the reagent upon placement to diffuse towards each other and to form a precipitate filling the pores of the porous material substantially along the interface thereby forming a waste-encompassing layer of reduced permeability. The special benefit of this method is that after a rupture of the seal the interactive reagents form a new seal, thus preventing loss of noxious substances through the rupture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the treatment of sediment. The apparatus provides a plurality of injection sites for injecting a biochemical oxidant into the sediment. The oxidant is useful for oxidizing a bacterial growth inhibitor to a non-inhibiting form thus permitting bacterial growth and thus greater numbers for sediment detoxification.