Abstract: The use of bioluminescence on a filtration enrichment sample and a light measuring device allows microbial monitoring in liquids without sample incubation. All characteristics of this monitor are zero gravity compatible which makes it particularly suitable for applications such as monitoring microbial counts in water in a zero gravity, closed environment.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vacuum distillation of samples suspected of containing pollutants are disclosed. The vacuum distillation apparatus contains a condenser for separating water and/or another common interfering contaminant. The distilled pollutants are assayed using a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A continuous-wavelength absorption detector adapted for continuous-flow detection is provided. The detector includes an electronics section, a bifurcated optical guide and a detector-cell. Each branch of the optical guide has a plurality of fibers, and at one end the branches are separated and connected to different portions of the electronics section. One of the branches is terminated next to a source for producing illumination to irradiate sample material and the other branch is terminated next to a detector for producing an absorption spectrum signal. At the opposite end of the optical guide the fibers of the two branches are combined to form a common end which is connected to the detector-cell. The detector-cell includes an approximately vertically aligned continuous-flow sample cell which is connected to a sample line and also includes a concave mirror.

Abstract: A rotatable digester drum for convening organic waste material into compost which has internally disposed along its longitudinal axis a series of spaced-apart baffles, each baffle having a variable cross sectional area ranging from 60 to 100% of the cross sectional area of the drum and arranged with respect to one another when in the partially open mode to cause material and air introduced into the drum to traverse a non-linear path through the drum, the drum having a plurality of longitudinally extending internal ribs arranged in spaced array around its circumference.

Abstract: A pan coating apparatus wherein a blow-out portion is provided at the forward end of an air supply pipe inserted into a rotatable container, and the total opening area of gas outlets provided in the blow-out portion is set at 0.1-1 time that of perforations provided in a perforated plate of the rotatable container.

Abstract: Apparatus for preconcentrating trace amounts of organic vapors in a sample of air for subsequent detection, comprising a metallic substrate; a thin film of fullerenes deposited on the metallic substrate for adsorbing the organic vapors on the thin film of fullerenes, thereby preconcentrating the organic vapors; and apparatus for heating the metallic substrate to a predetermined optimum temperature for desorbing the vapors from the thin film of fullerenes to form desorbed organic vapors for subsequent detection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for controlling the movement or transport of objects such as cells and other particles in a moving liquid stream. More particularly the invention relates to a system including a vacuum pump which pulls the sheath fluid from an open supply reservoir through a flow cell assembly where cell analysis occurs and discharges the flow cell effluent to an open waste reservoir. A pressure drop is created through the conduit leading from the supply reservoir to the flow cell which aspirates the cell suspension from an open sample vessel into and through the flow cell. The vacuum is regulated by controlling the electric power applied to the vacuum pump motor. Starting, stopping, reverse flushing, and draining of the flow cell assembly are controlled by programming the operation of four electric solenoid valves in fluid communication with the flow cell inlet and outlet passages, the operation of a reverse flush pump and, the operation of an electrically controlled tube lifter.

Abstract: Constituent layers are harvested from a centrifuged multi-constituent material in an evacuated glass or clear plastic tube which contains a float. When possibly contaminated materials, such as blood, are being tested, the use of an evacuated tube allows the measurements to be made without the technician being exposed to the blood. The tubes are large enough to hold approximately one ml of blood, and are filled with an inert gas at low pressure. The floats are formed with a through bore into which cell bands to be harvested will settle during centrifugation. The cell bands are stabilized by a layer of a flowable material which settles onto the plasma layer during centrifugation and forms a pellicle thereon. The cell layers to be harvested are aspirated from the float bore by way of a hypodermic needle or cannula inserted into the tube and float bore.

Abstract: A core element for use in a catalytic converter, especially an electrically heatable catalytic converter, which core element is characterized by a corrugated thin metal strip having metal tabs attached to each end. The tabs are bent along one or more lines normal to the edges of the corrugated thin metal strip. When bent along one line, for example, an angular tab is formed. When the tabs are bent along an infinite number of lines a uniform amount, a circular segment is formed. A catalyst is deposited on one or both surfaces of the corrugated thin metal strips. A central portion of each strip is flat to enable location between the legs of a bifurcated central pin. The central pin with a group of such corrugated thin metal strips is then spirally wound about the central pin to provide a core with overlapped curved tabs defining at least two discrete generally spiral groups of resistance strips electrically isolated from each other.

Abstract: Apparatus for conducting and controlling chemical reactions, wherein idealistic reaction conditions are achieved automatically for chemical reaction systems in a reaction vessel. The apparatus includes a pH-sensor, a temperature sensor and a vacuum sensor in the reaction vessel. The apparatus also includes electronic scales to measure the weight change in additive liquid containers linked with liquid flow mechanisms to supply additive liquids into the reaction vessel. A cooling mechanism is provided to cool the reaction vessel and a vacuum mechanism is provided to degas the inner space of the reaction vessel. A CPU is arranged to control the liquid flow mechanisms, the cooling mechanism and the vacuum mechanism based on calculated values derived from signals issued by the sensors and the scales.

Abstract: A hybridization incubator assembly (10) is provided for incubation of samples contained in elongated sample bottles (16) and short sample bottles (60). The incubator (10) includes and oven body (18) which encloses a rotisserie assembly (14) adapted for carrying and agitating the sample bottles. The rotisserie assembly (14) includes a pair of bottle support wheels (43) mounted eccentrically on a drive shaft (40). The first wheel (44) and the second wheel (46) are mounted at different degrees of eccentricity and are axially separated on the drive shaft (40) by a distance slightly less than the length of the elongated bottles (16). Each support wheel (43) includes a plurality of grasping clamps (60) affixed about the rim portion (56) for holding the bottles (16), with each the grasping clamps (60) being paired with another on the opposing wheel (43) such that a bottle (16) may be supported by both wheels (43). The perimeter surface (58) of each wheel is beveled to facilitate agitation.

Abstract: A process for qualitative or quantitative determination of a reactive chemical contained in a liquid sample by forming doped sol-gel glass pellets from a metal alkoxide, arranging the porous doped sol-gel glass pellets in a glass tube, contacting a liquid sample containing a reactive chemical with the porous doped sol-gel glass pellets contained in the glass tube, and measuring a length of a stained portion of the glass tube resulting from a color change in the sol-gel glass pellets. The sol-gel glass pellets are formed by a gelling step conducted at room temperature in the presence of a colorimetric reagent dopant which produces a color change in the presence of the reactive chemical, and a drying step conducted at not greater than 41.degree. C. The doped sol-gel glass pellets contain the colorimetric reagent dopant encapsulated therein and the encapsulated colorimetric reagent dopant is color changeable in the presence of the reactive chemical in the pores of the doped sol-gel glass pellets.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the sensitive detection of atmospheric and/or surface absorbed nitrocompounds has been developed. The apparatus and method may be employed to detect the presence or absence of propellants, explosives, and nitropollutants. The unique feature herein is that the apparatus and method employ one laser operating at or near 226 nm. The laser photofragments the target molecule and facilitates the detection of the characteristic NO fragment, by resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) and/or laser-induced-fluorescence (LIF) via its A.sup.2 .SIGMA..sup.+ -X.sup.2 II.sub.i transitions. The analytical utility of this apparatus and method has been demonstrated on numerous compounds, such as, DMNA, nitromethane, nitro-benzene, TNT, and RDX. With the present system, a limit of detection of 8 and 24 ppb is obtained for RDX and TNT, respectively, using only 100 micro-Joules per pulse of laser energy.

Abstract: A sorption analyzer for performing surface measurement analysis on sample material. The sorption analyzer calibrates the instrument and the sample cell using the adsorbate gas.

Abstract: Trioxane derivatives represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein A and RA are the same with or different from each other, and represent a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group, respectively, or represent R.sub.1 --X.sub.1 --or R.sub.2 --X.sub.2 --in which X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 represent independently a divalent organic residue, and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 represent independently carboxyl group, amino group, hydroxyl group or mercapto group, and Z represents hydrogen atom, halogen atom, methyl group, ethyl group or propyl group, or carboxyl, amino, hydroxyl or mercapto group through a divalent organic residue, and process for the preparation thereof, as well as method for chemiluminescence comprising mixing the trioxane derivatives and a base.

Abstract: A process for growing procaryotic or eukaryotic cellular material in a tubular membrane immersed in an aqueous medium. The tubular membrane is filled with at least 10.sup.2 cells per milliliter at start-up and then maintained under controlled conditions to promote rapid growth of the cells so that the doubling time is less than 12 hours. A primary nutrient solution is continuously fed to the growing cells while some of the cells are being continuously withdrawn from the tubular membrane. The rate of cell removal is controlled so that that number of cells in the tubular membrane remains essentially constant at from 10.sup.2 to 10.sup.10 cells per milliliter and the production of metabolite byproduct remains the same under equilibrium conditions. Both cell material and metabolite byproducts are recycled.

Abstract: An external-loop perfusion bioreactor for cultivating microbial, plant, animal or insect cells to produce valuable metabolites has a riser conduit; a cell culture medium inlet in the riser conduit; an inlet for an oxygen containing gas in the riser conduit; a downcomer conduit, having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion of the downcomer conduit being in the shape of a truncated cone; an upper and lower transfer conduit connecting the riser conduit and the downcomer conduit; a spent medium outlet port defining a liquid level surface in the upper portion of the downcomer conduit; and a baffle means having a fluid impermeable wall for creating a settling zone in the upper portion of the downcomer conduit. A series of conical lamellar settling surfaces can be arranged in the settling zone to enhance particle separation from the aqueous medium.

Abstract: A method for monitoring automatically, on-line chloride content in a fluid stream in an oil refinery. Additionally, the present invention provides a method for neutralizing the acids resulting from the chloride in a fluid stream. Pursuant to the method, a fluid sample is collected. To the sample is added a sulfide scavenger that will react with the sulfide that is present to create a reaction product. The fluid is then passed to a reaction or measurement cell including a chloride specific electrode. Prior to contacting the chloride specific electrode, the fluid must pass through a membrane that prevents the reaction product from flowing therethrough. The fluid that flows through the membrane is allowed to contact the chloride specific electrode. This allows the chloride content to be monitored in the fluid. The concentration of chloride can then be used to generate a signal to control the addition of a neutralizing agent to the fluid stream.

Abstract: A detecting device in the form of a testing tube or dosimeter having a carrier indicating a color reaction requires a reagent liquid for carrying out a measurement. The reagent liquid is contained in a separate reagent supply vessel and the carrier is impregnated with a color indicator. For carrying out a measurement, the reagent supply from the supply vessel must be brought into contact with the porous carrier. A uniform wetting of the surface of the carrier subjected to the reagent solution is achieved after the reagent solution is emptied from the supply vessel. This is achieved by providing a reagent collection chamber between the carrier and the reagent supply vessel into which the reagent solution pours when the supply vessel is opened and wherein the reagent solution is accommodated and into which the carrier extends so that its end face is subjected to the reagent solution so that this end face can be wetted at the same time.

Abstract: A self-contained assembly for assaying an analyte in a liquid sample. The pair of disc-like rotatable plates forming the assembly are relatively rotatable to align reagent reservoirs in one plate with a reaction well in the other plate, for sequential addition of multiple reagents, either in liquid or solid form, to the reaction well. In one embodiment, the reaction well includes solid-phase particles which can be transferred from the reaction well to spaced wells in the assembly by a combination of relative movement of the plate, and rotation of the entire assembly.