Abstract: A carbon black reactor is characterized by a converging zone, a throat, a first reaction zone and a second reaction zone serially connected. Oil can be injected both upstream and downstream of the throat. Annular walls connect the throat with the first reaction zone and the first reaction zone with the second reaction zone.

Abstract: A roller bottle for cell growth contains a wall formed of a plurality of corrugations, preferably symmetrical and perpendicular to the axis of the bottle, and at least one drain channel formed by at least one and preferably two opposed flat axial, uncorrugated panels provided along the outer edge of the corrugations. The corrugations are discontinuous along the inside surface of the panel to form a drainage channel. The surface area of the bottle is 110 to 500% larger than an uncorrugated bottle having the same exterior dimensions.

Abstract: An improved sample carrier and pipette tips for use in an automated sample handling device are disclosed. This carrier mounts on and is removable from a carousel and has spaced about the circumference of its body a plurality of apertures for receiving the sample containers. Each aperture has on its interior side, that is its axis side, an intruding resilient finger which is deflected when a sample container is inserted into the aperture and which applies pressure on the sample container forcing it against the outside edge of the aperture and preventing inadvertent rotation of the sample container within the aperture. In the most common embodiment the apertures are substantially parallel to the axis of the circular body of the carrier so that they can be accessed by sample-handling equipment moving perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the carousel. In another embodiment the apertures are angled in a posture where they can undergo angled centrifugation, if desired.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the presence and/or measuring the concentration of an analyte in the fluid medium is disclosed. The apparatus relies on biospecific binding between a biochemical binding system and the analyte to change the dielectric properties of a capacitive affinity sensor. The biological affinity sensor is optimized by: (1) adjusting the thickness and dielectric properties of a passivation layer to generally match the impedance of the biological binding system; and (2) minimize the double layer capacitance so that bulk capacitance changes associated with the biological binding system are maximized.

Abstract: A gas analyzer for determining the concentration of the oxides of nitrogen in a sample gas is provided. The analyzer is particularly adapted for analyzing the exhaust from an internal combustion engine. In one embodiment, the analyzer comprises a sample chamber and a reference chamber. An arrangement is provided for delivering sample gas containing the lower oxide of nitrogen (NO) to the sample chamber and a quantity of ozone (O.sub.3) for reacting with this oxide of nitrogen and producing a chemiluminescence. After the chemiluminescence is completed, the sample gas is discharged to the reference chamber. A sample photodiode is disposed adjacent to the sample chamber for receiving light emitted from the sample chamber and producing a sample signal representative of the total photoemissivity of the sample gas.

Abstract: The effectiveness of a palladium-tin catalyst for subsequent plating thereon is determined by employing cyclic voltammetry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to an apparatus for effecting chemical syntheses in gaseous phase, under pressure, in the presence of a solid catalyst, for instance for ammonia synthesis from hydrogen and nitrogen or for the synthesis of methanol or higher homolog alcohols from hydrogen and at least one carbon oxide.The reactor of substantially cylindrical shape contains a plurality of elongate compartments of parallelipiped shape, adjacent to each other, the adjacent walls of the compartments or the common walls of the adjacent compartments being gas-tight walls, said tight walls forming hollow plates wherein are provided channels for the flow of a fluid heat carrier flowing through said walls under a pressure substantially equal to the pressure to which are subjected the reaction gases.

Abstract: Measurement of the ionic value X of a solution of a polyelectrolyte after shearing, for instance by a rotating blade, and/or measurement of the ionic value Y of a solution of polyelectrolyte before shearing, and especially the difference between t he values X and Y, gives a useful indication of the degree of cross linking of the polyelectrolyte and so can be utilized to control the manufacture of the polyelectrolyte, for instance drying conditions, or the storage or use of the polyelectrolyte, for instance its suitability or dosage in a flocculation process.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering fluidization gas to a bed of particulate solids to selectively, locally fluidize the solids above a delivery conduit in communication with a reaction chamber. Also an apparatus is disclosed for intimately mixing hydrocarbon feed with the particulate solids at the end of the delivery conduit in the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing apparatus is characterized by a cleaning arrangement movable with the aspirating needle of the apparatus. The cleaning arrangement includes a pair of mating wellheads one of which has a flange with a planar surface thereon. The other of the wellheads has a corresponding cutout therein. When registered, the wellheads cooperate to define a well-like chamber with a closed bottom. The wellheads are each mounted on an arm which is movable from open to closed dispositions in response to movement of the aspirating needle.

Abstract: Fecal occult blood tests of enhanced sensitivity, specificity, and readability are provided by employing (1) a developer or complete reagent solution that uses as a solvent system a solvent comprising at least about 50% by volume of a solvent for iron protoporphyrins such as dimethyl sulfoxide and/or (2) a multi-chromogen comprised of a mixture of guaiac and ABTS. Test results may be further improved by incorporating hemoprotein solubilizing agents, plant peroxidase inhibitors, iron/copper chelating agents, accelerators and buffers in the developer/reagent.

Abstract: A multiple reagent test strip-reading instrument having rails extending from a loading area to one or more reading station platforms and then to a waste receptacle, a reciprocating blotter arm which contacts individual reagent strips sequentially placed transversely on the rails in the loading area, moving individual strips along the rails to an indexing strip advancing mechanism which intermittently advances the strips along the rails in spaced parallel relation, and after each advance, allows the strips to dwell for a predetermined time period; individual test strips being thereby sequentially delivered to reading position on the reading station platform where, during the dwell period, they are read by reflectance photometry. After reading, the strips are moved to the waste receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically performing analytical testing of individual distant samples of biological fluids wherein a test sample is reacted with test reagents and tested for a change in optical characteristics. A memory stores a plurality of different test protocols. An operator-actuated keyboard is used to select one of the test protocols from the memory. Individual distinct samples of biological fluid to be tested are received in a sample cell. The cell is heated to a preselected temperature. The apparatus transports an individual sample cell to a first location adapted to filter unwanted nonfluid material from the fluid to be tested and to remove excess fluid to be tested from the sample cell to cause a precise accurate volume of fluid to remain in the sample cell for testing.

Abstract: The apparatus for mixing multicomponent plastics, in particular polyurethane, has a steadying attachment 1 which is arranged at the outlet orifice 12 of a mixing head 10. The steadying attachment is equipped with a plurality of lamellae 3 which are movable in the region of the emerging mixture of components and run in the direction of flow of the said mixture. Advantageously, the lamellae can be moved forward and back in a guide housing which has webs 2 which occupy the space between the lamellae and thus ensure cleaning. Steadying is achieved by greater friction with the wall and an increase in the outflow cross-section.

Abstract: A capacitive liquid level sensor for an automatic chemical analyzer, wherein a pipetting tube approaches a liquid level of the sample to be analyzed and is electrically connected to one terminal of an electrical bridge network. The electrical bridge network is activated by an A.C. current and produces an A.C. signal which has a phase change produced by a change in capacitance between the pipetting tube and the liquid level as the pipetting tube approaches the liquid level. The A.C. signal is converted into a D.C. signal proportional to the phase difference by means of a phase detector. A liquid level is detected by comparison of the D.C. signal with a preselected reference level.

Abstract: To make and use nitrogeneous fertilizer on a farm, nitrogen oxides are prepared in a continuous process from air or from ammonia in a reactor, with the ammonia either being transported to the farm or local site in a farming area or being prepared on the site in a continuous process from water and air. The nitrogen oxides are mixed with a continuous flow of water to form a solution of nitric acid, which may be applied to the field through the irrigation system as top dressing or mixed within the system with ammonium or other cations to form ammonium nitrate or other desired nitrogen solutions for application to the fields in a continuous process or concentrated without requiring storage of large amounts of gas or creating heat exchange problems in the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A membrane type blood oxygenating system with the membrane device, blood heater and blood reservoir constructed as an integral unit with the membrane device located lower than the blood reservoir.

Abstract: A process for producing non-oxide compounds such as silicon nitride and silicon carbide by using a multi-stage apparatus constructed of a raw material drier section, a reactor section including a multiplicity of reaction vessels, and a non-oxidizing gas feeder section, is disclosed. The sections are arranged serially in the vertical direction. Raw materials are reacted with one another while fluidizing or bubbling by a hot non-oxidizing gas (argon or nitrogen) occurs in the raw material drier section and reaction vessels.

Abstract: Fecal occult blood tests of enhanced sensitivity, specificity, and readability are provided by employing (1) a developer or complete reagent solution that uses as a solvent system a solvent comprising at least about 50% by volume of a solvent for iron protoporphyrins such as dimethyl sulfoxide and/or (2) a multi-chromogen comprised of a mixture of guaiac and ABTS. Test results may be further improved by incorporating hemoprotein solubilizing agents, plant peroxidase inhibitors, iron/copper chelating agents, accelerators and buffers in the developer/reagent.

Abstract: Impurities are removed from pieces of sulfur by dropping the pieces directly into a bath of heated liquid sulfur disposed in a vessel. The liquid sulfur is heated externally of the vessel and conveyed thereto. The sulfur pieces melt in the bath. A movable element, such as a rotary screen drum or conveyor blades for example, is disposed in the bath for agitating the bath and entraining the impurities.