Abstract: Methods for sampling reactor contents in parallel reactor systems are disclosed. The methods may be used to sample reactor contents in non-atmospheric (e.g., pressurized) reaction vessels.

Abstract: A system for obtaining a measurement of a species of interest. The system includes one or more reference regions, a sensor region, an exciter unit, a detector unit and a processing unit. The exciter unit exposes first and second chemical transducers in the reference and sensor regions, respectively, to an excitation light while they are exposed to reference environments and an analyte, respectively. The detector unit measures responses of the first and the second chemical transducers to the excitation light. The processing unit determines a compensation for aging of the first chemical transducer from a discrepancy between the measurements of the responses of the first chemical transducer and reference responses. The processing unit applies the compensation for aging to the measurement of the response of the second chemical transducer to obtain the measurement of the species of interest in the analyte.

Abstract: A system for obtaining a measurement of a species of interest. The system includes one or more reference regions, a sensor region, an exciter unit, a detector unit and a processing unit. The exciter unit exposes first and second chemical transducers in the reference and sensor regions, respectively, to an excitation light while they are exposed to reference environments and an analyte, respectively. The detector unit measures responses of the first and the second chemical transducers to the excitation light. The processing unit determines a compensation for aging of the first chemical transducer from a discrepancy between the measurements of the responses of the first chemical transducer and reference responses. The processing unit applies the compensation for aging to the measurement of the response of the second chemical transducer to obtain the measurement of the species of interest in the analyte.

Abstract: Methods for sampling reactor contents in parallel reactor systems are disclosed. The methods may be used to sample reactor contents in non-atmospheric (e.g., pressurized) reaction vessels.

Abstract: A catalyst is provided in the form of a fibrous wooly structure. The fibers of the wooly structure have a central non-catalytic core and an outer catalytic layer. An intermediate layer is sandwiched between the core and catalyst layer. Electrochemical or electroless deposition can be employed to fabricate such structures. In one experiment, Rhodium was deposited onto a steel wool substrate using Nickel as the intermediate layer.

Abstract: A sample preparation chamber for gas analysis that includes a heating element within is provided. The heating element is maintained at an elevated temperature, such that organic compounds that may be present in an input gas sample are removed via oxidation and/or thermal decomposition to provide a treated gas sample that is substantially free of organic contaminants. The treated gas sample may then be analyzed in a gas analysis instrument (e.g., an optical spectroscopic instrument, a mass spectrometer, etc.) to provide results that are free from interference due to organic contaminants. Preferably, the heating element is configured as a Ni—Cr wire. An important feature of this approach is that the heating element (and the rest of the sample preparation chamber) are not altered in operation to remove the organic compounds.

Abstract: Improved gas analysis for non-gaseous samples is provided by placing the sample in direct contact with an inductive heating element, followed by inductively heating the heating element to provide gas for analysis. Disposable sample vials including such a heating element can be employed, or a sample tube including an inductive heating element can be configured to mate to the input gas line of a gas analysis system.