Abstract: A method of marking an industrial process material including selectively incorporating a luminescent marker onto and/or into the industrial process material in a trace amount insufficient to be optically detectable in the presence of ambient light but sufficient to be non-destructively optically detectable in and/or on the industrial proce material in situ in the field or on-site. The trace amount of the luminescent marker is used to track, identify authenticate the industrial process material for at least one of material control, inventory control, stock control, logistics control, quality control and pollution control.

Abstract: A method of marking an industrial process material including selectively incorporating a luminescent marker onto and/or into the industrial process material in a trace amount insufficient to be optically detectable in the presence of ambient light but sufficient to be non-destructively optically detectable in and/or on the industrial proce material in situ in the field or on-site. The trace amount of the luminescent marker is used to track, identify authenticate the industrial process material for at least one of material control, inventory control, stock control, logistics control, quality control and pollution control.

Abstract: A process for real-time classification of materials, the process including: conducting laser induced breakdown spectroscopy on the material (LIBS), wherein at least one second laser pulse is directed to the plume so as to selectively energize only a portion of the plume; measuring optical emissions from the energized portion of the plume; and assessing the elemental composition of the material on the basis of the optical emissions from the excited portion of the plume; wherein the energized portion of the plume is substantially smaller than the entire plume so that the measured optical emissions are relatively independent of the size of the entire plume and hence are relatively independent of the optical absorption and vaporization characteristics of the material, thereby allowing a more accurate assessment of the elemental composition of the material than if the assessment was based on the optical emissions from the entire plume.

Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying a batch of bulk product comprising particles are disclosed. One such method comprises the steps of: identifying at least one particle in the batch of bulk product that comprises data for identifying the quantity of bulk product (510); verifying that the data is representative of the batch of bulk product by detecting presence of a first marker applied to the at least one particle and one or more other particles in the quantity of bulk product that do not comprise the data (520); and retrieving the data from the at least one particle and processing the data to identify the quantity of bulk product (530).

Abstract: A method for determining the degree of mixing between components in a mixing process, the method including the steps of: a) mixing at least two components and at least two luminescent materials to form a mixture, wherein the luminescent materials are added to the mixture separately from each other, and wherein each luminescent material has a uniquely detectable luminescence emission wavelength; b) detecting emitted luminescence from a sample of the mixture, wherein the emitted luminescence includes different luminescence intensities at the uniquely detectable luminescence emission wavelengths of the luminescent materials; c) wherein the ratio of luminescence intensities and/or the absolute or relative intensities of luminescence at the uniquely detectable luminescence emission wavelengths is indicative of the degree of mixing between the components.

Abstract: A method for determining the degree of mixing between components in a mixing process, the method including the steps of: a) mixing at least two components and at least two luminescent materials to form a mixture, wherein the luminescent materials are added to the mixture separately from each other, and wherein each luminescent material has a uniquely detectable luminescence emission wavelength; b) detecting emitted luminescence from a sample of the mixture, wherein the emitted luminescence includes different luminescence intensities at the uniquely detectable luminescence emission wavelengths of the luminescent materials; c) wherein the ratio of luminescence intensities and/or the absolute or relative intensities of luminescence at the uniquely detectable luminescence emission wavelengths is indicative of the degree of mixing between the components.

Abstract: A method of marking an industrial process material including selectively incorporating a luminescent marker onto and/or into the industrial process material in a trace amount insufficient to be optically detectable in the presence of ambient light but sufficient to be non-destructively optically detectable in and/or on the industrial proce material in situ in the field or on-site. The trace amount of the luminescent marker is used to track, identify authenticate the industrial process material for at least one of material control, inventory control, stock control, logistics control, quality control and pollution control.

Abstract: A method and system flows water through a water system in proximity to an ion generation device and to a source of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that combines photochemistry principles, heavy metal toxicity, and UV light radiation to form a highly effective combined water disinfection process. Using ion generation and UV irradiation, the method and system synergistically improves the disinfection and bactericidal effects of ion generation or UV radiation working individually by making ion-exposed microorganisms more susceptible and less resistant to the bactericidal effects of UV radiation. The combined method and system of the present invention may include control means such that the method and system can be configured for single pass through, dual pass through or for recirculation such that the order of exposure to the ion generation and UV radiation aspects can be varied or altered.

Abstract: A method and system flows water through a water system in proximity to an ion generation device and to a source of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that combines photochemistry principles, heavy metal toxicity, and UV light radiation to form a highly effective combined water disinfection process. Using ion generation and UV irradiation, the method and system synergistically improves the disinfection and bactericidal effects of ion generation or UV radiation working individually by making ion-exposed microorganisms more susceptible and less resistant to the bactericidal effects of UV radiation. The combined method and system of the present invention may include control means such that the method and system can be configured for single pass through, dual pass through or for recirculation such that the order of exposure to the ion generation and UV radiation aspects can be varied or altered.

Abstract: A debris collection apparatus that is generally shaped as a rectangular sheet and fabricated of a flexible plastic material. The apparatus' front-to-back form is that of a shallow arch or upwardly extending curve. A leading edge of the apparatus is beveled to facilitate the debris pick-up process. Two corners of the apparatus are formed with diagonally-oriented finger tabs, that are raised above the surface of the rest of the sheet, or cut-outs defining handles. The debris collection apparatus may be manufactured using an injection molding process. The apparatus is fabricated of lightweight materials chosen to provide an appropriate degree of flexibility, resiliency, durability, and longevity. The apparatus possesses a simple, yet scalable, design that may be economically manufactured and sold to provide for widespread use.