Abstract: An effluent treatment system 1, 70, 80 for treating effluent which has passed through a primary treatment step such as a septic tank 50 comprises a container 5 having inlets 7 for effluent and outlets 8 for filtered effluent. The container 5 contains a biological treatment medium 41 comprising a homogeneous mixture of young Sphagnum peat and an organic peat fibre. The medium 41 is covered by a layer 40 of peat fibre for distributing the effluent and another layer 44 of peat fibre is provided below the medium 41 to induce flow of treated effluent to the outlets 34.

Abstract: A Fourier transform infrared spectrometer utilizes a selectable area infrared detector to optimize performance of the instrument depending upon the nature of the sample being analyzed. The detector includes an inner detecting segment and one or more outer detecting segments which extend at least partially around the inner segment and are electrically isolated therefrom. In those cases where a small area detector provides optimal sensitivity and performance, only the inner detecting segment is enabled to contribute to the output of the detector. In those cases where a larger area detector provides optimal sensitivity and performance, one or more of the outer detecting segments are enabled to contribute to the output of the detector, either alone or in combination with the inner segment. Thus, a single detector in the instrument provides optimal sensitivity and performance for a wide range of applications.