Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic analyzer for organic elemental analysis, said analyzer comprising: lines for gaseous fluids, sample holders to be analyzed, a catalytic combustion reactor, a water adsorber, an organic compounds detector, and a logical unit for detection data processing, wherein the analyzer further comprises an automatic oxygen meter and the oxygen supply to the catalytic combustion reactor is managed by the data processing unit as a function of the stoichiometric requirement calculation and of the operating time of the oxygen meter.

Abstract: An automated analyzer is described for determining, by way of combustion, nitrogen contained in organic compounds, in particular proteins present in foods, animal feeds, polymers, fuels etc., characterized in that the carbon dioxide absorption device upstream of the nitrogen detector is self-regenerating and comprises: a distributor valve able to switch different gas circuits without contaminations and losses from one gas sample to another, a carousel consisting of a plurality of absorber elements inside which is placed an adsorbent material, a furnace suitable for said adsorbers, in such a manner that each of said adsorbers presents itself in turn for each analysis and that on completion of said analysis the same adsorber is conveyed to the furnace for degassing of the absorbent material and thus for its relative regeneration.

Abstract: An automated analyser is described for determining, by way of combustion, nitrogen contained in organic compounds, in particular proteins present in foods, animal feeds, polymers, fuels etc., characterised in that the carbon dioxide absorption device upstream of the nitrogen detector is self-regenerating and comprises: a distributor valve able to switch different gas circuits without contaminations and losses from one gas sample to another, a carousel consisting of a plurality of absorber elements inside which is placed an adsorbent material, a furnace suitable for said adsorbers, in such a manner that each of said adsorbers presents itself in turn for each analysis and that on completion of said analysis the same adsorber is conveyed to the furnace for degassing of the absorbent material and thus for its relative regeneration.

Abstract: A methane catalytic combustion boiler for obtaining hot water for household and industrial uses, such as room heating, sanitary services, heat transfer in industrial processes is described. The boiler includes a container for the combustion catalyst, which consists of pure or supported metal oxides, a heat exchanger between the combustion gases and the water to be heated, a system for starting the methane combustion and a system for controlling the combustion.

Abstract: A method for performing porosimetric analyses and apparatus therefor are disclosed. In particular, a method for performing porosimetric anaylses by the so-called mercury method is disclosed, wherein volumetric variations of mercury placed in a vessel are recorded. These variations are due to mercury penetration into the pores of a solid sample placed in the vessel under the mercury pressure variations. In the method disclosed, additional porosimetric information is obtained by reducing the pressure from a maximum value as a predetermined function of time. For example, the pressure reduction can be at a constant rate. Simultaneously, volume variations of the mercury exiting the sample pores are detected as the pressure decreases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mercury porosimeter, of the type in which the quantity of mercury which has penetrated into the pores of the substance to be analyzed is determined by measuring capacity variations in a cylindrical condenser, the inner armature of which consists of the mercury present in the capillary of a penetrometer containing the substance to be analyzed, the penetrometer being housed inside an autoclave. The porosimeter according to the invention is characterized in that the outer armature of the condenser is fixed to the autoclave body, in that the condenser dielectric is formed by the penetrometer capillary and by the oil introduced into the autoclave to transmit pressure variations to mercury, and in that said oil has the same dielectric constant as the glass forming the penetrometer capillary.

Abstract: An apparatus for porosimetric measurements, wherein a sample to be analyzed is put in an ampoule filled with mercury and submitted to ever increasing pressures, in order to obtain measurements of the mercury volume variations due to pressure increases.Such mercury volume variations, which are correlated to the sample pore sizes, are detected by measuring capacity variations in a mercury condenser provided for in a capillary neck of ampoule.