Abstract: A highly preferred container for ashable material, which material is to be ashed by heat in an ashing furnace, while it is in such container, especially when such container is to be heated by microwave radiation onto microwave absorptive elements of the furnace, which thereby heat the container, is a heat resistant, walled container which is light weight, microwave transmissive, porous and air transmissive, which is of quartz microfibers that are held in desired walled container form, preferably in substantially flat cylindrical form. Such a container may be made by shaping a heat resistant, light weight, microwave transmissive and porous non-woven sheet of quartz microfibers to container form and heating and curing such sheet in such form, preferably after moistening it with water, whereby a form-retaining container results that can be successfully employed to hold ashable samples to be ashed for analysis during microwave powered ashings of such samples.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for real time analysis of the intermediates and products of a gas phase chemical reaction catalyzed by a particulate catalyst. Real time analysis is conducted under high vacuum using detecting means contained within a high vacuum chamber. The reactor is connected to the vacuum chamber but is outside thereof, allowing the reactor to be operated either at high vacuum or under moderate pressure. Reactors and reactor feed manifolds of varying configuration may be interchangeably connected to the vacuum chamber on an essentially modular basis. Only a single vacuum system is required for the apparatus. Reaction products may also be analyzed by methods such as gas chromatography. Simultaneously with real time analysis of reaction products and intermediates, infrared, ultraviolet other reflected electromagnetic analyses may be conducted on the reacting gases or catalyst surface.

Abstract: An anlytical equipment and method for the selective detection of individual oxygenated compounds in complex organic mixtures, in particular fuels, comprising, downstream an equipment of chromatographic separation, a cracking reactor, a catalytic hydrogenation microreactor and a FID detector. The cracking reactor is provided with a catalyst under the form of metal elements, made of palladium, inserted inside the capillary tube though which flows the gas under test. Thanks to the present equipment, the analytical process, based on the specific response of oxygenates to the method of flame ionization detection (O-FID), foresees that the cracking reaction takes place at temperatures below 1000 degrees C. and, consequently allows to keep the cracking reactor at stand-by temperatures below 700 degrees C.

Abstract: An apparatus for pyrolyzing a sample prior to analysis by a gas chromatograph or a mass spectrometer comprising an insertion probe for bearing said sample, a reaction chamber which is mounted to the insertion probe so as to encompass the sample, said insertion probe having a ribbon for depositing said sample and maintaining said sample during a pyrolysis, said insertion probe being removable from said reaction chamber, means for rapidly heating said sample so as to pyrolyze said sample, and an outlet from said reaction chamber to a gas chromatograph or a mass spectrometer; the improvement comprising: means for automatically depositing said sample onto said ribbon while said insertion probe is in said reaction chamber. A method for pyrolyzing samples using said apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for the analysis of carbon products enables air reactivity, CO.sub.2 reactivity, soot index and coefficient of thermal expansion of the carbon products to be determined in one analysis operation. The apparatus includes vertical and/or horizontal tube furnaces, each of which is provided with devices for weighing, temperature registration and/or registration dilation. Introduction of gas takes place via one end of each of the tube furnaces. Each of the furnaces is connected to a joint processing unit which checks the various instruments and registers the various instruments and registers and processes the analytical data.

Abstract: A smoke opacity detector includes a sample chamber; a sample heating block in the sample chamber for heating a sample; a first temperature control for controlling the temperature of the sample heating block to a desired temperature; a measurement stack positioned above the sample heating block for receiving smoke resulting from heating of the sample by the sample heating block; a laser light source for projecting a light beam through the smoke in the measurement stack; a photodetector for detecting the amount of light from the laser light source that passes through the smoke in the measurement stack; a microprocessor for determining the amount of smoke resulting from heating of the sample, in response to the light detected by the photodetector; and a device for selectively eliminating conditions of water vapor in the determination of the amount of smoke by the microprocessor, the device for selectively eliminating including a heating device for heating the measurement stack and a second temperature control fo

Abstract: An optical microscope supports a housing having a closed chamber in which a particle to be pyrolyzed is disposed and is exposable to a targeting laser beam for precisely positioning the particle and a power laser beam for heating and pyrolyzing the selected particle. The pyrolysis chamber housing is supported on a heater disposed on the microscope stage for movement into the focal plane of the objective lens and into the beam path of the targeting and power lasers. The lasers are mounted together and, in combination with multiple reflecting mirrors, direct their beams along a common beam path. The lasers are mounted on an adjustable support base for adjusting the position of the beam path along three mutually perpendicular axes.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a vapor of an alkyl ester of phosphoric acid, particularly tributylphosphate, in ambient air. A sample of ambient air is heated to convert any alkyl ester of phosphoric acid to an alkene. The heated sample of air is then passed to a sample loop. Carrier air periodically carries a fixed volume of sample from the sample loop through a chromatographic column to a photoionization detector which detects the presence and amount of the alkene in the sample.

Abstract: A device for trapping reaction products and especially for generating and trapping decomposition products from thermal decomposition processes, including combustion, is described. Decomposition products of a solid sample are formed at the top end of an externally heated vertical decomposition tube and are channeled downward through a region of decreased diameter in which a trapping device is positioned. The trapping device consists of two vertical concentric tubes of which the top end of the inner tube is slightly lower than that of the outer tube. Water flows upward between the two concentric tubes, traps the decomposition products at the top, and drops down through the inner concentric tube. Products contained in the water are collected externally from the lower end of the trapping device for analysis. The insoluble gaseous products are collected by an external vacuum system after passing through the stream of water.

Abstract: A resistively-heated furnace such as a graphite furnace is employed to atomize a sample for electron ionization and mass spectrometric analysis. Wide-ranging sample types such as biological tissue, semi-solid and nonhomogeneous materials, as well as bulk organic and inorganic chemicals, can be effectively and accurately analyzed with the instrument and instrumental method with little if any sample preparation.

Abstract: The flow-injection system includes a microwave oven having a flow-through reactor having a flow-through conduit located in windings around a conduit carrier for absorbing microwaves. The windings extend through the radiation cavity of the microwave oven only with a part of their length and transversely to the radiation direction. The microwave oven includes programmable adjusting means for the heating power and the heating period. Thus, in connection with a reduction flow-through reactor and an atomic absorption spectrometer, a determination of hydride formers and mercury in a material sample is possible, independently of the valence state.

Abstract: A sample autoloader loads a sample into a furnace and removes a sample from the furnace. The sample autoloader includes a sealing plate for sealing the furnace. The sample autoloader also includes a mechanism for pushing a sample into the furnace and removing a sample from the furnace. The sample autoloader may include a hotel which stores sample containers for automatic loading and a container which receives spent sample containers.

Abstract: A plurality of samples in a moist medium are treated simultaneously in a microwave cavity. The samples are conducted into the cavity through apertures formed in an upper wall of the cavity. Each aperture is surrounded by a chimney configured to create a barrier opposing the propagation of microwaves from the cavity. The samples are introduced into receptacles which extend through the chimneys. Each receptacle can be supported on the chimney a lower end of the receptacle disposed within the cavity. Alternatively, the receptacles can be in the form of continuous tubes extending through upper and lower walls of the cavity in order to convey continuous flows of the sample.

Abstract: In electroless or electric tin, lead or tin-lead alloy plating solution which may contain copper, the concentration of a metal ion component selected from divalent tin ion, lead ion, and copper ion is quantitatively determined by taking a sample from the solution, adding a chemical agent, for example, an oxidizing agent to the sample, thereby causing the selected metal ion to develop its color, measuring the absorbance of the sample due to the metal ion by colorimetry, and determining the concentration from the absorbance. A choice of chemical agent depends on a particular metal ion on analysis. When the solution contains more than one metal ion, correction is made by repeating the process using another chemical agent.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measurement of total organic carbon content of water, particularly of low relative organic content, are described, featuring a single sample cell for exposure of a static sample to ultraviolet radiation and comprising electrodes for measuring the conductivity of the water. The conductivity is monitored as a function of time and the second time derivative of the conductivity signal is monitored to indicate when the oxidation reaction has been completed. Compensation for the contribution to conductivity of the water sample made by the instrument is achieved by subtracting a quantity proportional to the first time derivative of the conductivity at a time when the second time derivative reaches zero, indicating that the oxidation reaction is complete, from the change in the total conductivity measurement, the remainder being equal to the contribution to conductivity made by oxidation of the organic content of the water.

Abstract: A method and apparatus predict the organic carbon content of water discharged from a water purification system. Water is directed from a water source across, for example, a source of ultraviolet light of the water purification system under substantially steady-state conditions. A reference mode is established, whereby a reference-mode resistivity change is determined. A purification-mode is then established, whereby a purification mode resistivity change is measured. The reference-mode resistivity change and the purification-mode resistivity change are then combined to obtain a purified value which is associated with the carbon content of water discharged from the water purification system, thereby predicting the carbon content of water discharged from the water purification system.

Abstract: An analytical furnace includes a pair of generally vertically extending coaxially mounted spaced furnace tubes mounted to a support. The inner tube is made of a material which does not react with the specimen during pyrolysis to produce intereferring byproducts. An analytical sample crucible is supported above the support by a carbonaceous material which in the preferred embodiment comprises a combination of a carbon-felt packing material resting on the support and granular carbon black on which the crucible is placed. The material is selected to position the crucible in the hot zone of the furnace which includes a heater for heating an analytical sample for pyrolysis. The analytical furnace further includes a lance tube extending over and in coaxial alignment with the inner and outer furnace tubes for directing a sample and a carrier gas into the open mouth of the cup-shaped crucible.

Abstract: The presence of decay is determined in wood by testing a sample. The wood tested may be standing timber, cut timber or when coated in building structures. The testing occurs in very short time intervals so that tests can be carried out on timber in mills and the like. The method of testing includes heating a portion of a wood sample at a temperature in the range of about 220.degree. to 350.degree. C. to evaporate analytes from the wood, conveying the analytes in a sample gas flow into an ionizing chamber of an ion mobility spectrometer detector, ionizing the analytes within the ionizing chamber at a temperature in the range of about 220.degree. to 350.degree. C., generating an ion drift time signature in the detector, and comparing the signature with predetermined signatures representing decay in wood.

Abstract: An on-line multidimensional system which includes a liquid chromatograph having an on-line connection to a pyrolysis probe, which in turn has on-line connection to a gas chromatograph. Preferred applications use a size-exclusion chromatograph coupled to a pyrolysis probe coupled to a gas chromatograph to simultaneously produce composition as a function of molecular weight/size information for polymeric materials.

Abstract: A vertical resistive combustion furnace having a vertically oriented combustion zone in which first and second coaxially aligned tubes depend. The first tube is open at one end and closed at the other. The second tube is open at one end and partially closed at the other end and is mounted within and spaced from the first tube with the space between the coaxial tubes defining a passage for combustion products produced from a sample of material to be analyzed, disposed in said second tube. The combustion products pass upwardly in the channel through the combustion zone of the furnace so that the combustion products are hot when they exit the furnace for analysis.

Abstract: A ventable container for materials to be heated (preferably digested) by microwave radiation includes a movable rupture diaphragm in a venting passageway in a closure or cover for such container. Such diaphragm is tightenable into place so that the container is sealed and in such sealed state is protected by the rupture diaphragm against pressures that could develop in the container that are higher than that for which it was designed. An important feature of the invention is that the rupture diaphragm is controllably movable, when desired, to open positions to vent the container during heating and afterward, and is resealable after such venting. Because of the chemical reactivity of the reagents utilized in digestions an inner chemically resistant liner is desirably employed in conjunction with a physically stronger outer body, with the outer body giving the liner enough strength to withstand pressures developed during the heating.

Abstract: A furnace with two hot zones holds multiple analysis tubes. Each tube has a separable sample-packing section positioned in the first hot zone and a catalyst-packing section positioned in the second hot zone. A mass flow controller is connected to an inlet of each sample tube, and gas is supplied to the mass flow controller. Oxygen is supplied through a mass flow controller to each tube to either or both of an inlet of the first tube and an intermediate portion between the tube sections to intermingle with and oxidize the entrained gases evolved from the sample. Oxidation of those gases is completed in the catalyst in each second tube section. A thermocouple within a sample reduces furnace temperature when an exothermic condition is sensed within the sample. Oxidized gases flow from outlets of the tubes to individual gas cells. The cells are sequentially aligned with an infrared detector, which senses the composition and quantities of the gas components.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a laboratory determination of the rate and type of hydrocarbon generated from a hydrocarbon source utilizes hydrous pyrolysis to generate hydrocarbons from the sample and then utilizes cryogenic methods to remove the fluid portions to a transfer vessel. The gaseous components are removed to a further vessel of known dimensions for determination of weight. The hydrocarbons in the transfer vessel are passed through a dryer to separate the water and their makeup determined. The hydrocarbons remaining in the reactor vessel are removed by working with solvents and their weights are determined after separation and evaporation of the solvents.

Abstract: A rock analyser includes a chamber containing a heater (2) and the sensor (6) of a hydrocarbon detector (7), the heater (2) being connectable to a source of power (5) and the sensor (6) being connected to the remainder of the hydrocarbon detector (7). The analyser determines the amount of hydrocarbon material present in the rock. It is portable and is useful for field screening tests to reduce the number of samples sent for laboratory analysis.

Abstract: This invention relates to the apparatus, for sequencing natural or recombinant DNA and other polynucleotides. In particular, this invention relates to a method for sequencing polynucleotides based on mass spectrometry to determine which of the four bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine or thymine) is a component of the terminal nucleotide. In particular, the present invention relates to identifying the individual nucleotides by the mass of stable nuclide markers contained within either the dideoxynucleotides, the DNA primer, or the deoxynucleotide added to the primer. This invention is particularly useful in identifying specific DNA sequences in very small quantities in biological products produced by fermentation or other genetic engineering techniques. The invention is therefore useful in evaluating safety and other health concerns related to the presence of DNA in products resulting from genetic engineering techniques.

Abstract: A method is presented for the accurate quantitative determination of amounts of reactive (water and ethanol) and non-reactive N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) volatiles in graphite-polyimide prepreg samples. The method is also applicable to other condensation-curing and/or solvent-impregnated prepreg systems, regardless of the type of reinforcement. Prepreg samples are heated in a containment chamber and the volatiles are subsequently flushed from the chamber with dry nitrogen gas. The volatiles are condensed, weighed, and analyzed via gas chromatography to determine the volatile composition. The method offers a means of purging the extremely tightly held, relatively non-volatile NMP solvent from the resin matrix by means of high temperatures applied to the sample chamber. The higher volatility reaction products are also captured by means of the specially designed very low temperature condenser. An internal check (collection efficiency) on the accuracy of the results is included in the test method.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring and controlling the efficiency of a combustion whereby, ash samples are drawn at predetermined time intervals from a region of a combustion plant, each drawn sample is set in an exhausted reaction cell, combustion reaction gas is introduced under controlled pressure, a superficial layer of the sample is heated to the carbon combustion temperature by a CO.sub.2 laser beam, the reaction gas is drawn from the cell and the amount of carbon dioxide produced by the carbon combustion is measured in a calibrated detector. The amount of unburnt carbon contained in the ashes is determined based on a preceding calibration carried out on ashes of known carbon content.

Abstract: A heating and targeting laser beam and microscope apparatus optically senses, heats to generate a effluent fluid and chemically analyzes the thermal extract fluid or fluid pyrolyzates from a microscopic particle within a heterogeneous composite sample. A transparent duct-like chamber having a bottom opening is attached to a microscope. A contact surface of the sample is raised to abut against the bottom opening, which encloses the space around the particle and also brings the particle into the common focal plane of the microscope and the converging laser beam(s). This single step avoids the complex separate focusing and sealing steps required by present day techniques.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the measurement of total organic carbon and total inorganic and organic content of water are described. A novel combination of an acidification module, and inorganic carbon removal module based on a carbon dioxide selective gas permeable membrane, and oxidation reaction system which incorporates in-situ generation of oxidizing agents, coupled with catalyzed photo-oxidation of organic compounds to form carbon dioxide; and a high sensitivity, conductometric detector employing a carbon dioxide selective gas permeable membrane permits on-line measurement of the total organic carbon content of water streams.

Abstract: A combustion furnace having a cylindrical filter arranged to pass gases between a combustion cylinder and a gas analyzer attached to an output port on the furnace. The gases to be analyzed are generated from a sample burned in the combustion cylinder and removed through the filter. A cleaning gas supply port and supply line for supplying a cleaning gas to the inside of the furnace are provided. The cleaning gas is under pressure and may be oscillated to assist in the removal of dust stuck to the filter and the interior of the furnace. The improved dust removal provides for a much cleaner furnace and a more accurate analysis of the sample.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method is provided for measuring the rate of flow of gas from a sample of a peroxygen, such as, hydrogen peroxide, thereby indicating the stability of the peroxygen. The invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior methods which are less precise and have a long time delay.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing candidate rocket nozzle materials includes an elated member having a combustion chamber extending therethrough, with an inlet at the forward end of the combustion chamber for admitting and igniting a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and oxygen and a nozzle secured to the combustion chamber at the aft end thereof. The nozzle is made of wafers or petals of materials to be tested, with the wafers being secured together at the edges thereof and having a configuration such that the wafers in transverse cross section form a polygon which has an area which increases with distance from the combustion chamber.

Abstract: In a device for analyzing samples for mercury and/or hydride-forming elements by means of atomic absorption spectroscopy, a first arrangement for determining the mercury according to the amalgam method comprising passage throttling means in the form of a washing bottle and a tube connected downstream to a reaction vessel, the other end of which tube is connected to the measuring cell. The tube contains a gold net adapted to be heated and recooled according to the amalgam method. The second arrangement by which hydrides of the sample are directly connected to the measuring cell employs a conduit which leads directly to the measuring cell, bypassing the gold net by branching off from between the reaction vessel and washing bottle. The tube is connectable to a carrier gas source between the washing bottle and position of the gold net in the tube through a first shut-off valve. A second shut-off valve is arranged in the conduit directly leading to the measuring cell.

Abstract: An alcohol concentration sensor provided a tube shaped means (21) of which the top end (211) is closed with a top end closing means (20) and of which the bottom end (212) is remained open, a gas supply tube means (22) which penetrates the top end closing means (20) to extend down into the tube shaped means (21), which is provided an air blower means (24), and of which the lower end (221) terminates slightly upper than the bottom end (212) of the tube shaped means (21), thereby the lower end (221) of the gas supply tube means (22) is soaked into a liquid (10) containing water and alcohol, of which the alcohol concentration is required to be determined, deeply sufficient to allow the air bubbles flown out of the gas supply tube means (22) into the liquid (10) to absorb sufficient quantity of alcohol contained in the liquid (10), whenever the tube shaped means (21) is soaked in the liquid (10 ), a gas drawing out means (26) which penetrates the top end closing means (20), a gas temperature sensing means (27) whi

Abstract: An improved sample-holding platform for a stabilized temperature platform furnace in atomic absorption spectroscopy is provided having a recessed base and elevated sidewalls to retain an organic liquid sample and concentrate the atomized elements in a confined area for analysis after vaporization.

Abstract: The kit includes a U-shaped cooling part containing a coil condenser, various combustion chambers with or without water cooling, burners, sample containers, and separating receivers. Almost all of the parts are made of quartz. The parts are assembled by ground joints. The axes of the combustion part and the cooling and absorption part run parallel to one another and are vertical. In the various combustion apparatus assemblable from the kit, all substances can be burned completely and without trouble. The apparatus can easily be rearranged and optimally suited to each combustion task.

Abstract: A container for an ashable material, to be ashed by heat in an ashing furnace, especially one heated by microwave radiation onto microwave absorptive elements thereof, comprises a heat resistant, walled container which is light weight, microwave transmissive and porous, and which is of quartz microfibers that are held in desired walled container form, preferably in substantially flat cylindrical form. Such a container is made by shaping a heat resistant, light weight, microwave transmissive and porous non-woven sheet of quartz microfibers to container form and heating and curing such sheet in such form, preferably after moistening it with water, whereby a form-retaining container results that can be successfully employed to hold ashable analytic samples during ashings thereof.

Abstract: A combustion chamber includes an inner cylindrical member concentrically mounted within an outer cylindrical member with a cylindrical space therebetween. The outer cylindrical member is enclosed at one end and both cylindrical members are open at an opposite end for access to the combustion area. The by-products of combustion are withdrawn from the inner cylindrical member at the closed end of the outer cylindrical member such that they reverse direction and circulate through the hot zone of the furnace in the cylindrical space. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a porous ceramic plug which supports and spaces the tubes in concentric relationship at the one end and captures particulate by-products of the combustion holding them in the hot zone for complete combustion.

Abstract: Gas samples withdrawn from within a reactor vessel (or process in general), as well as from one feed gas thereto, are passed to gas analyzers for particular components or impurities desired to be measured. The response time of the reactor analysis system employed is advantageously minimized by the elimination of dead gas space within the system and the provisions for rapid purging of the system or of individual gas analyzer feed lines. The flexibility of the system to measure both particular gas sample components and periodically present impurities using the same analytical instruments is generated by the addition of an in-line reaction system comprised of reactant addition means and/or catalyst means to individual sample lines leading to particular analytical instruments.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the flows of products of decomposition in a thermogravimetric procedure such that condensation on the support for a sample and on the chamber is minimized. A mixing chamber is established about a portion of the sample support that is open to the region of the sample such that products of decomposition can enter within the hot zone about the sample. A purge gas is fed into the interior of the mixing chamber, also the hot zone, but spaced apart from the end closest to the sample. The gases commingle within the mixing chamber and are extracted from the thermogravimetric chamber via outlets in a cooler region.

Abstract: The total sulfur content of samples consisting of chemical compounds is determined by the use of gas chromatographic separation of the sulfur and its flame-photometric detection. The samples are subjected to a catalytic reaction in a pipe reactor before the separation whereby all sulfur-containing compounds are completely converted into hydrogen sulfide. The pipe reactor is made from an aluminum oxide material in a purity of at least 99.8% of the corundum type.

Abstract: Apparatus for measurement of total organic carbon content of water, particularly of low relative organic content, is described which features a single sample cell for exposure of a static sample to ultraviolet radiation comprising electrodes for measuring the conductivity of the water. The conductivity is monitored as a function of time and the second time derivative of the conductivity signal is monitored to indicate when the oxidation reaction has been completed. Compensation for the contribution to conductivity of the water sample made by the instrument is achieved by subtracting a quantity porportional to the first time derivative of the conductivity at a time when the second time derivative reaches zero, indicating that the oxidation reaction is complete, from the change in the total conductivity measurement, the remainder being equal to the contribution to conductivity made by oxidation of the organic content of the water.

Abstract: For analyzing solid substances on mercury by measuring the atomic absorption, the substance is heated in order to expel the mercury. The generated mercury vapor is conveyed with a carrier gas flow over a body having a large surface made of an amalgam-generating material, so that the mercury vapor bonds and is accumulated as amalgam on the surface of this body. Subsequently, the body is heated in order to set the mercury accumulated as amalgam free again, and is conveyed by a carrier gas flow into a measuring vessel of an atomic absorption spectrometer. The solid substance which is to be analyzed is enclosed within a vessel having a closure which is destroyed during the heating of the solid substance. For this purpose, a cover is sealingly placed onto the vessel above the destructable closure through which cover a carrier gas flow can be supplied and be carried off.

Abstract: An improvement in an apparatus for carrying out chemical reactions is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing defining a vacuum chamber, with a reactor located within the vacuum chamber. The improvement comprises a device disposed within the housing having a high-pressure outlet tube for engagement with the reactor, a bypass for placing the high-pressure outlet tube in fluid communication with the outside of the vacuum chamber, an orifice for placing the high-pressure outlet tube in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber and at least one valve for selectively opening or closing the bypass and the orifice. The device may be engaged and disengaged with the reactor by a manual shaft and gear arrangement for operating the reactor at higher pressures relative to the normal vacuum operation.

Abstract: A sample of a fuel/oil/additive mixture is metered continuously to a channel-like, inclined test element along which there is an increasing temperature profile. Under the increasing action of heat on the flowing mixture, solid residual products form on the test element after a certain flow distance. Their weight and the flow distance are evaluated in order to evaluate the additive.

Abstract: A detector system (10) especially suited for detecting a halogen containing component in a gas stream includes a gas chromatograph (12), which is connected by gas line (13) to pyrolysis chamber (14). Sources (16) of additional gas streams are connected by a gas line (18) to the pyrolysis chamber (14). The detector electrodes in the pyrolysis chamber (14) are electrically connected to detector electronics (20) by line (22). A temperature control circuit (24) is electrically connected to heater (26) by line (28). Heater (26) is thermally coupled to the pyrolysis chamber (b 14) at (30). The pyrolysis chamber (14) is thermally coupled to thermocouple (32) at (34). The thermocouple (32) is electrically connected to the temperature control circuit (24) by line (36). The heater (26) is independent of the detector electrodes and maintains a temperature between about 700 degrees and 1000 degrees Centigrade. The detector electrodes are substantially alkali metal free.

Abstract: Disclosed is an oxygen sensor of the resistive type for the measurement of relative fluid concentrations of fluid reactive species. The following are disposed on one and the same substrate:a sensitive element, the resistivity of which is sensitive to an excess of one of the reactive species;a thermistor mounted as a resistance bridge with the sensitive element;a heating resistor fixing the minimum temperature threshold of operation.Application: The disclosed device can be applied notably to oxygen sensors.

Abstract: The lignin content of wood, paper pulp or other material containing lignin (such as filter paper soaked in black liquor) is more readily determined by flash pyrolysis of the sample at approximately 550.degree. C. in a reducing atmosphere of hydrogen or in an inert atmosphere of helium followed by a rapid analysis of the product gas by a mass spectrometer. The heated pyrolysis unit as fabricated comprises a small platinum cup welded to an electrically-heated stainless steel ribbon with control means for programmed short duration (1.5 sec, approximately) heating and means for continuous flow of hydrogen or helium. The pyrolysis products enter an electron-ionization mode mass spectrometer for spectral evaluation. Lignin content is obtained from certain ratios of integrated ion currents of many mass spectral lines, the ratios being linearly related to the Kappa number of Klason lignin.

Abstract: An assistant combustion agent for use in a high-frequency combustion furnace is characterized by a blending together of tungsten powder and tin powder. The blended mixture is then molded into a form and a plurality of the molded forms are added to a sample in the furnace. The ratio of tungsten powder to tin powder is between about 80:20 to 60:40.

Abstract: In one exemplar embodiment, a chemiluminescent nitrogen detector for detecting chemically-bound nitrogen in an organic compound is provided in which a discrete sample of the organic compound containing the chemically-bound nitrogen is injected into a high temperature furnace where the sample is pyrolyzed at extremely high temperatures in an oxygen rich atmosphere to form nitric oxide. The pyrolysis gases, including nitric oxide is then applied to a drying means for eliminating a substantial quantity of water vapor from the carried pyrolysis gases to insure that the dew point of the gases is below the operating temperature of a nitric oxide and ozone reaction chamber. The nitric oxide and ozone are mixed in a reaction chamber to form metastable nitrogen dioxide which instantaneously relaxes to its ground state with a resulting photo-emission of light energy.