An in-situ measurement apparatus automatically draws aqueous samples on an intermittent or ad-hoc basis and measures specific metal specie concentration. The apparatus can perform both raw measurement of specific metal specie, as well as processing to convert other species of the same metal to the specific metal specie or to destroy or remove unwanted masking agents (e.g. organics). In one application, “dirty” water from a scrubber is measured for Se(IV) presence (using a renewable voltametric system), both with and without the masking agents present; in addition, selective processing converts other selenium species to Se(IV), permitting assessment of total selenium and measurement of Se(VI) presence. Automated reactions can then be taken to remove detected toxic substances from waste water without excess reliance on treatment chemicals, and so as to ensure that only water complaint with regulatory standards is released into the environment.

An in-situ measurement apparatus automatically draws aqueous samples on an intermittent or ad-hoc basis and measures specific metal specie concentration. The apparatus can perform both raw measurement of specific metal specie, as well as processing to convert other species of the same metal to the specific metal specie or to destroy or remove unwanted masking agents (e.g. organics). In one application, “dirty” water from a scrubber is measured for Se(IV) presence (using a renewable voltametric system), both with and without the masking agents present; in addition, selective processing converts other selenium species to Se(IV), permitting assessment of total selenium and measurement of Se(VI) presence. Automated reactions can then be taken to remove detected toxic substances from waste water without excess reliance on treatment chemicals, and so as to ensure that only water complaint with regulatory standards is released into the environment.

An in-situ measurement apparatus automatically draws aqueous samples on an intermittent or ad-hoc basis and measures specific metal specie concentration. The apparatus can perform both raw measurement of specific metal specie, as well as processing to convert other species of the same metal to the specific metal specie or to destroy or remove unwanted masking agents (e.g. organics). In one application, “dirty” water from a scrubber is measured for Se(IV) presence (using a renewable voltametric system), both with and without the masking agents present; in addition, selective processing converts other selenium species to Se(IV), permitting assessment of total selenium and measurement of Se(VI) presence. Automated reactions can then be taken to remove detected toxic substances from waste water without excess reliance on treatment chemicals, and so as to ensure that only water complaint with regulatory standards is released into the environment.

A quality check module for characterizing a specimen and/or a specimen container. The quality check module includes an imaging location within the quality check module configured to receive a specimen container containing a specimen, one or more cameras located at one or more viewpoints adjacent to the imaging location, and one or more spectrally-switchable light source including a light panel assembly located adjacent the imaging location and configured to provide lighting for the one or more cameras, the spectrally-switchable light source configured to be operatively switchable between multiple different spectra. Methods of imaging a specimen and/or specimen container and specimen, and specimen testing apparatus including a quality check module adapted to carry out the method are described herein, as are other aspects.

A method for measuring the critical micelle concentration of a surfactant solution is provided. The method includes preparing surfactant solutions with different concentration of the surfactant, measuring transmittance profiles of the surfactant solutions in a dispersion analyser under centrifugal force, translating changes in the transmittance profiles of the surfactant solutions to a sedimentation velocity, and using a relationship between the sedimentation velocity and the surfactant concentration to determine the critical micelle concentration of the surfactant.

A high-temperature and high-pressure equipment and method for microscopic visual sulfur deposit seepage test is provided by the present disclosure, the equipment comprises an injection system, a high-temperature and high-pressure visual kettle, a pressure supply system, a data acquisition and analysis system, a fluid recovery system, and an injection branch pipe; the injection system comprises an ISCo micro-injection pump, an intermediate container, a thermostatic heating oven and a pressure meter; the intermediate container is arranged in the thermostatic heating oven, the ISCo micro-injection pump is connected to the intermediate container; the data acquisition and analysis system comprises a microscope, a high-brightness light source and a computer; the pressure supply system comprises an annular pressure tracking pump, a back pressure pump, a back pressure valve and a pressure gauge; the fluid recovery system comprises a wide neck flask with rubber stopper, a balance, a flowmeter and an exhaust gas absorber tank.

A high-temperature and high-pressure equipment and method for microscopic visual sulfur deposit seepage test is provided by the present disclosure, the equipment comprises an injection system, a high-temperature and high-pressure visual kettle, a pressure supply system, a data acquisition and analysis system, a fluid recovery system, and an injection branch pipe; the injection system comprises an ISCo micro-injection pump, an intermediate container, a thermostatic heating oven and a pressure meter; the intermediate container is arranged in the thermostatic heating oven, the ISCo micro-injection pump is connected to the intermediate container; the data acquisition and analysis system comprises a microscope, a high-brightness light source and a computer; the pressure supply system comprises an annular pressure tracking pump, a back pressure pump, a back pressure valve and a pressure gauge; the fluid recovery system comprises a wide neck flask with rubber stopper, a balance, a flowmeter and an exhaust gas absorber tank.

A settlement analyser and a method of analysing settlement which employs an array of emitters and at least one array of detectors, wherein the settlement analyser is configured to analyse a sample placed or otherwise located between the array of emitters and the at least one array of detectors by sequentially emitting light from the array of emitters, and detecting light which arrives at the at least one array of detectors via the sample volume. Repeating this sequence allows an optical profile of the sample to be determined as a function of time. The sequence may be a linear sequence, or it may be a non-linear sequence, and light from a particular emitter may be detected by several different detectors in order to increase the resolution of the analyser and the method. The analyser and the method may thereby identify the location of boundaries or interfaces between different layers in a sample once settled and during settlement. Furthermore, measurements obtained by the settlement analyser and method may be used to determine one or more properties of the sample, including MLSS concentration, SV30 number and SVI value. In one embodiment one or more settlement analysers may be comprised in an apparatus which may be located in a process or flow and thereby obtain and analyse samples directly from the process or flow, and in another embodiment a stand-alone analyser is able to receive and analyse samples within sample holders.

A settlement analyser and a method of analysing settlement which employs an array of emitters and at least one array of detectors, wherein the settlement analyser is configured to analyse a sample placed or otherwise located between the array of emitters and the at least one array of detectors by sequentially emitting light from the array of emitters, and detecting light which arrives at the at least one array of detectors via the sample volume. Repeating this sequence allows an optical profile of the sample to be determined as a function of time. The sequence may be a linear sequence, or it may be a non-linear sequence, and light from a particular emitter may be detected by several different detectors in order to increase the resolution of the analyser and the method. The analyser and the method may thereby identify the location of boundaries or interfaces between different layers in a sample once settled and during settlement. Furthermore, measurements obtained by the settlement analyser and method may be used to determine one or more properties of the sample, including MLSS concentration, SV30 number and SVI value. In one embodiment one or more settlement analysers may be comprised in an apparatus which may be located in a process or flow and thereby obtain and analyse samples directly from the process or flow, and in another embodiment a stand-alone analyser is able to receive and analyse samples within sample holders.

Provided is a medium evaluation method for evaluating the suitability of a medium in which cell aggregates are cultured in a suspended state, by which an evaluation of whether a medium is adequate for both the cell retention performance and the cell recovery efficiency, the medium evaluation method including dispersing a plurality of particles in a medium, measuring a sedimentation velocity by which the particles settle in the medium, and using the sedimentation velocity thus measured as an index value indicating the suitability of the medium; and also provided are a medium and a culture method.