A soil sampler attachable to a vehicle for agricultural uses includes a collector configured to collect a soil sample from a field as the vehicle advances across the field. The soil sampler further includes a preprocessor connected to the collector and configured to receive the soil sample from the collector and to preprocess the soil sample to dilute the soil sample. The soil sampler also includes a sensor connected to the preprocessor and configured to determine a concentration of at least one analyte in the soil sample. The soil sampler further includes a disposer connected to the sensor and configured to dispose the soil sample after the sensor determines the concentration of the at least one analyte in the soil sample.

A soil sampler attachable to a vehicle for agricultural uses includes a collector configured to collect a soil sample from a field as the vehicle advances across the field. The soil sampler further includes a preprocessor connected to the collector and configured to receive the soil sample from the collector and to preprocess the soil sample to dilute the soil sample. The soil sampler also includes a sensor connected to the preprocessor and configured to determine a concentration of at least one analyte in the soil sample. The soil sampler further includes a disposer connected to the sensor and configured to dispose the soil sample after the sensor determines the concentration of the at least one analyte in the soil sample.

Methods and systems are provided for treating the tail gas stream of a sulfur recovery plant. The methods including generating a tail gas stream from a sulfur recovery plant, treating the tail gas stream with a hydrogen sulfide absorption unit and a hydrogen selective membrane unit, generating a stream low in hydrogen sulfide and a stream rich in hydrogen. The hydrogen sulfide rich stream is recycled to the sulfur recovery unit. The hydrogen selective membrane unit includes a glassy polymer membrane selective for hydrogen over hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide.

Methods and systems are provided for treating the tail gas stream of a sulfur recovery plant. The methods including generating a tail gas stream from a sulfur recovery plant, treating the tail gas stream with a hydrogen sulfide absorption unit and a hydrogen selective membrane unit, generating a stream low in hydrogen sulfide and a stream rich in hydrogen. The hydrogen sulfide rich stream is recycled to the sulfur recovery unit. The hydrogen selective membrane unit includes a glassy polymer membrane selective for hydrogen over hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide.

A particle separating device includes at least three liquid chambers adapted to store a liquid therein; at least two liquid passages, each connecting adjacent two of the liquid chambers; an inlet adapted to introduce a liquid in which multiple particles of different sizes are dispersed into one of the liquid chambers; and at least two electrodes disposed inside at least two of the liquid chambers, respectively, the electrodes adapted to apply different electrical potentials to the liquid. The cross-sectional areas of the at least two liquid passages are different from each other.

A particle separating device includes at least three liquid chambers adapted to store a liquid therein; at least two liquid passages, each connecting adjacent two of the liquid chambers; an inlet adapted to introduce a liquid in which multiple particles of different sizes are dispersed into one of the liquid chambers; and at least two electrodes disposed inside at least two of the liquid chambers, respectively, the electrodes adapted to apply different electrical potentials to the liquid. The cross-sectional areas of the at least two liquid passages are different from each other.

The embodiments described herein can be used in a variety of sample retrieval, grasping, cutting, and manipulating operations. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an elongated member and a retention member movably coupled to the elongated member. The elongated member includes a cutting portion configured to cut a target sample when moved, and defines an internal volume within which at least a portion of the target sample can be received. The retention member includes an engagement portion configured to move between a first position and a second position when the retention member is actuated. The engagement portion is configured to extend within the internal volume to exert a force on the target sample within the internal volume when the engagement portion is in the second position.

A sampling device for obtaining a material sample from a surface is provided. The sampling device comprises a housing (4) defining a cavity (6) for forming an at least semi-enclosed space adjacent a surface; an extraction conduit in communication with the cavity for extracting a material sample from the surface; an input interface arranged to receive light from a first direction (A); and an optical subsystem. The optical subsystem is located at least partially within the housing and is arranged to direct light from the input interface to be output through the cavity in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction (A), to ablate a material sample from the surface.

Methods and systems for physical expansion and imaging of biological samples are described herein. In one aspect of the disclosure, a method for preparing a biological sample for the purpose of generating images of its ultrastructure with an imaging instrument includes a) physically expanding the sample by at least a factor of two in at least one dimension; and b) bulk labeling a plurality of components of the sample with at least one reagent to introduce contrast.

Methods and systems for physical expansion and imaging of biological samples are described herein. In one aspect of the disclosure, a method for preparing a biological sample for the purpose of generating images of its ultrastructure with an imaging instrument includes a) physically expanding the sample by at least a factor of two in at least one dimension; and b) bulk labeling a plurality of components of the sample with at least one reagent to introduce contrast.