A volatile content analysis instrument is disclosed that includes a cavity and a microwave source positioned to produce and direct microwaves into the cavity at frequencies other than infrared frequencies. A balance is included with at least the balance pan (or platform) in the cavity. An infrared source is positioned to produce and direct infrared radiation into the cavity at frequencies other than the microwave frequencies produced by the microwave source. A lens is positioned between the infrared source and the balance pan for more efficiently directing infrared radiation to a sample on the balance pan. The lens has dimensions that preclude microwaves of the frequencies produced by the source and directed into the cavity from leaving the cavity.

A measuring instrument for thermogravimetrically determining the moisture content of a material, which includes a base (12), configured as a balance, with a base surface (22), and a hood (14) pivotably connected to the base. The hood has a weighing chamber lid (50), weighing chamber walls (52-56) and a heating element (44). The hood consists of an electronics module (36) that includes the heating element and an electronic power unit, and of a mechanical module (48) that includes the weighing chamber lid and all of the weighing chamber walls. The mechanical module (48) is rigidly and reversibly coupled to the electronics module so that the heating element, protrudes from a main body (42) of the electronics module and rises through a corresponding opening (58) in the rearward weighing chamber wall (56), with the main body being pivotably connected to the base and surrounding the electronic power unit.

A soil-emulating device and a system for evaluation of soil-related properties are provided. The soil-emulating apparatus includes one or more soil micromodels comprising packed emulated soil particles. The packed soil particles comprise a particle size distribution, and a soil structure of a desired soil type. The soil micromodel is cast from a two-dimensional representation of a region to provide visualization of air infiltration into pores of the micromodel. The soil micromodel is located within an environmental control chamber to control humidity and, optionally, the soil micromodel is saturated with a bacteria strain. Images are captured of the soil micromodel over time.

The invention relates to a rapid method for estimating the dry matter content of a fruit or vegetable. The method comprises drying a sample of the fruit or vegetable on a support and measuring the dry matter content, wherein the whole method can be carried out in less than 2 hours. This compares to the industry standard method for assessing dry matter in horticultural products which typically takes 6-48 hours.

A method of and apparatus (41) for determining the organic carbon content of soil in heated air or gas is forced through a soil sample (36) to burn off or oxidize organic carbon in the sample with the change of weight of the sample (36) indicating the carbon content in the soil sample (36) and thus the soil from which the sample (36) is taken. The apparatus (41) includes a housing (47) in which one or more soil samples (36) may be located, a heater unit (51) for heating the air or gas for passage through the soil samples (36) to burn off organic materials therein including organic carbon. The apparatus (41) also includes a weighing device (76) which enables the change of weight of the soil samples (36) to be determined while the samples (36) remain within the housing (47).

A water vapor concentration in a test gas in a measurement chamber in which a sample is disposed is adjusted, and a moisture amount of the sample in the measurement chamber is measured by a measurement unit. When the water vapor concentration in the test gas in the measurement chamber is changed, a shift B in change of the moisture amount of the sample measured by the measurement unit, from change of the water vapor concentration in the test gas, is calculated. The calculated shift B in the change of the moisture amount of the sample corresponds to an adsorption-desorption rate of the sample. Thus, it is possible to analyze not only the moisture amount of the sample but also the adsorption-desorption rate of the sample, so that characteristics of the sample can be widely analyzed.

A measuring device includes: a support which supports a measurement target object; a furnace which heats the measurement target object; an elevating mechanism which moves the furnace; and an electronic balance which measures the weight of the measurement target object, the elevating mechanism moving the furnace so that the measurement target object which is supported by the support is housed in the furnace.

The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for determining the water content of a fresh concrete mixture. Additionally, the present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for determining the water to binder ratio for a fresh concrete mixture.

A filter cake analyser (1) is disclosed. The analyser (1) may include a probe (7) configured to extend into a path of filter cake (6) (or other material) and convey a sample amount of filter cake (6) from a catch basin (9) to a probe discharge (11). A sample cup (17) of an indexable cup assembly (16) is filled with the sample amount of filter cake (6). A rotational actuator (22) supporting the cup assembly (16) indexes the cup assembly (16) between three cup assembly positions. A dryer (15) of the filter cake analyser (1) dries the contents of the sample cup (17), and a load cell (28) intermittently engages and disengages with the cup assembly (16) via an actuator (26) to obtain dry and wet mass measurement values to calculate moisture content of the sample amount of filter cake (6).

A volatile content analysis instrument is disclosed that includes a cavity and a microwave source positioned to produce and direct microwaves into the cavity at frequencies other than infrared frequencies. A balance is included with at least the balance pan (or platform) in the cavity. An infrared source is positioned to produce and direct infrared radiation into the cavity at frequencies other than the microwave frequencies produced by the microwave source. A lens is positioned between the infrared source and the balance pan for more efficiently directing infrared radiation to a sample on the balance pan. The lens has dimensions that preclude microwaves of the frequencies produced by the source and directed into the cavity from leaving the cavity.