A system (100) for producing analysis data indicative of presence of one or more predetermined components in a sample (110) is presented. The system includes source equipment (120) for directing a particle stream (130) towards the sample (110), detector equipment (140) for measuring a distribution of particles scattered from the sample (110) as a function of a scattering angle (), and processing equipment (170) for producing the analysis data based on the measured distribution of the scattered particles and on reference information indicative of an effect of the one or more predetermined components on the distribution of the scattered particles. The scattering angle related to each scattered particle is an angle between an arrival direction of the particle stream and a trajectory (160) of the scattered particle. The system utilizes different directional properties of scattering related to different isotopes, different chemical substances, and different isomers.

A measurement head for making X-ray measurements on drilling fluid includes an inner pipe (30) having a outlet (32) and an outer pipe (34) around the inner pipe. Drilling fluid is pumped through the outlet refreshing the fluid at the outlet. The pump is then stopped. A height sensor (42) is then used to measuring the height of a meniscus of drilling fluid at the outlet (32). An X-ray head (50) including an X-ray source (52) and an X-ray detector (54) is then moved into a reproducible position above the meniscus of fluid above the outlet. The height sensor (42) may be fixed to a movable cover (40), to the X-ray head (50) or to some other part of the measurement head.

A sample holding device and related method designed to facilitate inexpensive and reliable testing of materials or specimens with beam diffraction and scattering techniques. The device features a sample receptacle that is made out of a polymer, cellulose, polymeric material, or cellulosic material. The flexible nature and low melting point of the sample receptacle allows for reliable sealing against the vacuum or gaseous environment used for beam diffraction or scattering analysis. The sample holding device can be considered disposable because of its low cost, eliminating the need for complex or unreliable cleaning procedures.

A method of using a tracer additive in a wellbore that includes using a deployment device, the device configured with a hollowed region, and disposing a tracer additive into the hollowed region. The method includes sending the deployment device into the wellbore in manner whereby the deployment device arrives at a desired location, and sufficiently dissolving the deployment device so that the tracer additive comes into contact with a target formation fluid. The tracer additive has a first composition, and is in a solid powder form.

A method for determining a concentration of an isotope in a fluid, the isotope absorbing neutrons, the method comprising placing a plurality of neutron detectors at various distances from the fluid; irradiating the fluid by a neutron-emitting source, the latter being placed so that emitted neutrons pass through the fluid before reaching the detectors; measuring, by each detector, a quantity representative of an amount of neutrons reaching the detector; and based on the measurements resulting from the measuring, estimating a concentration of the isotope in the fluid. Further, the estimating step includes taking into account a database containing an estimate of the quantity measured by each detector and based on the database, and on the measurements resulting from the measuring step, estimating the concentration of the isotope in the fluid.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising: causing emission of characteristic X-rays of a first element attached to a first biological analyte; causing emission of characteristic X-rays of a second element attached to a second biological analyte; detecting a characteristic of the first biological analyte based on the characteristic X-rays of the first element and a characteristic of the second biological analyte based on the characteristic X-rays of the second element; wherein the first element and the second element are different; wherein the first biological analyte and the second biological analyte are in the same solution.

Provided is a sample holder for an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, which enables measurement of a liquid sample that is in a small amount and cannot be dropped and dried, when the measurement is performed with a tube-above optics X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The sample holder for an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer includes: a first substrate including: a support substrate having a hole in which a liquid sample is placed; a first polymer film, which is bonded to a surface of the support substrate on an X-ray incident side so as to cover the hole; and an adhesive layer, which is provided on a back surface of the surface of the support substrate to which the first polymer film is bonded; and a second substrate including: a fixed substrate having a hole at a position corresponding to the hole of the support substrate; and a second polymer film, which is bonded to a surface of the fixed substrate on the X-ray incident side, the second substrate being bonded to the first substrate with the adhesive layer.

A method of analyzing a lubricating oil may include: measuring a first concentration of components in a lubricating oil prior to introduction into a cylinder in a two-stroke engine using x-ray fluorescence, the components comprising: sulfur and total calcium; collecting a scrape-down lubricating oil that corresponds to the lubricating oil after having been passed through the cylinder during fuel combustion of a fuel comprising 0.5 wt % or less sulfur; measuring a second concentration of the components in the scrape-down lubricating oil using the x-ray fluorescence; and calculating an amount of acid neutralized during combustion based on the first and second concentration of the components. Based on said analysis a change to a property of the scrape-down lubricating oil and/or changing a feed rate of the lubricating oil into the cylinder based on the amount of acid neutralized may be implemented.

An article for screening includes a top surface and a bottom surface. A forward wall, an aft wall and side walls each extend between the top surface and the bottom surface. A longitudinal recess extends at least partially across the top surface has a first lateral wall extending away from the top surface toward the bottom surface and meeting with a base wall at a predetermined angle therebetween for positioning of a liquid material relative to the first lateral wall and the base wall. The predetermined angle is for restricting data in a data range provided by a scanning operation of the liquid material to data provided within the predetermined angle between the first lateral wall and the base wall of the recess. The liquid material may be contained within a container positioned within the recess. Preferably, the article is an insert for a security screening tray.

Systems and methods for liquid detection are disclosed. An illustrative method for liquid detection herein may include implementing CT imaging and XRD imaging on one or more liquid planes of liquid contained in a container at once by rotating the container so that X-rays from a same radiation source scan a whole area of each of the one or more liquid planes, and generating a substance identification result for the liquid contained in the container based on a CT image and a XRD image, wherein the CT imaging and the XRD imaging are implemented on a same liquid plane or different liquid planes. Consistent with various aspects and features, implementations may identify substances contained in the liquid more quickly and accurately.