Systems and methods for automatic sampling of a sample for the determination of chemical element concentrations and control of semiconductor processes are described. A system embodiment includes a remote sampling system configured to collect a sample of phosphoric acid at a first location, the remote sampling system including a remote valve having a holding loop coupled thereto; and an analysis system configured for positioning at a second location remote from the first location, the analysis system coupled to the remote valve via a transfer line, the analysis system including an analysis device configured to determine a concentration of one or more components of the sample of phosphoric acid and including a sample pump at the second location configured to introduce the sample from the holding loop into the transfer line for analysis by the analysis device.

A cryogenic liquid sampling system including a chamber having affixed therein a sample pump to proportionally pull a cryogenic liquid sample from an external source to a constant pressure piston accumulator and an enclosure. The enclosure includes a supply port to receive an input stream of a gas, an input port connected to the chamber via a vacuum line, a sample pump port connected to the chamber via a pump line and configured to feed therethrough gas received at the supply port to the sample pump, a vacuum device connected to the input port and configured to generate a vacuum within the chamber by pulling air from the vacuum line, and processing circuitry to control the vacuum device and the sample pump to perform transfer of a cryogenic liquid sample from the external source to an external device.

A pressure cell for sum frequency generation spectroscopy includes: a metal pressure chamber; a heating stage that heats the liquid sample; a pump, connected to an interior of the metal pressure chamber, that pressurizes the interior of the metal pressure chamber; and a controller that controls the pump and the heating stage to control a pressure of the interior of the metal pressure chamber and a temperature of a liquid sample. The metal pressure chamber includes: a base that retains the liquid sample; a removable lid that seals against the base to enclose the liquid sample in the metal pressure chamber; and a window in the removable lid that exposes the liquid sample to an exterior of the metal pressure chamber.

A multifunctional and modular geotechnical testing device for testing a soil sample is provided. The testing device includes a testing cell, a plurality of needle probes, and a plurality of lateral pressure-measuring sensors. The testing cell has an oedometer ring for accommodating the soil sample, with a plurality of holes located on and angularly distributed over an internal lateral surface of the oedometer ring forming a plurality of channels to access the soil sample from outside. The plurality of needle probes, each configured to house a pore water pressure-measuring sensor, is detachably mountable to the plurality of channels from outside for simultaneously measuring the pore water pressures. The plurality of lateral pressure-measuring sensors is removably attachable to an inner peripheral side of the testing cell for measuring lateral pressures of the soil sample.

The invention relates to a method for determining at least one property of hydrocarbon fluid, comprising: (a) providing a first chamber (1) filled with the hydrocarbon fluid and a second chamber (2) which is substantially empty, each of the first chamber (1) and second chamber (2) having a fixed volume; (b) transferring a sample of hydrocarbon fluid from the first chamber (1) to the second chamber (2); (c) measuring a pressure in at least one of the first chamber (1) and the second chamber (2); (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) a plurality of times. The invention also relates to an apparatus for implementing this method.

The invention relates to a metering module (10), in particular for a process plant having a modular construction, having a metering system (24) for metering a fluid, a housing (32) which at least partly accommodates the metering system (24) and also a temperature control device for controlling the temperature of the interior of the housing (32), wherein the temperature control device has a plate heat exchanger (34) and at least a part of the housing (32) is formed by at least one plate structure (36) of this plate heat exchanger (34), in particular by at least one so-called heat exchanger plate. The invention also relates to a process plant having a modular construction for the production of a chemical and/or pharmaceutical product having such a metering module (10) and to a method for controlling the temperature of a metering device (24) for metering liquids.

Methods and devices for non-invasively assessing lethality and/or cross contamination of a process. In some embodiments, an aggregating sampler is used, such as a fixture catcher, to obtain samples before, after and/or during the process. In some embodiments, an isolated packet of bacteria is exposed to the active elements of the process without contacting the product. In other embodiments, a method to measure lethality using microgenomic analysis is reported. In still other embodiments, a procedure is reported to use the knowledge from a microgenomic process to use direct qPCR for identified genera species to measure cross contamination. These metrics have special utility in the validation of wash water performance but may have utility is assessing process performance when unpackaged product is treated as for blanching and irradiation. Process performance can include verification of process delivery or for research.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for wastewater sampling in all climates. The wastewater sampling apparatus pulls a sample from a stream or other body of water based on flow or time maintaining a consistent, repeatable, and accurate sample size. The present invention includes an all-weather housing. An integrated touchscreen control provides the ability to specify the volumes of water and program times and/or flow intervals to collect samples. Controls also allow control of the temperature within the sample compartment, both from the unit directly or from an external device. The present invention includes arcuate sample chamber and pivoting sample tube for accurate wastewater volume samples. The present invention may pull samples with vertical lifts of up to 29 feet or more and provide consistent accurate sampling exceeding current EPA transport velocity.

A sampling container assembly includes a sample receiving residue tube, a residue tube cap, inner and outer pipes, a container cap, a fixture block, and a supply conduit. The residue tube cap is assembled with the residue tube and defines inlet and outlet ports. The inner pipe has a lower end sealingly mounted to the fixture block and surrounding the residue tube to define an inner cavity for receiving a heat transfer fluid. The outer pipe has a lower end sealingly mounted to the fixture block and surrounding the inner pipe to define an outer annulus, with the container cap sealingly assembled with an upper end of the outer pipe. The supply conduit extends through the fixture block and the outer annulus and is connected with the inlet port of the residue tube cap for providing a sample fluid to the residue tube. The fixture block defines a passage extending to the outer annulus for supplying a chilling fluid to the outer annulus for chilling the heat transfer fluid in the inner cavity.

A filtration assembly for separating solids from liquids contained in a sample, and a method for preparing such a sample are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, the filtration assembly includes an inner element (100) with proximal and distal ends (102,103) and a sample (200) disposed therein. A reinforcing sleeve (300) is disposed around the inner element (100) to form a sample receiver (250) with proximal and distal ends (252,253). A filter (400) is disposed at the open proximal end of the sample receiver (252) and a filtrate receiver (500) is placed over the filter (400) and threadedly engaged with the sample receiver (250) to clamp the filter (400) therebetween. Then, the receivers (250,500) are inverted and a pressure is applied to the sample (200) to force a liquid component (200a) through the filter (400) into the filtrate receiver (500), while solids (200b) are retained in the sample receiver (250).