A portable materials analyzer is implemented in a small form factor. A sample of material pieces are retrieved from a larger container. The sample of material pieces are then analyzed by the analyzer using x-ray fluorescence, laser induced breakdown spectroscopy, a vision system with artificial intelligence, etc. The number of the material pieces within the sample is a substantially small percentage of a total number of the material scrap pieces within the container. The analyzer then determines whether the classification of the material pieces within the sample corresponds to an expected classification of the entirety of material pieces within the container.

The method can include analyzing the composition of the particulate metal debris, including ascertaining a presence of at least one main alloy element and a presence or absence of at least one signature alloy element in the particulate debris; establishing a correlation between the particulate metal debris and a set of components, including matching the ascertained presence of the at least one main alloy element to a family of alloys from which the components of the set, including the source component, are made; and determining the source component amongst the components of the set, including matching the ascertained presence or absence of the at least one signature alloy element to an alloy composition of the source component.

The method can include analyzing the composition of the particulate metal debris, including ascertaining a presence of at least one main alloy element and a presence or absence of at least one signature alloy element in the particulate debris; establishing a correlation between the particulate metal debris and a set of components, including matching the ascertained presence of the at least one main alloy element to a family of alloys from which the components of the set, including the source component, are made; and determining the source component amongst the components of the set, including matching the ascertained presence or absence of the at least one signature alloy element to an alloy composition of the source component.

A system and method for evaluating soil characteristics. The system and method includes providing one or more soil test kits to a user. The soil tests kits may include ion-exchange resins and may instruct the user to collect a soil sample from his/her growing area, to combine the soil sample with the ion-exchange resins, and to provide the combination to the system for analysis. Other test kits may not include ion-exchange resins and may instruct the user to provide a soil sample from his/her growing area to the system for analysis. The system evaluates the ion-exchange resins and/or the soil samples to identify nutrient levels, pH levels, and other characteristics of the soil. Using the evaluation results, the system provides feedback, recommendations and/or products to the user to improve the soil conditions and to ensure a successful crop, yield, quality, and nutrient density. The system and method also may include providing a second soil test kit to the user at a predetermined time after the first, to evaluate a second soil sample, and to compare the second evaluation results with the first to assess the improvement of the soil conditions.

A system and method for evaluating soil characteristics. The system and method includes providing one or more soil test kits to a user. The soil tests kits may include ion-exchange resins and may instruct the user to collect a soil sample from his/her growing area, to combine the soil sample with the ion-exchange resins, and to provide the combination to the system for analysis. Other test kits may not include ion-exchange resins and may instruct the user to provide a soil sample from his/her growing area to the system for analysis. The system evaluates the ion-exchange resins and/or the soil samples to identify nutrient levels, pH levels, and other characteristics of the soil. Using the evaluation results, the system provides feedback, recommendations and/or products to the user to improve the soil conditions and to ensure a successful crop, yield, quality, and nutrient density. The system and method also may include providing a second soil test kit to the user at a predetermined time after the first, to evaluate a second soil sample, and to compare the second evaluation results with the first to assess the improvement of the soil conditions.

Provided is an X-ray analysis device and an X-ray analysis method capable of easily analyzing a valence of a target element in a sample. A controller 22 of a signal processing device of the X-ray analysis device is provided with: a storage unit 360 for storing a calibration curve generated based on a peak energy of Kα.sub.1 X-ray and a peak energy of Kα.sub.2 X-ray emitted from a metal simple substance, a peak energy of Kα.sub.1 X-ray and a peak energy of Kα.sub.2 X-ray emitted from each of two or more types of compounds each containing the metal simple substance, and a valence of the metal in each of the two or more types of compounds; a processing unit 302 configured to acquire a peak energy of Kα.sub.1 X-ray and a peak energy of Kα.sub.2 X-ray of the metal emitted from the metal contained in an unknown sample; and a calculation unit 308 configured to calculate a mean valence of the metal contained in the unknown sample by applying the obtained peak energy of Kα.sub.1 X-ray and peak energy of Kα.sub.2 X-ray to the calibration curve.

Provided is an X-ray analysis device and an X-ray analysis method capable of easily analyzing a valence of a target element in a sample. A controller 22 of a signal processing device of the X-ray analysis device is provided with: a storage unit 360 for storing a calibration curve generated based on a peak energy of Kα.sub.1 X-ray and a peak energy of Kα.sub.2 X-ray emitted from a metal simple substance, a peak energy of Kα.sub.1 X-ray and a peak energy of Kα.sub.2 X-ray emitted from each of two or more types of compounds each containing the metal simple substance, and a valence of the metal in each of the two or more types of compounds; a processing unit 302 configured to acquire a peak energy of Kα.sub.1 X-ray and a peak energy of Kα.sub.2 X-ray of the metal emitted from the metal contained in an unknown sample; and a calculation unit 308 configured to calculate a mean valence of the metal contained in the unknown sample by applying the obtained peak energy of Kα.sub.1 X-ray and peak energy of Kα.sub.2 X-ray to the calibration curve.

Described herein is a method for recycling aluminum alloy wheels. The method includes the steps of providing a feed of aluminum alloy wheels of a particular alloy; fragmenting a quantity of the aluminum alloy wheels into a plurality of fragments; subjecting the plurality of fragments to shot blasting to remove surface impurities from the plurality of fragments to produce a plurality of shot blasted pieces; separating the plurality of shot blasted pieces into a plurality of larger shot blasted pieces and a plurality of smaller shot blasted pieces; and, estimating a composition of the plurality of larger shot blasted pieces by selecting multiple shot blasted pieces from the plurality of smaller shot blasted pieces and then measuring the composition of the multiple shot blasted pieces.

A wellbore is plugged using a bismuth alloy. The wellbore is arranged so that a liquid bismuth alloy sets with an excess pressure of the plug relative to the borehole fluid pressure along a desired seal height distance.

A wellbore is plugged using a bismuth alloy. The wellbore is arranged so that a liquid bismuth alloy sets with an excess pressure of the plug relative to the borehole fluid pressure along a desired seal height distance.