Disclosed is a leaching solution composition for extracting available phosphate in soil, the composition including 100 parts by weight of a leaching solution containing acetic acid, lactic acid, ammonium fluoride, ammonium sulfate, and sodium hydroxide, of which the weights are 110% of the weights of constituent ingredients of a leaching solution for extracting available phosphate in soil, used in the Lancaster method and 0.001 parts by weight of a bromocresol green indicator.

The present invention relates to a method and/or device for improving the separation behaviors and performance of aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) for the isolation and/or concentration of one or more target analytes from a sample. In one embodiment, the present method and device comprise ATPS components within a porous material and one or more phase separation behavior modifying agents that improve the separation behavior and performance characteristics of ATPS, including but not limited to the increasing the stability or reducing fluctuations of ATPS thought the adjustment of total volume of a sample solution that undergoes phase separation, volume ratio of the two phases of the ATPS, fluid flow rates, and concentrations of ATPS components.

Contamination detection systems, kits, and techniques are described for testing surfaces for the presence of hazardous contaminants, while minimizing user exposure to these contaminants. Even trace amounts of contaminants can be detected. A collection kit provides a swab that is simple to use, easy to hold and grip, allows the user to swab large areas of a surface, and keeps the user's hands away from the surface being tested. The kit also provides open and closed fluid transfer mechanism to transfer the collected fluid to a detection device while minimizing user exposure to hazardous contaminants in the collected fluid. Contamination detection kits can rapidly collect and detect hazardous drugs, including trace amounts of antineoplastic agents, in healthcare settings at the site of contamination.

Methods and devices for liquid-liquid extraction using digital microfluidic arrays are provided. A polar droplet is transported to a separation region containing a substantially non-polar solvent, where non-polar impurities may be extracted from the polar droplet while maintaining a distinct phase separation. In a preferred embodiment, biological samples containing hormones are dried on a digital microfluidic array, lysed by a lysing solvent, dried, subsequently dissolved in a polar solvent, and further purified in a separation step in which droplets are transported through a volume of non-polar solvent. The method disclosed herein provides the distinct advantage of an automated sample preparation method that is capable of extracting hormones from low sample volumes with high precision and recovery.

A sample purification system includes a container assembly bounding a sample purification compartment and having an upper end and an opposing lower end, the sample purification compartment comprising mixing zones and settling zones. A plurality of shielding elements are positioned within the sample purification compartment so as to at least partially separate adjacent mixing zones and settling zones or separate adjacent mixing zones, the mixing zones being in fluid communication with the settling zones. A mixing element is disposed within each mixing zone. An acoustic wave settler is aligned with a portion of the container assembly, the acoustic wave settler being configured to emit an acoustic wave through the portion of the container assembly and a mixture disposed therein, the acoustic wave coalescing fluid phase droplets disposed in the mixture to increase the buoyancy or density of the fluid phase droplets.

Methods of determining whether a toxicant is present in a consumable product, which comprise contacting a teleost embryo with an extract from a sample of the consumable product and determining whether the extract exerts a toxicity effect on the embryo.

Systems and methods for analyzing an analyte extracted from a sample using an adsorbent material.

In a general aspect, microorganisms [e.g., bacteria, etc.) are identified and detected. In some examples, a liquid solvent is supplied through a first channel of a sampling probe to an internal reservoir of the sampling probe; a fixed volume of the liquid solvent in the internal reservoir is held in direct contact with a sample surface for a period of time to form a liquid analyte; gas is supplied to the internal reservoir through a second channel of the sampling probe; the liquid analyte is extracted from the internal reservoir through a third channel of the sampling probe; the liquid analyte is transferred to a mass spectrometer; the mass spectrometer processes the liquid analyte to produce mass spectrometry data; and the mass spectrometry data are analyzed to detect and identify a microorganism [e.g., acteria, fungi, or another type of microorganism) present at the sample surface.

The present invention relates to a method for determining the migration potential of an at least partially cured energy curing ink and/or varnish printed on a substrate comprising: —providing a substrate, which is printed with the ink and/or varnish, which comprises at least one extractable compound, which absorbs or emits radiation at at least one wavelength between 190 and 3,000 nm, —cutting at least one sample from the printed substrate, placing and incubating the sample in a solvent, in which the extractable compound is soluble, and removing the sample from the solvent to obtain a solvent extract, —quantitatively measuring a spectroscopic characteristic of the solvent extract at at least one wavelength between 190 and 3,000 nm, at which the extractable compound absorbs or emits radiation, so as to obtain a measured numeric value of the spectroscopic characteristic, and —comparing the measured numeric value of the spectroscopic characteristic with a calibration curve.

A sample purification system includes a mixing zone; a settling zone in fluid communication with the mixing zone; a mixer element disposed in the mixing zone, the mixer element being configured to mix immiscible liquids to form a mixture; and a first acoustic wave settler configured to emit an acoustic wave into the mixture.