A separation container for extracting a portion of a sample for use or testing and method for preparing samples for downstream use or testing are provided. The separation container may include a body defining an internal chamber. The body may define an opening, and the body may be configured to receive the sample within the internal chamber. The separation container may further include a seal disposed across the opening, such that the seal may be configured to seal the opening of the body, and a plunger movably disposed at least partially inside the internal chamber. The plunger may be configured to be actuated to open the seal and express the portion of the sample.

An apparatus with a transducer having a first output signal and arranged to receive an electrical input. The transducer switches the first output signal between an ON and OFF state. The apparatus has a chemical sensing surface coupled to the transducer arranged to receive a chemical input. A signal generator oscillates one or more of said inputs to vary the switching point of the transducer. The oscillating input may be the chemical input and/or the electrical input. The output signal may be a pulse whose period ON or OFF is determined by the oscillating input modulated by the chemical input.

An apparatus with a transducer having a first output signal and arranged to receive an electrical input. The transducer switches the first output signal between an ON and OFF state. The apparatus has a chemical sensing surface coupled to the transducer arranged to receive a chemical input. A signal generator oscillates one or more of said inputs to vary the switching point of the transducer. The oscillating input may be the chemical input and/or the electrical input. The output signal may be a pulse whose period ON or OFF is determined by the oscillating input modulated by the chemical input.

Provided herein are methods and devices for determining water and sediment content in a hydrocarbon fluid sample. The methods and devices for determining water and sediment content in a hydrocarbon fluid sample include a Karl Fischer titration device and a titration vessel configured to implement a Karl Fischer titration and an ultrasonic particle detector configured to identify sediment in the hydrocarbon fluid sample.

An embodiment provides a method for determining the alkalinity of an aqueous sample using an alkalinity sensor, including: monitoring the pH of an aqueous sample using a pH sensor in a sample cell, the pH sensor including a pH sensor electrode made of boron-doped diamond; generating hydronium ions, using a hydronium generator, in the aqueous sample in the sample cell, the hydronium generator including a hydronium-generating electrode; changing the pH of the aqueous sample by causing the hydronium generator to generate an amount of hydronium ions in the aqueous sample; quantifying and converting a current or charge to the number of hydronium ions produced to an end point of the electrochemical titration, the end point correlating to the alkalinity of a sample; and analyzing the alkalinity of the aqueous sample based on the generated amount of hydronium ions and the resulting change in pH monitored by the pH sensor.

An embodiment provides a method for determining the alkalinity of an aqueous sample using an alkalinity sensor, including: monitoring the pH of an aqueous sample using a pH sensor in a sample cell, the pH sensor including a pH sensor electrode made of boron-doped diamond; generating hydronium ions, using a hydronium generator, in the aqueous sample in the sample cell, the hydronium generator including a hydronium-generating electrode; changing the pH of the aqueous sample by causing the hydronium generator to generate an amount of hydronium ions in the aqueous sample; quantifying and converting a current or charge to the number of hydronium ions produced to an end point of the electrochemical titration, the end point correlating to the alkalinity of a sample; and analyzing the alkalinity of the aqueous sample based on the generated amount of hydronium ions and the resulting change in pH monitored by the pH sensor.

The present disclosure provides a bio-field effect transistor (BioFET) and a method of fabricating a BioFET device. The method includes forming a BioFET using one or more process steps compatible with or typical to a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process. The BioFET device includes a substrate, a transistor structure having a treated layer adjacent to the channel region, an isolation layer, and a dielectric layer in an opening of the isolation layer on the treated layer. The dielectric layer and the treated layer are disposed on opposite side of the transistor from a gate structure. The treated layer may be a lightly doped channel layer or a depleted layer.

Provided herein are methods and devices for determining water and sediment content in a hydrocarbon fluid sample. The methods and devices for determining water and sediment content in a hydrocarbon fluid sample include a Karl Fischer titration device and a titration vessel configured to implement a Karl Fischer titration and an ultrasonic particle detector configured to identify sediment in the hydrocarbon fluid sample.

An apparatus with a transducer having a first output signal and arranged to receive an electrical input. The transducer switches the first output signal between an ON and OFF state. The apparatus has a chemical sensing surface coupled to the transducer arranged to receive a chemical input. A signal generator oscillates one or more of said inputs to vary the switching point of the transducer. The oscillating input may be the chemical input and/or the electrical input. The output signal may be a pulse whose period ON or OFF is determined by the oscillating input modulated by the chemical input.

An apparatus with a transducer having a first output signal and arranged to receive an electrical input. The transducer switches the first output signal between an ON and OFF state. The apparatus has a chemical sensing surface coupled to the transducer arranged to receive a chemical input. A signal generator oscillates one or more of said inputs to vary the switching point of the transducer. The oscillating input may be the chemical input and/or the electrical input. The output signal may be a pulse whose period ON or OFF is determined by the oscillating input modulated by the chemical input.