A colorimetric sensor for detecting an analyte of interest that includes multiple surfaces and a molecularly imprinted polymer defining a cavity shaped to receive an analyte of interest. Each surface defines a void (e.g., a pore or a nanohole) and at least one surface defines a fluid inlet. The sensor is configured such that, when an analyte contacts the molecularly imprinted polymer and becomes disposed within the cavity, a wettability of at least one of the surfaces changes thereby to cause a detectable color change in the sensor. Optionally, the sensor may also include a metal layer at a bottom of each void or nanohole and outside a top of each void or nanohole for use as a plasmon resonance-type sensor.

A process for manufacturing particles of water-absorbing material is provided. The process includes providing a powder bed composed of an absorptive powder comprising a water-absorbing polysaccharide onto a surface; releasing an aqueous solution from a solution dispenser so as to contact the powder bed, 5 thereby forming a solution-impregnated humid material; letting the solution-impregnated humid material agglomerate in substantially shear-less conditions to form an agglomerated humid material, the solution-impregnated humid material being supported by the surface; and drying the agglomerated humid material, thereby forming the particles.

A sorbent based monitoring system for measuring the solute concentration of at least one component of a fluid. The system has a sorbent regeneration system for regeneration of the fluid and has a sorbent cartridge that has at least one material layer. The fluid is conveyed through the sorbent cartridge and contacts at least one sensor after having contacted at least one material layer.

A dryer cartridge for removal of water from a liquid is provided with a cartridge body having a receiving chamber and a cartridge body wall delimiting the receiving chamber at least in sections thereof, wherein the cartridge body wall allows the liquid to flow through. A drying agent is arranged in the receiving chamber. A connection head is provided that can fasten the dryer cartridge in an opening of a housing wall of a device for receiving the liquid. The connection head has a connection opening and the connection opening connects in fluid communication the receiving chamber to an environment of the cartridge body. A drying system is provided with a device for receiving the liquid and with the dryer cartridge that can be fastened to an opening of a housing wall of a device for receiving the liquid.

A chemical absorbent comprising a hydrated mixture of a major proportion of a pharmaceutically acceptable hydroxide of a Group II metal and a minor proportion of a Group I metal-containing zeolite. The chemical absorbent is substantially free of hydroxides of Group I metals.

The invention relates to a straw comprising a tube (11) and a gas-permeable and liquid-tight stopper (12), said stopper (12) being arranged in the tube (11), close to an end (16). The invention is characterised in that the stopper (12) comprises an indicator component (20) having a first pre-determined colour in the absence of previous contact with said substance (21) and a second pre-determined colour, of a different shade from that of the first colour, once it has been in contact with said substance (21). The assembly comprises the straw (10) and a device (26) for controlling the filling of the straw.

The invention relates to a nanoporous polyalkoxysilane sol-gel matrix and to a process for producing such a nanoporous polyalkoxysilane sol-gel matrix containing indigo carmine, wherein said process comprises the following steps: a) synthesizing a gel from tetramethoxysilane or from a mixture of tetramethoxysilane and another organosilicon precursor chosen from phenyltrimethoxysilane, phenyltriethoxysilane, a fluoroalkyltrimethoxysilane, a fluoroalkyltriethoxysilane, a chloroalkylmethoxysilane, a chloroalkylethoxysilane, an aminopropyltriethoxysilane and mixtures thereof, the synthesis being carried out in an aqueous medium in the presence of a polar organic solvent and of the indigo carmine at a temperature ranging from 20 to 70 C., b) drying the gel obtained in step a) so as to obtain a nanoporous polyalkoxysilane sol-gel matrix containing indigo carmine.

A waste absorbing media composition for use in an agitating waste non-contact toilet apparatus comprises an absorbent material, a liquid, and an indicator detectable by a sensor of the agitating waste non-contact toilet apparatus.

A chromogenic absorbent material for detecting a detectable substance in a water-containing medium, such as animal urine, is provided. The detectable substance may be indicative of a disease or condition, and the water-containing medium may be an excretion, blood, plasma, an aqueous solution or a solid impregnated with an aqueous solution. The chromogenic absorbent material may include a trigger agent, a chromogenic indicator convertible into a chromogenically active substance in the presence of the trigger agent and the detectable substance, and an absorptive material which is porous, for absorbing the water-containing medium. The absorptive material may include a water-absorbing polysaccharide providing absorptive properties to the chromogenic absorbent material. The trigger agent, the chromogenic indicator and the detectable substance are preferably unreactive to the absorptive material.

A toilet apparatus has a waste material receiving bowl with an opening to receive an absorbent media and indicator and a sensor to detect a presence of the indicator in the material receiving bowl when the indicator is present in the material receiving bowl and transmit a signal indicating the indicator is present in the material receiving bowl. A control circuit receives the signal from the sensor, processes the signal to determine the indicator is present in the material receiving bowl, and causes one or more actions to be taken by the toilet apparatus based on determining the indicator is present in the material receiving bowl.