A system of multiple sets of optical Detection And Removal Assessment (DARA) (or Scannable Detection And Removal Assessment (DARA)) standards embedded with a foreign body of various compositions with known characteristics covering a broad gradation range relevant to end product application performance requirements, the standards being used for measuring the efficiency of an optical sorting system (or scannable sorting system) to remove product defectives from the processing stream. In addition, the DARA system of standards are endowed with specifically designed characteristics which stand out from normal products or materials after the sorter processing is complete to enable easy retrieval and reuse of the standards.

A method for detecting mentholated tobacco, comprising irradiating tobacco containing menthol and a fluorescent taggant with radiation and observing the tobacco for fluorescence from the taggant. A system and method for detecting and separating mentholated tobacco from non-mentholated tobacco within a product stream is also provided.

A copolymer is prepared by the polymerization of monomers that include an ultraviolet absorbing monomer, and a base-solubility-enhancing monomer. The copolymer is useful for forming a topcoat layer for electron beam and extreme ultraviolet lithographies. Also described are a layered article including the topcoat layer, and an associated method of forming an electronic device.

A process for detecting oil or lubricant contamination in a manufactured product (C), preferably a cigarette (C), the process comprising adding a fluorescent taggant to oils or lubricants contained in processing machinery for said product (C), conveying (131) said product (C) past an infrared detection apparatus (140), irradiating said product (C) with infrared radiation from said detection apparatus (140) as it passes the detection apparatus (140), and detecting infrared radiation emitted from said irradiated product (C). The taggant can be in the form of a composition containing a Stokes-shifting taggant, which absorbs radiation at a first wavelength and emits radiation at a second wavelength, different from said first wavelength, dissolved or dispersed in an oil or lubricant.

A method for sorting of items (1) based on material type, comprising: depositing an array of nanostructures (3) onto a surface portion of an item (1) to form a material identification tag (2), the nanostructures having an optical response dependent on the material type of the item onto which they are deposited, illuminating the material identification tag using a light source (30), determining at least one optical extinction and/or reflectance peak of the illuminated material identification tag, which peak is dependent on a material type of the item, categorizing the item based on the detected optical extinction and/or reflectance spectrum, and sorting the item in accordance with the categorization.

A refractory material for forming a refractory product includes a refractory component and a taggant having an amorphous or a crystalline solid dispersed within the refractory material. The taggant is configured to be distinguishable from the refractory component after heating of the refractory product between 300 degrees F. and 3500 degrees F. A method of reclaiming refractory material of a refractory lining constructed from different types of refractory products, the refractory lining having been subjected to temperatures in excess of 300 degrees F., includes demolishing the refractory lining to produce a mixture of refractory pieces of different types of refractory products. The mixture of refractory pieces is analyzed to detect the presence of one or more taggants, and the refractory pieces are sorted into groups based on the detected one or more taggants.

A system for the online sorting of ore samples based on mineralogy analysis includes a conveyor moving a stream of the ore samples along a conveying path, a LIBS module, a height measuring device, a focus controller and an airflow system. The LIBS module projects a LIBS laser beam along an optical path focused on an analysis spot of dimensions of the order of one or a few mineral components of the ore samples, and collects a returning LIBS light signal. The height measuring device and focus controller collaborate to adjust in real-time the focus of the LIBS laser beam to move the analysis spot perpendicularly to the conveyor according to a height of the ore samples crossing the optical path. The air flow system moves particles away from the optical path. A processing unit performs the mineralogy analysis of the ore sample based on the LIBS light signal.

Embodiments provide a method for processing a detector signal, which comprises a sequence of signal peaks. The method comprises a digitization step and a transferring step. In the digitization step, the detector signal is processed and binned in at least one region of interest depending on an area of the signal peaks. At least one number of counts is determined by a counter in the digitization step, wherein the number of counts corresponds to the number of signal peaks in the region of interest. In the transferring step, the number of counts is provided as an output signal. During the digitization step, the method is free of a clock signal.

Systems and methods for sorting and imaging insects, including egg and larval life stages, useful for automated high throughput bioassays.

A method for detecting an aflatoxin on a seed which includes determining wavelengths at which there is greatest difference in reflectance intensities of control and contaminated seed, and comparing reflectance intensities from the captured image with reflectance intensities indicative of an aflatoxin presence at a predetermined concentration. Seeds are ejected that have an aflatoxin concentration greater than the predetermined concentration as indicated by the reflectance intensities from the captured images. Examples of seeds include a nut or legume.