Low or no disturbance sampling can be accomplished such as through a single-platform aquatic species and habitat sampling system with data integration and rapid processing capabilities that can address the need for sampling at variable depths over varied habitats, along with the simultaneous collection of linked physical and biological data. The platform may be based on a 24-36 foot boat, and may include a net mouth opener brace for an adjustable concentrator net and smaller drift net which may be attached to an adjustable sample chamber, perhaps containing variable mesh capture nets as well as cameras, water sampling equipment, and water quality sensors integrated with a fish finder, GPS, and other monitoring and data recording equipment. The depth of the net mouth opener brace and sample chamber may be adjustable using a depth control.

An inline filter housing with a biodegradable, hydrophilic material that operates in conjunction with a field sampling apparatus to both concentrate field sampled environmental DNA particles from water samples and to automatically preserve the captured DNA via desiccation, thus avoiding filter membrane transfer steps, chemicals or cold storage preservation requirements. The hydrophilic filter housing is capable of rapidly preserving the field sampled environmental DNA captured on the filter membrane at ambient field temperatures.

A method of analysing granular material in a slurry, the method comprising: compacting the granular material in the slurry to form one or more pucks; irradiating said pucks with X-Ray radiation and detecting X-ray energy transmitted through said one or more irradiated pucks; irradiating a reference material with X-Ray radiation, said reference material having known material characteristics and detecting X-ray energy transmitted through said reference material; comparing X-ray energy transmission through said one or more pucks with the reference material to compute, using a processing unit, one or more particle characteristics of the granular material in the one or more pucks.

A long-term in-situ observation device for the deep sea bottom supported engineering geological environment is provided, including: a sediment acoustic probe, a sediment pore water pressure probe, a three-dimensional resistivity probe, a water observation instrument, a long-term observation power supply system, a probe hydraulic penetration system, a general control and data storage transmission system, an acoustic releaser, an underwater acoustic communication apparatus, and an instrument platform. The observations include the engineering properties, physical properties, mechanical properties, and biochemical properties of a seawater-seabed interface-sediment. The engineering properties and the physical and mechanical indexes of seafloor sediments are comprehensively determined by three-dimensional measurement of seafloor resistivity and acoustic wave measurements. The physical and biochemical properties of seawater are expected to be acquired by sensors. The observation probe penetrates into the sediments following the hydraulic method.

A sample capture assembly and method of operating is provided. The assembly includes a sampler device configured to retrieve a sample from a surface. A first bellows having a first inlet is fluidly coupled to the sample device, the bellows being selectively movable between a compressed and an extended position. A gate valve having a second inlet is coupled to an end of the first bellows opposite the first inlet. A sample container is fluidly coupled to the gate valve.

The invention relates to a sample collection system for collecting sub-samples from a material stream, the system including a valve arrangement and a static cone splitter, and wherein the valve arrangement is arranged to enable operation of the static cone splitter to collect a non-biased sample of the material stream fed to the static cone splitter under first and second operational conditions, the first operational condition requiring the material stream to be at substantially atmospheric pressure and flowing at a minimum functional flow rate, and the second operational condition requiring the material stream to be pressurised above atmospheric pressure and at a flow rate higher than the minimum functional flow rate. The invention also relates to a static cone splitter for use with the system, together with a cone member for use with the static cone splitter.

Methods and systems are provided for treating the tail gas stream of a sulfur recovery plant. The methods including generating a tail gas stream from a sulfur recovery plant, treating the tail gas stream with a hydrogen sulfide absorption unit and a hydrogen selective membrane unit, generating a stream low in hydrogen sulfide and a stream rich in hydrogen. The hydrogen sulfide rich stream is recycled to the sulfur recovery unit. The hydrogen selective membrane unit includes a glassy polymer membrane selective for hydrogen over hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide.

A system and method of acquiring and delivering samples, such as in association with an interplanetary vehicle is provided. The system includes a gas delivery assembly having a storage tank with a compressed gas. A sampler device is provided having a hollow interior, the hollow interior having a curved and angled surface, an open end and an exit end. A plurality of nozzles are fluidly coupled between the hollow interior and the storage tank, at least one of the plurality of nozzles arranged to direct the compressed gas towards the exit end. A sample capture assembly is further provided having a container fluidly coupled to the exit end.

A sample collection device having a sample container, a solid phase binding material, and a container sealing component is presented. The sample container may have a housing that forms an opening for receiving a sample, and that encloses a space for holding the sample. The solid phase binding material may be disposed within the space enclosed by the housing of the sample container and may be adapted, when the sample contains an analyte, to bind specifically to the analyte. The container sealing component may be removably attachable to the sample container at the opening thereof, and may be adapted, when attached to the sample container, to form a seal around the opening of the sample container.

An inline filter housing with a biodegradable, hydrophilic material that operates in conjunction with a field sampling apparatus to both concentrate field sampled environmental DNA particles from water samples and to automatically preserve the captured DNA via desiccation, thus avoiding filter membrane transfer steps, chemicals or cold storage preservation requirements. The hydrophilic filter housing is capable of rapidly preserving the field sampled environmental DNA captured on the filter membrane at ambient field temperatures.