Tufts College

Northeastern University

Tufts University

Albert Robbat, Jr

Geoffrey Davies

Samuel P Kounaves

Yuriy V Gankin

The present invention is directed both to an improved in situ penetrometer probe and to a heated, flexible transfer line. The line and probe may be implemented together in a penetrometer system in which the transfer line is used to connect the probe to a collector/analyzer at the surface. The probe comprises a heater that controls a temperature of a geologic medium surrounding the probe. At least one carrier gas port and vapor collection port are located on an external side wall of the probe. The carrier gas port provides a carrier gas into the geologic medium, and the collection port captures vapors from the geologic medium for analysis. In the transfer line, a flexible collection line that conveys a collected fluid, i.e., vapor, sample to a collector/analyzer. A flexible carrier gas line conveys a carrier gas to facilitate the collection of the sample. A system heating the collection line is also provided. Preferably the collection line is electrically conductive so that an electrical power source can generate a current through it so that the internal resistance generates heat.

Situ soil sampling probe system with heated transfer line

This invention provides methods and apparatus for determining the presence or absence of a specific constituent in a mixture. A thermal desorption unit includes a body providing a desorption chamber, a removable end cap for closing the chamber, a desorber heating system arranged to heat the desorption chamber, a gas inlet to the desorption chamber, and a gas outlet from the desorption chamber. A valve assembly can operate in a run mode to direct a carrier gas to the thermal desorption unit gas inlet, and couple the thermal desorption unit gas outlet to an inlet of a sample analysis instrument. The valve assembly also can operate in a flush mode to direct the carrier gas to the inlet of the gas analysis instrument, direct a flushing gas to the thermal desorption unit gas inlet, and couple the thermal desorption unit gas outlet to an exhaust.

Methods and apparatus for analysis of complex mixtures

This invention provides methods and apparatus for determining the presence or absence of a specific constituent in a mixture. The method includes the steps of (a) applying energy to the mixture to cause constituents in the mixture to produce characteristic patterns of spectral lines and detecting quantity values at the spectral lines, wherein a quantity value may represent a contribution of two or more constituents; (b) comparing detected quantity values for a number N of spectral lines from a pattern of spectral lines characteristic of the specific constituent with known quantity values for the N spectral lines; (c) determining whether the detected quantity values for the N spectral lines fall within a predetermined error range, and; (d) determining the presence of the constituent in the mixture when detected quantity values of a number of spectral lines less than N fall within the predetermined error range.

A novel method for making metals and homogeneous metal alloys comprises the steps of (a) providing a polymetallic complex of the general formula

Growing community of inventors

Andover, MA, United States of America

Albert Robbat, Jr