v i i i New Patents

atmospheric-pressure, helium plasma emission spectrometer. The detector utilizes a non- transparent plasma source unit which contains the plasma region and two side-arms which receive effluents from the micro-liquid chromatograph and the gas chromatograph. The dual nature of this chromatographic system offers: (1) extreme flexibility in the samples to be examined; (2) extremely low sensitivity; (3) ele- ment selectivity; (4) long-term stability; (5) direct correlation of data from the liquid and gas sam- ples; (6) simpler operation than with individual liquid and gas chromatographs, each with dif- ferent detection systems; and (7) cheaper than a commercial liquid chromatograph and a gas chromatograph.

4510243

ANAEROBIC DIGESTION PROCESS OF WASTES

CONTAINING CELLULOSE

Ryoich Haga, Masahiko Ishida, Yoji Odawara, Hitachi, Japan assigned to The Agency of Indus- trial Science and Technology

The present invention relates to an anaerobic digestion process of wastes containing cellulose, in which, after liquefying by bringing wastes con- taining cellulose in slurry state into contact with facultative anaerobic bacteria with pH adjusted between 6.5-8.0 and oxidation-reduction poten- tial controlled between -50-300 mV with oxygen supply, the liquefied slurry is then converted into methane and carbon dioxide by bringing it into contact with obligatory anaerobic bacteria to recover methane efficiently.

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HORIZONTAL AXIS TUMBLER TYPE MICROWAVE DRYING

MECHANISM

Douglas P Mahan

4510361

m - u

A hollow tumbler-type microwave opaque drum is mounted on the horizontal axis in a housing and is driven rotatably for tumbling articles laterally across the interior of the drum. A microwave power unit is disposed with the out- put thereof directed axially through the rear of the drum for engaging articles tumbling in the drum. The microwave unit is disposed in an aux- iliary housing and an arrangement such that a blower can circulate air around the power unit for cooling it and also for moving such air through the cavity of the drum for carrying away vapor which has been removed from the articles. In a second embodiment of the invention, the rear mount power unit can be used in combina- tion with a front mount power unit to double the capacity for removing mositure from articles tumbling in the drum. The front mount power unit also is associated with a passageway ar- rangement for cooling the power unit.

4510393

PHOTO CHAMBER FOR RECORDING CHEMICAL

REACTIVITY

William J Sell, Joel M Peisach, David H Riege assigned to Mast Immunosystems Ltd

A portable photo chamber for photographically recording the extent of a chemical reaction such as in an immunological test, wherein a substrate emitting radiation such as gamma radiation is supported in facing contact with a film and with intensifying means, so that exposure time is reduced as a result of emission of further radia- tion such as a visible light from the intensifying means and its recording on the film. The photo chamber includes retaining means for suppor- ting the substrate, which itself is preferably enclosed in a container such as a pipette, and translating means for moving the substrate into closely facing relationship to the film and also to a spaced-apart position within the chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the photo chamber