A novel sampler device for flowing powders was tested to quantify drug concentrations as low as 0.76% w/w in pharmaceutical powder blends. The sampler device was developed based on the powder flow behavior within a tablet press feed frame, following the principles laid down in the Theory of Sampling. Two Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopic calibration models were developed with powder blends that varied from 0.52 to 2.52% w/w and 1.51-4.52% w/w. The calibration models were able to determine caffeine concentration in test set blends with root mean square error of predictions and bias below 0.1% w/w. Samples were collected from the sampler device and analyzed by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) to determine the caffeine concentration. A high agreement between the in-line NIR predictions and the sampled UV-Vis results was found. The paddle wheel speed in the sampler can be varied up to ±10% without affecting NIR predictions; however, the models did not respond adequately to a 25% increase in this speed. Variographic analysis showed that the sampler device may quantify low drug concentrations with nugget effects below 0.0050 (%w/w). This study demonstrate that the sampler device may handle throughputs up to 45 kg/h, without significantly affecting the physical properties of powder blends.
We present a versatile flow-through tube passive sampling device (TPS), with a controllable feedwater volumetric flow, that can be calibrated against the feedwater load of organic micropollutants (OMPs). This semipassive approach has the advantage of a determinable water load feeding the sampling device. The design of the TPS allows for new sampling scenarios in closed piping while providing stable and controlled sampling conditions.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, meatpacking workers were disproportionately affected by disease. Large outbreaks at meatpacking facilities resulted in loss of life and threatened the well-being of workers across the globe. Much work was done throughout the pandemic to understand and prevent these outbreaks.
Rumen fistulation is a widely used procedure that allows for collection of ruminal contents. However, fistulation is an invasive and costly procedure that generally limits the number of animals that can be recruited for experiments, thus encouraging the use of alternative techniques such as the intra-esophageal tube technique. One of the challenges of this technique is the limited ability to collect solid fractions from the rumen content pool, which may affect the microbial community structure in the sample, particularly affecting the recovery and characterization of solid adherent bacteria.
Vertical detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) improves our understanding of their distribution and enhances air quality predictions.
A new sorbent tube sampler was developed for use with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), allowing for the collection of VOC samples at various heights with high precision.
The sampler's successful application in a specific study area demonstrated reliable VOC measurements, contributing valuable data for environmental monitoring.
Studies of bioaerosol particles in airborne particulate matter have revealed their omnipresence. Therefore, spot-on sampling and identification are pivotal for assessing exposure risks. Corona discharge-based sampling has been utilized for the bioaerosol sampling.
