Jan W Hopmans

US Patent:

8444937, May 21, 2013

Filed:

Mar 28, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/073551

Inventors:

Atac Tuli - Davis CA, US
Jan W. Hopmans - Davis CA, US
Tamir Kamai - Davis CA, US
Benjamin D. Shaw - Davis CA, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

G01N 33/24
G01N 1/10
G01N 21/27
G01N 27/333
E21B 49/08

US Classification:

422535, 7386474, 175 59, 422 8201, 422 8203, 422 8205, 422 8209, 422534, 436 28, 436110, 436149, 436150, 436151, 436164, 436171, 436172, 436177

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for near real-time in-situ soil solution measurements is presented. An outer sleeve is placed in soil where ionic concentrations of organic or inorganic species are to be measured. A porous section connects with the outer sleeve (the porous section initially loaded with distilled water) equilibrates with the solution present in soil pores to form a solution to be measured. The initial distilled water is displaced within the porous section by a removable plunger. After substantial equilibration of the solution to be measured within the apparatus, the plunger is removed and a removable probe replaced. The probe may be an Ion Selective Electrode, or a transflection dip probe. The probe then may be used under computer control for measurement of solution properties. The Ion Selective Electrode may measure nitrate (NO) concentrations.

US Patent:

20090166520, Jul 2, 2009

Filed:

Nov 10, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/267895

Inventors:

Atac Tuli - Davis CA, US
Jan W. Hopmans - Davis CA, US
Tamir Kamai - Davis CA, US
Benjamin D. Shaw - Davis CA, US

Assignee:

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - Oakland CA

International Classification:

H01J 49/00
G01V 8/00

US Classification:

250253, 250281

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for near real-time in-situ soil solution measurements is presented. An outer sleeve is placed in soil where ionic concentrations of organic or inorganic species are to be measured. A porous section connects with the outer sleeve (the porous section initially loaded with distilled water) equilibrates with the solution present in soil pores to form a solution to be measured. The initial distilled water is displaced within the porous section by a removable plunger. After substantial equilibration of the solution to be measured within the apparatus, the plunger is removed and a removable probe replaced. The probe may be an Ion Selective Electrode, or a transflection dip probe. The probe then may be used under computer control for measurement of solution properties. The Ion Selective Electrode may measure nitrate (NO) concentrations. The transflection dip probe may be read with spectrometer with an input deuterium light source.