US 12,360,018 B1Granted

System and methods for observing soil samples

AssigneeKuwait University

InventorsNaser Alsayegh, Fatemah M. Safar, Shikha A. Ebrahim

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Abstract

A system for obtaining a soil sample, dispensing liquid, such as a nanoparticle suspension, into the soil sample, collecting the resulting leachate, and extracting a soil layer from the obtained soil sample. A sample tube is used for obtaining and holding a soil sample, and includes a removable section and stationary section joined in sliding relation to each other. A fluid dispensing unit is configured to attach to the sample tube to dispense fluid through the soil sample and may include a magnetic stirrer, pump, and different flow rate configurations. A collection unit attaches to the sample tube and collects the resulting leachate. A soil layer extraction tool holds the sample tube, creates an opening in the sample tube exposing the soil sample, and extracts a layer of soil for analysis using extractor blades. The extractor blades include an upper blade and lower blade connected by a vertical blade.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A system for observing soil samples, comprising:

a sample tube containing a soil sample wherein the sample tube includes a removable section and a stationary section, the removable section including a first vertical wall, a second vertical wall and a top ring, wherein the top ring is joined to upper edges of the first vertical wall and the second vertical wall, wherein the removable section fits within the stationary section in sliding relation thereto and wherein the stationary section has openings formed therein and wherein the openings are covered by the first vertical wall and second vertical wall of the removable section when the removable section is inserted within the stationary section, and the openings are exposed when the removable section is withdrawn from the stationary section;
a fluid dispensing unit configured to attach to the sample tube and dispense liquid through the sample tube into the soil sample to form soil leachate;
a collection unit configured to attach to the sample tube and collect the soil leachate that has passed through the soil sample and the sample tube;
and
a soil layer extraction tool configured to hold the sample tube containing the soil sample, create an opening in the sample tube exposing the soil sample, and extract a layer of soil from the soil sample for analysis.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.