Automated Soil Slurry Preparation for Concurrent Chemical Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing soil sampling processes are inefficient as they require drying and grinding of samples, which are time-consuming and labor-intensive, and do not allow for simultaneous analysis of multiple samples.
Innovation Solution
A fully automated computer-controlled sampling system that processes soil samples in their 'as collected' condition, creating a slurry with water and filtering it for chemical analysis, enabling simultaneous and rapid analysis of multiple samples for various chemical properties without the need for drying and grinding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional drying and grinding processes are used for soil samples, then sample preparation is thorough, but processing time increases and labor intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the soil sample by processing it in liquid form (slurry) rather than solid form. This allows direct analysis without drying and grinding, maintaining preparation quality while dramatically reducing processing time. The slurry is created by mixing the soil sample with liquid, enabling chemical analysis to proceed directly on the suspended particles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the time-consuming drying and grinding steps from the traditional sample preparation process. By taking out these intermediate steps and moving directly to slurry formation, the system achieves rapid processing while maintaining the essential quality of thorough sample preparation through automated mixing and filtration.
2Measurement precision
If traditional sequential processing is used for soil samples, then each sample receives individual attention, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sample processing operations into a single automated system that can handle multiple samples simultaneously or in rapid succession. The system combines mixing, filtration, and chemical analysis functions in an integrated workflow, allowing high productivity while maintaining analysis accuracy through consistent automated procedures for each sample.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous processing where samples are automatically fed through the preparation and analysis sequence without interruption. The system maintains continuous useful action by immediately processing the next sample after completing the previous one, eliminating idle time and maximizing productivity while ensuring each sample receives complete processing attention.
3Ease of operation
If manual sample preparation is used, then detailed control is possible, but automation level decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service automation where the system automatically performs sample preparation, mixing, filtration, and analysis without manual intervention. The automated system maintains detailed control through programmed parameters and sensors, achieving both high automation and precise control. The system serves itself by automatically preparing samples and conducting analyses, eliminating the need for manual operation while maintaining control precision through automated monitoring and adjustment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system allows for rapid and efficient analysis of soil samples, as well as other agricultural samples like vegetation and manure, improving the speed and accuracy of nutrient and chemical property determination, thereby optimizing soil amendment decisions.
Implementation Method 1
a mixer-filter apparatus which mixes the collected raw soil sample in the 'as sampled' condition (e.g. undried and unground) with water to form a sample slurry
Implementation Method 2
The mixer-filter apparatus then filters the slurry during its extraction from the apparatus
Implementation Method 3
centrifugating the slurry sample to yield a clear supernatant
Implementation Method 4
sensing or analysis for detection of the analytes and/or chemical properties such as via colorimetric analysis
Data Source
AI summary
An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.