Automated Soil Slurry Preparation for Undried Sample 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
An 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
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional drying and grinding processes are used for soil samples, then sample preparation is thorough, but processing time is excessive and labor intensity is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the soil sample from solid (requiring drying and grinding) to slurry (liquid-mixed form). By adding water to create a slurry, the sample can be processed without drying and grinding, dramatically reducing preparation time while maintaining analytical quality through subsequent filtration and centrifugation steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical drying and grinding system with a chemical/solvent-based slurry preparation system. Instead of using mechanical force to dry and grind samples, the system uses water to create a slurry that can be directly filtered and analyzed, substituting mechanical processing with a wet chemistry approach.
2Measurement precision
If traditional sequential processing is used for soil samples, then each sample is analyzed individually, but productivity is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sequential processing steps into a single integrated slurry-based workflow. By combining sample preparation, filtration, and analysis into a unified slurry processing system, multiple samples can be handled simultaneously through parallel processing, increasing productivity while maintaining analytical precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal slurry preparation method that can handle multiple different soil samples with the same procedure. The standardized slurry creation, filtration, and analysis protocol works for various sample types, enabling simultaneous processing of multiple samples through a single multi-functional system.
3Ease of operation
If manual sample preparation is used, then detailed control is possible, but automation level is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service automation where the system automatically performs slurry preparation, filtration, and analysis without manual intervention. The automated system maintains precision through programmed protocols while eliminating manual labor, with the apparatus self-regulating the processing parameters for consistent results.
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 crop production.
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
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.