Plant performance, analysis introduction

Extraction of essential oils is one of the most time- and effort-consuming processes in the analysis of the constituents of plants. Various extraction methods were traditionally employed, depending on the material or the available devices. The most commonly used methods are steam distillation and distillation-solvent extraction. The introduction of innovative extraction methods, such as microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and supercritical fluid extraction (SEE), has led to significant improvement, not only in the analytical performance, but also in the accuracy and reproducibility of methods. 

In this article, flowing-stream systems assembled for environmental and agricultural analysis are classified according to their application area, i.e., water, air, soil, and plant analysis. Within each area relevant flow methodologies for the determination of individual analytes are briefly reviewed and specific features of particular methods are outlined. Additional information about the analytical performance of several flow assemblies is listed comprehensibly in the tables. The likelihood of direct introduction and treatment of solid samples in an automated fashion is also highlighted in the bulk of the text. Finally, attention is also paid to the different schemes available for online speciation studies, which are of increasing significance in environmental assays. 

The increased cost for the additional analysis, performed in advance of the market introduction of new materials, will be rewarded by the confidence of compost plant operators and consumers. Mandatory biotests are needed during the material development phase and are not necessary for the routine quality control of each batch of compost. 

Risk associated with reactivity incidents usually is not the most dominant one. However, its consequences and little possibility of recovery before some fuel damage occurs make reactivity incidents an important concern. The slow dilution incidents are well understood and often experienced phenomena. The administrative and hardware improvements were made at many plants to prevent slow dilution. Rapid dilution, like introduction of a slug of unborated water in the core is potentially critical incident. Some analysis performed in Germany found that such an accident could lead to a pressure peak in the reactor. Hardware interlocks and administrative limitations were introduced to reduce the probability of such an event. In France, the charging flow to RCP is terminated during loss of off-site power, to prevent the formation of the slug of unborated water which would be transported to the core when the pump is restarted. 

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