1. A sample plate for a portable analysis apparatus for the analysis of a sample fluid, which sample plate comprises a sample inlet, a first separation zone, a reaction zone, a second separation zone and an analysis zone, the sample plate being adapted to allow;
(a) a sample fluid to be fed to the sample plate through the inlet to first separation zone;
(b) separation of the sample fluid into two or more fractions in the first separation zone;
(c) transfer of a reactant and one or more fractions of the sample fluid to the reaction zone, in which conditions can be maintained to enable reaction to occur between the reactant and the one or more fractions of the sample fluid to produce a product fluid;
(d) transfer of the product fluid to the second separation zone, in which the product fluid is separated into two or more fractions;
(e) transfer of one or more fractions of the product fluid to the analysis zone, which is adapted to allow analysis of the one or more product fluid fractions.
2. A sample plate as claimed in claim 1, having microfluidic channels for allowing transfer of fluids around the sample plate.
3. A sample plate as claimed in claim 1, having one or more microvalves for controlling fluid pathways.
4. A sample plate as claimed in claim 1, in which the first andor second separation zones comprises a solid stationary phase for separating the sample fluid andor the product fluid into two or more fractions.
5. A sample plate as claimed in claim 1, additionally comprising a concentration zone.
6. A sample plate as claimed in claim 5, in which the concentration zone has a tapered base.
7. A sample plate as claimed in claim 1, having a reservoir for waste.
8. A sample plate as claimed in claim 1, having one or more vents.
9. A sample plate as claimed in claim 8, in which one or more of the vents have an absorbent.
10. A sample plate as claimed in claim 1, in which the analysis zone is adapted for optical analysis.
11. A sample plate as claimed in claim 10, in which the analysis zone has one or more windows that are transparent to the electromagnetic radiation to be used in the optical analysis.
12. A sample plate as claimed in claim 1, in which the analysis zone can be detached from the sample plate.
13. A sample plate as claimed in claim 1, having one or more reservoirs for storage of one or more fluids that are used or created during the analysis.
14. A sample plate as claimed in claim 1, in which a sample fluid, a solvent and a catalyst can all be fed to the reaction zone, and a second solvent can be fed to a separation zone situated downstream of the reactor.
15. A portable apparatus for the analysis of a fluid sample comprising a sample plate and a base portion, characterised by the sample plate being in accordance with claim 1.
16. A portable apparatus as claimed in claim 15, in which the temperature of different regions of the sample plate can be heated or cooled.
17. A portable apparatus as claimed in claim 16, in which the base portion comprises heating elements, and the sample plate is adapted to accommodate the heating elements.
18. A portable apparatus as claimed in claim 17, in which the sample plate additionally comprises a concentration zone, and the reaction zone and concentration zone are adapted to be heated by heating elements located in the base portion of the apparatus.
19. A portable apparatus as claimed in claim 15, in which the analysis zone of the sample plate is suitable for optical analysis, and the base portion comprises an emitter and a detector of the electromagnetic radiation to be used.
20. A portable apparatus as claimed in claim 15, in which the sample plate has one or more microvalves, and the base portion of the apparatus comprises one or more pumps.
21. A portable apparatus as claimed in claim 20, in which the one or more pumps are selected from diaphragm pumps, peristaltic pumps, rotary pumps, gear pumps and piston pumps.
22. A portable apparatus as claimed in claim 20, in which the base portion comprises actuators for any microvalves andor pumps.
23. A process for analyzing a sample fluid, which process comprises feeding a sample fluid and a reactant to a sample plate as claimed in claim 1, which process comprises feeding the sample fluid through the inlet of the sample plate, which sample fluid is transferred to a first separation zone, in which the sample fluid is separated into two or more fractions, one or more of which is transferred to the reaction zone, in which it is contacted with a reactant to produce a product fluid, which product fluid is transferred to a second separation zone in which the product fluid is separated into two or more fractions, one or more of which are fed to the analysis zone, where the one or more product fluid fractions are analysed.
24. A process as claimed in claim 23, in which the process is carried out using a portable apparatus.
25. A process as claimed in claim 23, in which the analysis is optical analysis.
26. A process for determining the content of nitrogen andor sulphur-containing compounds in a sample fluid by adding the hydrocarbon fluid to the sample inlet of a sample plate comprising, a sample inlet, optionally a first separation zone, a reaction zone, optionally a second separation zone, and an analysis zone, which sample plate comprises at least one of the first and second separation zones, which, process comprises the steps of:
(a) adding the sample fluid to the sample plate through the sample inlet;
(b) optionally transferring the sample fluid to the first separation zone, in which the hydrocarbon fluid is separated into two or more fractions;
(c) transferring the sample fluid from step (a) or a fraction thereof from step (b) to the reaction zone, in which is it contacted with a reactant to produce a product fluid comprising a single class of nitrogen andor sulphur-containing compounds resulting from the reaction of the nitrogen andor sulphurcontaining compounds in the sample fluid or fraction thereof with the reactant;
(d) optionally transferring the product fluid to the second separation zone in which the product fluid is separated into two or more fractions;
(e) analysing the product fluid or fraction thereof from step (d) to determine the content of the single-class of nitrogen andor sulphur-containing compounds present therein, wherein the process comprises at least one of the separation steps (b) and (d).
27. A process as claimed in claim 26, in which the process is carried out using a sample plate.
28. A process as claimed in claim 27, in which the process is carried out using a portable apparatus.
29. A process as claimed in claim 26, in which the process is for the determination of sulphur-containing compounds in a hydrocarbon fluid.
30. A process as claimed in claim 29, in which the hydrocarbon fluid is crude oil or a process stream from a crude oil refinery.
31. A process as claimed in claim 29, in which the reactant is an oxidant.
32. A process as claimed in claim 31, in which the single class of sulphur-containing compounds are sulphones.
33. A process as claimed in claim 26, in which the analysis is optical analysis.
34. A process as claimed in claim 33, in which the analysis is UVVisible analysis.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An amplifying optical fiber comprising:
a plurality of cores to which an active element is doped;
a first cladding enclosing the plurality of cores with no gap; and
a second cladding enclosing the first cladding, wherein:
the plurality of cores is disposed around a center axis of the first cladding;
the first cladding has a two-layer structure formed of a solid inner layer passed through the center axis of the first cladding and an outer layer enclosing the inner layer and the plurality of cores with no gap;
a refractive index of the core is provided higher than refractive indexes of the inner layer and the outer layer;
the refractive indexes of the inner layer and the outer layer are provided higher than a refractive index of the second cladding; and
the refractive index of the inner layer is provided lower than the refractive index of the outer layer.
2. The amplifying optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein an area other than the center axis of the first cladding on one end face of the first cladding is an incident point of pumping light.
3. The amplifying optical fiber according to claim 2, wherein an outer layer area on one end face of the first cladding is an incident point of the pumping light.
4. The amplifying optical fiber according to claim 2, wherein an area other than a inner layer area located on an inner side with respect to the plurality of cores is an incident point of pumping light in the outer layer area.
5. An optical amplifier comprising:
an amplifying optical fiber including:
a plurality of cores to which an active element is doped;
a first cladding enclosing the plurality of cores with no gap; and
a second cladding enclosing the first cladding;
a pumping light source configured to emit pumping light for pumping the active element;
a plurality of single core optical fibers to which communication light is entered; and
an optical synthesizer configured to enter communication light incident on cores of the plurality of single core optical fibers to an end face of a core of the amplifying optical fiber corresponding to the core and to enter pumping light emitted from the pumping light source to a predetermined position on one end face of the amplifying optical fiber, wherein:
the plurality of cores is disposed around a center axis of the first cladding;
the first cladding has a two-layer structure formed of a solid inner layer passed through the center axis of the first cladding and an outer layer enclosing the inner layer and the plurality of cores with no gap;
a refractive index of the core is provided higher than refractive indexes of the inner layer and the outer layer;
the refractive indexes of the inner layer and the outer layer are provided higher than a refractive index of the second cladding;
the refractive index of the inner layer is provided lower than the refractive index of the outer layer; and
the optical synthesizer enters the pumping light to an area other than the center axis of the first cladding on the one end face of the first cladding.
6. The optical amplifier according to claim 5, wherein the optical synthesizer enters the pumping light to an outer layer area on one end face of the first cladding.
7. The optical amplifier according to claim 6, wherein the optical synthesizer enters the pumping light to an area other than a inner layer area located on an inner side with respect to the plurality of cores in the outer layer area.