| Abstract: | Abstract Separating roots from soil is a laborious and costly process, but a commercially available hydropneumatic root elutriator can semi‐automate the job. Hydraulic and pneumatic systems elutriate the roots from the soil, while the electrical system controls the on/off functions of the hydraulic system. The extruded steel frame of the elutriator serves a dual purpose; structural support and transport of water and compressed air. Water is transported in the lower and air in the upper part of the hollow inner cavity of the extruded steel frame. They exit the frame into polyethylene tubes that extend to the base of the elutriator. After prolonged use, however, this design feature can become problematic because flow to the elutriator of either system can be blocked at the nozzle inlets with rust particles that originate from the steel frame's inner walls. The blockage increases sample processing time due to dismantling, clearing, and reassembling, which eventually degrades the elutriator. To resolve these problems a 40‐mesh (420 micron) in‐line stainless steel water filter and a 40‐micron in‐line bronze air filter were installed in the polyethylene tube lines between the extruded steel frame and the base of the elutriator. These filters were found to reduce nozzle blockage, thereby increasing sample processing efficiency by 10% and improving sample quality. |
