Methods for determining the amount of insoluble material in a sample, and apparatuses for the same

1 . A method of processing a sample, the method comprising:

(a) using a riffle splitter to split the sample into a plurality of aliquots;

(b) placing a first aliquot of the sample into a first container;

(c) filling the first container with water to create a combination mixture;

(d) adding a flocculant to the combination mixture in the first container;

(e) stirring the contents of the first container;

(f) separating the contents of the first container into a solid portion and a liquid portion;

(g) decanting some of the liquid portion of the contents of the first container after the liquid portion of the contents of the first container are transparent; and

(h) repeating operations (f) through (g) until the liquid portion of the contents of the first container has a salt content below a threshold level.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each aliquot of the sample comprises a weight between 25 grams and 100 grams.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the mixing of the contents of the first container causes the dissolution of the first aliquot.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the contents of the first container are separated by allowing the container to sit.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein a salinity meter is used to determine the salt content of the liquid portion of the contents of the first container.

6 . The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising transferring the contents of the first container to a second container.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the contents of the second container are dried using an evaporation device.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

(i) recording an empty weight of the first container;

(j) recording a dry weight of the first container after recording a weight of the first aliquot after placing the first aliquot of the sample into the first container;

(k) recording an empty weight of the second container; and

(l) recording a dry weight of the second container with its remaining contents after evaporating the contents of the second container.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

(m) determining the amount of insoluble material in the sample, using the empty weight of the first container, the dry weight of the first container, the empty weight of the second container, and the dry weight of the second container with its remaining contents.