Abstract:
A system is provided wherein a plug flow reactor is used to make combinatorial libraries of materials. Examples of plug flow reactors include stirred tube reactors, extruders, and static mixers.
Abstract:
The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for rapid analysis of members of a combinatorial library. The apparatus includes a plurality of vessels for containing individual library members and a fluid handling system that apportions a test fluid about equally between each of the vessels. This allows for simultaneous screening of library members by detecting changes in test fluid following contact with individual library members. Fluid flow through each of the vessels is controlled using passive flow restrictors or active flow controllers to ensure that each library member contacts approximately the same amount of test fluid per unit time. The disclosed apparatus is especially useful for screening library members based on their ability to catalyze the conversion of fluid reactants.
Abstract:
An air filter system is disclosed which utilizes a house plant growing in a standard plant growing device (pot) and a subsurface air withdrawal member positioned below the top surface of the growth media in which the plant is growing. The subsurface member has intake and outlet apertures where the outlet aperture is in fluid communication with a fan unit. The fan unit pulls air from the environment into and through the plant growing medium, into and through the subsurface member and into and out of the fan unit. As the air is pulled through the growth media the plant and associated micro-organisms remove airborne contaminants such as VOCs, pollens, dust and the like. The unit can also be operated in reverse where air is drawn into the fan unit and exhausted through the plant growth medium. Thus, any pot suitable for growing plants indoors can be converted into an air filter for upgrading the air quality of in open, closed or semi-closed environments.
Abstract:
A microchip comprises a plurality of supply units capable of supplying a plurality of fluids, a common unit commonly provided for the plurality of supply units, and a flow pass connecting each supply unit and the common unit. The flow pass allows each fluid supplied by each supply unit to flow to the common unit. The dimensions and shape of the flow pass determines the relative timing for each fluid supplied from each supply unit to reach the common unit.
Abstract:
The invention provides printing systems and methods for depositing small volumes of liquid on solid substrates. These systems and methods are useful with a wide variety of liquids and substrates and offer a wide variety of applications, including the deposition of arrays of analytes. In particular embodiments, the systems comprise a preservation device, a detachable ganged plurality of printing devices, and/or a wire bonding capillary.
Abstract:
The objective of the invention is an arrangement for the contamination-free processing of molecular-biological reaction sequences, consisting of several reaction vessels (2), open at the top, arranged next to one another and connected to one another, an individual closure element (3) per reaction vessel (2) with a closure section (4) to provide a tight seal of the aperture of the reaction vessel (2) and an actuation section (5) for engaging at the individual closure element (3) and a closure carrier (6) covering all the reaction vessels (2) or groups of reaction vessels (2), each with a socket (7) for the actuation section (5) of each individual closure element (3) for securing the individual closure element (3) to the closure carrier (6), whereby the individual closure elements (3) secured to the closure carrier (6) are capable of being placed with sealing effect together with the closure carrier (6) onto the reaction vessels (2), and can be withdrawn therefrom. In terms of handling technology in the sense of an individual opening capability of the reaction vessels (2), this arranged is improved according to the invention in that the closure sections (4) of the individual closure elements (3) are capable of being inserted through the sockets (7) in the closure carrier (6) in both directions, and that the individual closure elements (3) are secured to the closure carrier (6) in such a way that, with the closure carrier (6) with individual closure elements placed on the reaction vessels (2), each individual closure element (3) is capable of being removed individually from the closure carrier (6) and from the reaction vessel (2).
Abstract:
A capillary valve, connector and router where one or more cylindrical fibers, which may be capillaries, plugged capillaries, optical fibers, or the like, including at least one capillary tube are contained in a first cylindrical bundle of fibers that terminates at a first face. A second cylindrical bundle of fibers also containing one or more fibers including at least one capillary tube terminates in a second face abutting the first face. A fastener or adapter holds the members together with faces in mutually biased alignment, allowing relative rotation of the two cylindrical bundles which terminate in rotatable ferrules. Various functions achieved by rotation include a zero dead volume slide valve, a fluid router and a manifold. The fibers in each sleeve are preferably of uniform size for close symmetrical packing, but could be of disparate sizes, allowing connection of macroscale tubes to capillary tubes. A single connector member may be attached by a fastener to a reservoir or other macroscale device to bring one or more capillary tubes into fluid communication with a macroscale device. A plurality of fibers in one ferrule could allow dispensing of fluid from a single fiber in the other ferrule so that a single fiber could feed a plurality of wells through the plurality of fibers. Connection of a plurality of macroscale pumps enables push-pull fluid motion, with routing, in a capillary system formed by a plurality of fibers coupled by switches, connectors and routers. Chemical reactions, separations and analysis may be carried out with microliter volumes and smaller.
Abstract:
The present invention provides an apparatus for producing (meth)acrylic acid and a process for producing (meth)acrylic acid with this apparatus wherein the apparatus enables to produce (meth)acrylic acid stably for a long period of time by effectively inhibiting the polymerization of (meth)acrylic acid in its production process (for example, in a reboiler). At least a part of the apparatus is made of a nickel-chromium-iron alloy with a molybdenum content of 3 to 20 mass %, but not including 3 mass %, or with a molybdenum content of 1 to 4 mass % and a copper content of 0.5 to 7 mass %.
Abstract:
A chemical reactor includes two substrates that are joined along a surface and a chemical reaction chamber formed between the substrates. The chemical reaction chamber has a hollow interior and one or more light reflectors located along walls of the hollow interior. The chemical reaction chamber has one or more inputs to transport fluid into the hollow interior and an output to transport fluid out of the hollow interior. The one or more light reflectors cause light rays to make multiple crossings of the hollow interior as a result of reflections off the one or more reflectors.
Abstract:
The present invention is a method of decontaminating a structure contaminated by pathogenic microorganisms such as bacillus anthracis and its spores, B. subtilis var niger and its spores, and B. stearothermophilus and its spores, comprising the steps of sealing a contaminated structure sufficiently to enable retention of a gas, introducing methyl bromide gas into sealed contaminated structure to a concentration of methyl bromide in an amount sufficient to deactivate said pathogenic microorganisms and disable germination of pathogenic bacteria spores, and maintaining said sealed contaminated structure with said concentration of methyl bromide at a sufficient temperature for a sufficient period of time, and deactivating said pathogenic microorganisms and disabling germination of said pathogenic bacteria spores associated with said contaminated structure. The method is performed approximately in the range of 20null C. to 40null C., and the concentration of methyl bromide is about 80 mg/l to 303 mg/l during the decontamination. Humidity is not a factor in the efficacy of this treatment process.