The present invention discloses a method for producing lithium carbonate from a low-lithium brine by separating magnesium and enriching lithium. A salt-lake brine is used as a raw material and is converted into halide salts through dehydration by evaporation and separation by crystallization; the halide salts are directly extracted using trialkyl phosphate or a mixture of trialkyl phosphate and monohydric alcohol, and an organic extraction phase as well as remaining halide salts are obtained after solid-liquid separation; reverse extraction is performed on the organic extraction phase to obtain a lithium-rich solution with a low magnesium-to-lithium ratio, and lithium carbonate is obtained after concentration and removal of magnesium by alkalization. The used solid-liquid extraction method is simple with no co-extraction agent used, and a solute distribution driving force is strong, unaffected by phase equilibrium of the brine extraction agent. The mass ratio of magnesium-to-lithium significantly decreases in the extraction phase.

A solid-liquid separation device performs dehydration/deoiling from a mixture of water and/or oil and a solid. Substance A is capable of dissolving water and oil. The device includes substance B circulated while generating phase change in a closed system; a compressor; a first heat exchanger exchanging condensation heat of substance B and evaporation heat of substance A; a second heat exchanger exchanging evaporation heat of substance B and condensation heat of substance A; and a treatment tank for mixing substance A with an object to be treated; substance A having been evaporated while separated from the water or the oil in the first heat exchanger, and condensed in the second heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger is lower than the treatment tank in a vertical direction, and a connection port of the first heat exchanger and a lower portion of the treatment tank are connected with a flow path.

A solid-liquid separation device performs dehydration/deoiling from a mixture of water and/or oil and a solid. Substance A is capable of dissolving water and oil. The device includes substance B circulated while generating phase change in a closed system; a compressor; a first heat exchanger exchanging condensation heat of substance B and evaporation heat of substance A; a second heat exchanger exchanging evaporation heat of substance B and condensation heat of substance A; and a treatment tank for mixing substance A with an object to be treated; substance A having been evaporated while separated from the water or the oil in the first heat exchanger, and condensed in the second heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger is lower than the treatment tank in a vertical direction, and a connection port of the first heat exchanger and a lower portion of the treatment tank are connected with a flow path.

A method of exchanging fluids with suspended particles includes providing a microfluidic device with a first inlet channel operatively coupled to a source of particles and a second inlet channel operatively coupled to an exchange fluid. A transfer channel is connected at a proximal end to the first inlet channel and the second inlet channel. First and second outlet channels are connected to a distal end of the transfer channel. The source of particles is flowed at a first flow rate into the first inlet channel while the exchange fluid is flowed at a second flow rate into the second inlet channel wherein the ratio of the second flow rate to the first flow rate is at least 1.5. Particles are collected in one of the first and second outlet channels while fluid substantially free of particles is collected in the other of the first and second outlet channels.

A method of exchanging fluids with suspended particles includes providing a microfluidic device with a first inlet channel operatively coupled to a source of particles and a second inlet channel operatively coupled to an exchange fluid. A transfer channel is connected at a proximal end to the first inlet channel and the second inlet channel. First and second outlet channels are connected to a distal end of the transfer channel. The source of particles is flowed at a first flow rate into the first inlet channel while the exchange fluid is flowed at a second flow rate into the second inlet channel wherein the ratio of the second flow rate to the first flow rate is at least 1.5. Particles are collected in one of the first and second outlet channels while fluid substantially free of particles is collected in the other of the first and second outlet channels.

Non-centrifugal methods for generating a solution rich in interleukin-1 receptor antagonist from a tissue comprising cytokine-producing cells. The solution rich in IL-1ra can also include at least one of sTNF-RI, sTNF-RII, IGF-I, EGF, HGF, PDGF-AB, PDGF-BB, VEGF, TGF-1, and sIL-1 RII.

To provide a solid-liquid separation system in which a stable operation can be continuously conducted and the introduction cost and the running cost can be suppressed, in cases where moisture or oil are separated from a substance containing moisture or oil by using changes in phase of a working fluid having a nature of dissolving moisture or oil in a liquid phase. Provided is a solid-liquid separation system in which a working fluid that dissolves moisture or oil in a liquid phase is liquefied and brought into contact with a solid substance to thereby allow the working fluid to contain moisture or oil that has been contained in the solid substance, and then the working fluid is vaporized to precipitate the moisture or oil, characterized in that the solid-liquid separation system is provided with a fluid circuit in which a high-temperature-side heat exchanger that vaporizes the working fluid by a refrigerant, a low-temperature-side heat exchanger that liquefies the working fluid by the refrigerant are connected to circulate the working fluid, and a refrigerating cycle in which a compressor, a condenser that exchanges heat with a heat source other than the working fluid, the high-temperature-side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, and the low-temperature-side heat exchanger are sequentially connected to circulate the refrigerant, and that the solid-liquid separation system includes a recovery operation mode in which the working fluid in a filling tank is vaporized, besides the solid-liquid separation. For performing the recovery operation mode, a second expansion mechanism is provided between the condenser and the high-temperature-side heat exchanger. The system is also characterized in that the fluid circuit is provided with a heating unit that does not use the refrigerant as a heat source.

To provide a solid-liquid separation system in which a stable operation can be continuously conducted and the introduction cost and the running cost can be suppressed, in cases where moisture or oil are separated from a substance containing moisture or oil by using changes in phase of a working fluid having a nature of dissolving moisture or oil in a liquid phase. Provided is a solid-liquid separation system in which a working fluid that dissolves moisture or oil in a liquid phase is liquefied and brought into contact with a solid substance to thereby allow the working fluid to contain moisture or oil that has been contained in the solid substance, and then the working fluid is vaporized to precipitate the moisture or oil, characterized in that the solid-liquid separation system is provided with a fluid circuit in which a high-temperature-side heat exchanger that vaporizes the working fluid by a refrigerant, a low-temperature-side heat exchanger that liquefies the working fluid by the refrigerant are connected to circulate the working fluid, and a refrigerating cycle in which a compressor, a condenser that exchanges heat with a heat source other than the working fluid, the high-temperature-side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, and the low-temperature-side heat exchanger are sequentially connected to circulate the refrigerant, and that the solid-liquid separation system includes a recovery operation mode in which the working fluid in a filling tank is vaporized, besides the solid-liquid separation. For performing the recovery operation mode, a second expansion mechanism is provided between the condenser and the high-temperature-side heat exchanger. The system is also characterized in that the fluid circuit is provided with a heating unit that does not use the refrigerant as a heat source.

A compact is formed by introducing a slurry containing a ceramic powder or a metal powder, a binder and a solvent into a compaction die, and compacting the slurry in the compaction die. The compact embedded in the compaction die is immersed in an alternative CFC (liquid) (FIG. 4A). The solvent contained in the compact is gradually replaced with the alternative CFC. In the course of this process, the compact separates naturally from the compaction die (releasing is achieved) without receiving an external force. Subsequently, the compact is taken out of the alternative CFC (liquid). The alternative CFC has a boiling point as low as 95 C. at 1 atmospheric pressure. Accordingly, the alternative CFC contained in the compact will volatilize at high speed, thus being removed. Consequently, the compact can be dried in a relatively short time without being heated.

A compact is formed by introducing a slurry containing a ceramic powder or a metal powder, a binder and a solvent into a compaction die, and compacting the slurry in the compaction die. The compact embedded in the compaction die is immersed in an alternative CFC (liquid) (FIG. 4A). The solvent contained in the compact is gradually replaced with the alternative CFC. In the course of this process, the compact separates naturally from the compaction die (releasing is achieved) without receiving an external force. Subsequently, the compact is taken out of the alternative CFC (liquid). The alternative CFC has a boiling point as low as 95 C. at 1 atmospheric pressure. Accordingly, the alternative CFC contained in the compact will volatilize at high speed, thus being removed. Consequently, the compact can be dried in a relatively short time without being heated.