A method of preheating a feed to a molten material reactor comprises heating a hydrocarbon feed in a first heat exchanger using a cooled product gas to produce a heated hydrocarbon feed stream, pyrolyzing at least a portion of the C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons in the heated feed stream in a pyrolysis reactor to produce a pyrolyzed hydrocarbon stream, and heating the pyrolyzed hydrocarbon stream in a second heat exchanger using a product gas to produce a pre-heated feed gas. The heated hydrocarbon feed stream comprises methane and one or more C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons.

Provided are methods for biological sample processing and analysis. A method can comprise providing a substrate configured to rotate. The substrate can comprise an array having immobilized thereto a biological analyte. A solution comprising a plurality of probes may be directed, via centrifugal force, across the substrate during rotation of the substrate, to couple at least one of the plurality of probes with the biological analyte. A detector can be configured to detect a signal from the at least one probe coupled to the biological analyte, thereby analyzing the biological analyte.

A catalytic membrane composite that includes porous supported catalyst particles durably enmeshed in a porous fibrillated polymer membrane is provided. The porous fibrillated polymer membrane may be manipulated to take the form of a tube, disc, or diced tape and used in multiphase reaction systems. The supported catalyst particles are composed of at least one finely divided metal catalyst dispersed on a porous support substrate. High catalytic activity is gained by the effective fine dispersion of the finely divided metal catalyst such that the metal catalyst covers the support substrate and/or is interspersed in the pores of the support substrate. In some embodiments, the catalytic membrane composite may be introduced to a stirred tank autoclave reactor system, a continuous flow reactor system, or a Parr Shaker reaction system and used to effect the catalytic reaction.

An apparatus for mass producing monodisperse microbubbles includes a microfluidic flow focusing device, which includes a dispersed phase fluid supply channel having an outlet that discharges into a flow focusing junction, a continuous phase fluid supply channel having an outlet that discharges into the flow focusing junction, and a bubble formation channel having an inlet disposed at the flow focusing junction. The configuration of the flow focusing junction is such that, in operation, a flow of dispersed phase fluid discharging from the outlet of the dispersed phase fluid supply channel is engageable in co-flow by a focusing flow of continuous phase fluid discharging from the outlet of the at least one continuous phase fluid supply channel under formation of a gradually thinning jet of dispersed phase fluid that extends into the inlet of the bubble formation channel.

Ethylene glycol is prepared from a carbohydrate source by reaction of the carbohydrate source with hydrogen in a continuous process, wherein hydrogen, the carbohydrate source and a liquid diluent are continuously fed into a continuous stirred tank reactor wherein a catalyst system is present, which catalyst system comprises a tungsten compound and at least one hydrogenolysis metal selected from the groups 8, 9 or 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, to achieve the reaction between the carbohydrate source and hydrogen to ethylene glycol; wherein continuously a product mixture comprising ethylene glycol and diluent is removed from the continuous stirred tank reactor; and wherein continuously or periodically further at least a tungsten compound is added to the continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR).

The β-eucryptite fine particle production method of the invention includes spraying, into an atmosphere at 50° C. to a temperature lower than 300° C., a solution containing a water-soluble lithium salt, a water-soluble aluminum salt, and colloidal silica, in such amounts that the mole proportions among lithium atoms, aluminum atoms, and silicon atoms (Li:Al:Si) are adjusted to 1:1:1, to thereby dry the solution, and, subsequently, firing the dried product in air at 600 to 1,300° C.

A method of forming complex structures in a ceramic-, glass- or glass-ceramic-body microfluidic module is disclosed including the steps of providing at green-state refractory-material structure comprising least a portion of a body of a microfluidic module, providing a removeable insert formed of a carbon or of a carbonaceous material having an external surface comprising a negative surface of a desired surface to be formed in the microfluidic module, machining an opening in the green-state structure, positioning the insert in the opening, firing the green-state structure and the insert together, and after firing is complete, removing the insert. The insert is desirably a screw or screw shape, such that interior threads are formed thereby. The insert desirably comprises graphite, and the structure desirably comprises ceramic, desirably silicon carbide.

The present invention is related to a system and method for controlled manufacturing of mono-disperse microbubbles. According to the invention, the mono-disperse nature of the collection of generated microbubbles can be improved by releasing the pressurized gaseous medium used in the system using release valve units. This further allows the system to be embodied as a portable system. In turn, the operator of an ultrasound imaging apparatus may use the system according to the invention to generate microbubbles on a patient-by-patient basis.

The present invention provides a system for the production of a radiopharmaceutical including a radiosynthesis apparatus and a disposable cassette. The system of the invention includes a device that enables a position on the cassette to be freed for inclusion of an additional reagent vial. With the system of the invention a broader range of radiochemical syntheses can be envisaged using the cassette.

The present invention relates to an automated radiosynthesis device adapted for the addition of multiple additional components. The automated radiosynthesis device of the invention enables a wider range of radiochemical synthetic processes to be carried out in an automated fashion.