The invention provides a method, apparatus and system for separating blood and other types of cellular components, and can be combined with holographic optical trapping manipulation or other forms of optical tweezing. One of the exemplary methods includes providing a first flow having a plurality of blood components; providing a second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region; and differentially sedimenting a first blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components into the second flow while concurrently maintaining a second blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components in the first flow. The second flow having the first blood cellular component is then differentially removed from the first flow having the second blood cellular component. Holographic optical traps may also be utilized in conjunction with the various flows to move selected components from one flow to another, as part of or in addition to a separation stage.

A waste management system, primarily intended to be for waste floating in water, though it can also be used on land. A shredding device will reduce the size of the particles of waste. Ocean water is removed by a drying device. The dried waste material is cryogenically frozen using liquid nitrogen or other suitable means. The frozen waste material is then pulverized and ground into a powder. The powder may then be sprayed into a gas-filled chamber and heated. Temperature, pressure and humidity are maintained within the chamber for more than one minute. Microwave or other radiation and catalysts may be used to enhance the process of extraction. The processed material is then removed from the chamber. Carbon and water may be recycled. The carbon may be used as fuel by the ship. Water may also be used by the ship or returned to the ocean in a non-toxic condition.

A waste management system, primarily intended to be for waste floating in water, though it can also be used on land. A shredding device will reduce the size of the particles of waste. Ocean water is removed by a drying device. The dried waste material is cryogenically frozen using liquid nitrogen or other suitable means. The frozen waste material is then pulverized and ground into a powder. The powder may then be sprayed into a gas-filled chamber and heated. Temperature, pressure and humidity are maintained within the chamber for more than one minute. Microwave or other radiation and catalysts may be used to enhance the process of extraction. The processed material is then removed from the chamber. Carbon and water may be recycled. The carbon may be used as fuel by the ship. Water may also be used by the ship or returned to the ocean in a non-toxic condition.

A centrifuge for cleaning a reaction vessel unit, having a rotor for holding at least one reaction vessel unit with its opening(s) directed outwardly, a motor for rotating the rotor around a rotation axis, a housing having a substantially cylindrical inner surface, wherein a drain is provided for discharging fluid expelled from the reaction vessel unit, wherein a gap is provided between the inner surface and the rotor so that by rotating the rotor a wind is generated which drives the expelled fluid on the inner surface to the drain wherein an aspiration pump is connected to the drain for discharging fluid.

A reduction device, an acid gas recovery device, a recovery device collector, and a first removed substance returning line are provided. The reduction device is configured to perform a reduction process to turn iron oxide to reduced iron by adding a reducing agent. The acid gas recovery device is configured to recover CO.sub.2 being acid gas with CO.sub.2 absorbing liquid being acid gas absorbing liquid from exhaust gas containing at least powder-shaped iron-based solid substances and the acid gas, which are discharged from the reduction device. The recovery device collector is configured to collect the iron-based solid substance contained in the absorbing liquid with a filter. The iron-based solid substances collected by the recovery device collector are removed, and removed substances containing the removed iron-based solid substances are returned to the reduction device side through the first removed substance returning line.

A reduction device, an acid gas recovery device, a recovery device collector, and a first removed substance returning line are provided. The reduction device is configured to perform a reduction process to turn iron oxide to reduced iron by adding a reducing agent. The acid gas recovery device is configured to recover CO.sub.2 being acid gas with CO.sub.2 absorbing liquid being acid gas absorbing liquid from exhaust gas containing at least powder-shaped iron-based solid substances and the acid gas, which are discharged from the reduction device. The recovery device collector is configured to collect the iron-based solid substance contained in the absorbing liquid with a filter. The iron-based solid substances collected by the recovery device collector are removed, and removed substances containing the removed iron-based solid substances are returned to the reduction device side through the first removed substance returning line.

The invention provides a method, apparatus and system for separating blood and other types of cellular components, and can be combined with holographic optical trapping manipulation or other forms of optical tweezing. One of the exemplary methods includes providing a first flow having a plurality of blood components; providing a second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region; and differentially sedimenting a first blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components into the second flow while concurrently maintaining a second blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components in the first flow. The second flow having the first blood cellular component is then differentially removed from the first flow having the second blood cellular component. Holographic optical traps may also be utilized in conjunction with the various flows to move selected components from one flow to another, as part of or in addition to a separation stage.

The invention provides a method, apparatus and system for separating blood and other types of cellular components, and can be combined with holographic optical trapping manipulation or other forms of optical tweezing. One of the exemplary methods includes providing a first flow having a plurality of blood components; providing a second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region; and differentially sedimenting a first blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components into the second flow while concurrently maintaining a second blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components in the first flow. The second flow having the first blood cellular component is then differentially removed from the first flow having the second blood cellular component. Holographic optical traps may also be utilized in conjunction with the various flows to move selected components from one flow to another, as part of or in addition to a separation stage.

The present invention relates to a process for concentrating desired particles comprising a carrier-magnetic-separation comprising the following steps a) providing a feedstock which contains the desired particles and an undesired material; b) adding hydrophobic magnetic particles to the feedstock which results in a loaded feedstock containing agglomerates of the magnetic particles and the desired particles or of the magnetic particles and the undesired material; c) separating the agglomerates from the loaded feedstock by a separation method which results in isolated agglomerates, where the separation method is selected from sorting, electric separation, magnetic separation, screening, classification, gravity concentration, and flotation; d) breaking up the isolated agglomerates to obtain a suspension comprising the magnetic particles in desagglomerated form; and e) separating the magnetic particles from the suspension obtained in step d) by a separation method selected from sorting, electric separation, magnetic separation, screening, classification, gravity concentration, and flotation.

A centrifuge for cleaning a reaction vessel unit, having a rotor for holding at least one reaction vessel unit with its opening(s) directed outwardly, a motor for rotating the rotor around a rotation axis, a housing having a substantially cylindrical inner surface, wherein a drain is provided for discharging fluid expelled from the reaction vessel unit, wherein a gap is provided between the inner surface and the rotor so that by rotating the rotor a wind is generated which drives the expelled fluid on the inner surface to the drain wherein an aspiration pump is connected to the drain for discharging fluid.