A photoelectrical device for detection of bacterial cell density includes a substrate, a driving electrode layer, an AC power source and a photoelectric conversion layer. The driving electrode layer is disposed on the substrate and includes a central electrode and a peripheral electrode pattern surrounding the central electrode. A fluid sample is disposed on the driving electrode layer. The AC power source is electrically connected to the driving electrode layer, and used to produce a non-uniform alternating electric field in the fluid sample on the driving electrode layer for driving the target bioparticles to gather up on the central electrode to form a particle cluster. The photoelectric conversion layer is used for receiving a light detecting beam after passing through the particle cluster and outputting an electric current based on the optical density of light detecting beam. The electric current changes as a concentration of the target bioparticles changes.

A system for removing debris from a surface of a substrate, the system including a cantilever arm and a tip supported by the cantilever arm. The tip has a proximal portion and a distal portion such that the tip is supported by the cantilever arm via the proximal portion. The system further includes at least one nanofibril attached to the distal portion of the tip, and the at least one nanofibril is configured to elastically deform against or around the debris or the surface of the substrate.

A method of making a fluorinated fibrous web, which method includes providing a nonwoven web 22 that contains polymeric fibers, creating a plasma that contains fluorine atoms at a first location 14, and contacting the nonwoven web with products from the plasma at a second location 26 remote from the first location 14. The method avoids exposure of the web to the plasma and hence expands the manufacturing processing window. Webs so fluorinated have a different C.sub.3F.sub.4H.sup.+ to C.sub.2F.sub.5.sup.+ ratio when compared to locally fluorinated webs having similar levels of surface fluorination. The remote fluorinated webs can be subsequently charged electrically to provide a good performing electret filter 40 suitable for use in an air purifying respirator 30. Webs fluorinated in accordance with this invention also may exhibit good performance even after being aged at high temperatures.

An electrostatic separation method includes: applying voltage between a lower electrode at a bottom portion of or in the raw material layer and an upper electrode above the raw material layer, generating an electric field between electrodes; fluidizing the raw material layer and bringing conductive particles and the lower electrode into contact in the raw material layer charging only the conductive particles wherein their polarity becomes the same as the lower electrode; generating polarity, the same as the upper electrode, by dielectric polarization on a conveyor belt downward-facing conveyance surface passing through a capture region above the raw material layer and under the upper electrode, the conveyance surface including a nonconductor; separates charged conductive particles from the raw material layer surface by electrostatic force and adhering conductive particles to the conveyor belt conveyance surface; and separating and collecting the particles from the conveyance surface that moved outside the electric field.

A method of delamination of a printed circuit board includes comminuting the printed circuit board, and soaking the comminuted PCB in a solvent system comprising at least two solvents. Once soaking has been completed the method includes separating solids, and electrostatically separating different specific solids from the separated solids.

A method of delamination of a printed circuit board includes comminuting the printed circuit board, and soaking the comminuted PCB in a solvent system comprising at least two solvents. Once soaking has been completed the method includes separating solids, and electrostatically separating different specific solids from the separated solids.

A method of making a fluorinated fibrous web, which method includes providing a nonwoven web 22 that contains polymeric fibers, creating a plasma that contains fluorine atoms at a first location 14, and contacting the nonwoven web with products from the plasma at a second location 26 remote from the first location 14. The method avoids exposure of the web to the plasma and hence expands the manufacturing processing window. Webs so fluorinated have a different C.sub.3F.sub.4H.sup.+ to C.sub.2F.sub.5.sup.+ ratio when compared to locally fluorinated webs having similar levels of surface fluorination. The remote fluorinated webs can be subsequently charged electrically to provide a good performing electret filter 40 suitable for use in an air purifying respirator 30. Webs fluorinated in accordance with this invention also may exhibit good performance even after being aged at high temperatures.

A system to sort packages or parcels into chutes includes a package and parcel transporting component with a plurality of zones, each coupled to an electroadhesive material. The package and parcel transporting component is operable to move the plurality of zones. The electroadhesive material includes electrodes to exert an electroadhesive force and dynamically electrically couple to be energized by an applied voltage on demand. The system includes a controller to determine chutes into which to release packages or parcels and determine zones associated with packages or parcels. The controller selects zones associated with the packages or parcels to transport or release packages or parcels. The controller operates the electrodes to alter the electroadhesive material in the zones associated packages or parcels to transport and release the packages or parcels to one or more chutes.

A gas injection module for separating minerals is disclosed. The gas injection module injects a gas to a supersaturated solution containing at least one mineral. The gas injection causes at least a portion of the supersaturated solution to crystallize. The supersaturated solution can be created using a clay, such as a raw Zeolite clay and a liquid (e.g., water). The Zeolite clay can contain lithium and be crushed before it is mixed with the liquid. A non-crystallizing portion of the supersaturated solution can be recirculated within the gas injection module for additional exposure to the gas and/or be processed by a reverse osmosis system.

[Object] To provide a particle sorting apparatus, a particle sorting method, and a program that are capable of efficiently sorting particles even when sizes of particles to be sorted are not uniform. [Solving Means] A particle sorting apparatus includes a charge section that imparts charges to at least a part of droplets discharged from an orifice from which a fluid stream is generated, and a charge control section that adjusts a charge amount to be imparted to the droplets by the charge section. Further, the charge control section is structured to adjust the charge amount according to sizes of particles included in the droplets.