Capillary electrophoresis is used to monitor concentration of components in streams of a lithium recovery process.

An electrodialytic buffer generator is described. The buffer generator may include a central buffer-generating channel having an inlet and outlet, a second chamber, and a third chamber. The buffer-generating channel, the second chamber, and the third chamber may each include an electrode. The buffer generator may also include a first ion exchange barrier and a second ion exchange barrier. The first ion exchange barrier can be disposed between the second chamber and the buffer-generating channel. The second ion exchange barrier can be disposed between the third chamber and the buffer-generating channel.

An electrodialytic buffer generator is described. The buffer generator may include a central buffer-generating channel having an inlet and outlet, a second chamber, and a third chamber. The buffer-generating channel, the second chamber, and the third chamber may each include an electrode. The buffer generator may also include a first ion exchange barrier and a second ion exchange barrier. The first ion exchange barrier can be disposed between the second chamber and the buffer-generating channel. The second ion exchange barrier can be disposed between the third chamber and the buffer-generating channel.

Methods and apparatus for moving and concentrating particles by applying an alternating driving field and an alternating field that alters mobility of the particles. The driving field and mobility-varying field are correlated with one another. The methods and apparatus may be used to concentrate DNA or RNA in a medium, for example. Methods and apparatus for extracting particles from one medium into another involve applying an alternating driving field that causes net drift of the particles from the first medium into the second medium but no net drift of the particles in the second medium.

Methods and apparatus for moving and concentrating particles by applying an alternating driving field and an alternating field that alters mobility of the particles. The driving field and mobility-varying field are correlated with one another. The methods and apparatus may be used to concentrate DNA or RNA in a medium, for example. Methods and apparatus for extracting particles from one medium into another involve applying an alternating driving field that causes net drift of the particles from the first medium into the second medium but no net drift of the particles in the second medium.

A single-sided continuous optoelectrowetting (SCOEW) device for manipulating droplets retained in a fluid over the SCOEW device with dynamic patterns of low intensity light, such as from a display screen, is described. A single pair of lateral electrodes are utilized for providing a lateral electric field bias, with transport motion controlled in response to projecting light through a photoconductive layer and dielectric layer adjacent to which droplets are retained. The device is configured for optically manipulating droplets having volumes spanning over five orders of magnitude, and can be configured to perform droplet dispensing, transport, splitting, merging, mixing and other droplet manipulation functions involving any of the above on a single sided surface.

Provided is a method for electrochemical preparation of polythioctic acid (PTA) and a derivative thereof. The method includes: mixing a thioctic acid (TA) monomer, a supporting electrolyte, and a polar solvent to obtain a mixed liquor; and subjecting the mixed liquor to electrochemical polymerization to obtain the PTA and/or the derivative thereof on a surface of an anode, wherein the TA monomer comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of TA and a TA derivative, and the TA derivative has a structure shown in formula I, wherein R is a derived group.

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Provided is a method for electrochemical preparation of polythioctic acid (PTA) and a derivative thereof. The method includes: mixing a thioctic acid (TA) monomer, a supporting electrolyte, and a polar solvent to obtain a mixed liquor; and subjecting the mixed liquor to electrochemical polymerization to obtain the PTA and/or the derivative thereof on a surface of an anode, wherein the TA monomer comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of TA and a TA derivative, and the TA derivative has a structure shown in formula I, wherein R is a derived group.

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A method for synthesizing a nanocomposite where the nanocomposite includes a polyacrylonitrile matrix having uniformly distributed metal nanoparticles. The method includes applying a current to an electrolysis cell including an acrylonitrile monomer, a supporting electrolyte, a solvent, a pure metal anode, and a metal cathode. While applying the current, the anode is oxidized to form the metal nanoparticles, and the acrylonitrile monomer is polymerized to form the polyacrylonitrile matrix around the metal nanoparticles.

A method for synthesizing a nanocomposite where the nanocomposite includes a polyacrylonitrile matrix having uniformly distributed metal nanoparticles. The method includes applying a current to an electrolysis cell including an acrylonitrile monomer, a supporting electrolyte, a solvent, a pure metal anode, and a metal cathode. While applying the current, the anode is oxidized to form the metal nanoparticles, and the acrylonitrile monomer is polymerized to form the polyacrylonitrile matrix around the metal nanoparticles.