The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for a fast thermo-optical characterisation of particles. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and a device to measure the stability of (bio)molecules, the interaction of molecules, in particular biomolecules, with, e.g. further (bio)molecules, particularly modified (bio)molecules, particles, beads, and/or the determination of the length/size (e.g. hydrodynamic radius) of individual (bio)molecules, particles, beads and/or the determination of length/size (e.g. hydrodynamic radius).

Disclosed are devices and methods for performing biological and chemical assays, such as immunoassays and nucleic acid assays, more particularly a homogeneous assay that does not use a wash step by using the aggregation and de-aggregation processes of microparticles or nanoparticles.

Metal oxide gel particles, may be prepared with a desired particle size, by preparing a low-temperature aqueous metal nitrate solution containing hexamethylene tetramine as a feed solution; and causing the feed solution to flow through a first tube and exit the first tube as a first stream at a first flow rate, so as to contact a high-temperature nonaqueous drive fluid. The drive fluid flows through a second tube at a second flow rate. Shear between the first stream and the drive fluid breaks the first stream into particles of the metal nitrate solution, and decomposition of hexamethylene tetramine converts metal nitrate solution particles into metal oxide gel particles. A metal oxide gel particle size is measured optically, using a sensor device directed at a flow of metal oxide gel particles within the stream of drive fluid. The sensor device measures transmission of light absorbed by either the metal oxide gel particles or the drive fluid, so that transmission of light through the drive fluid changes for a period of time as a metal oxide gel particle passes the optical sensor. If a measured particle size is not about equal to a desired particle size, the particle size may be corrected by adjusting a ratio of the first flow rate to a total flow rate, where the total flow rate is the sum of the first and second flow rates.

Provided are a raw material particle size distribution measuring apparatus and a particle size distribution measuring method. Also provided is a porosity measuring apparatus. The raw material particle size distribution measuring apparatus includes: a coarse particle measuring device that acquires information indicating the particle size distribution of the coarse particles; a fine particle measuring device that acquires information indicating the particle size distribution of the fine particles; and an arithmetic device that computes the particle size distribution of the coarse particles using the information indicating the particle size distribution of the coarse particles, computes the particle size distribution of the fine particles using the information indicating the particle size distribution of the fine particles, and computes an overall particle size distribution of the raw material using the particle size distribution of the coarse particles and the particle size distribution of the fine particles.

A method of determining particle size distribution from multi-angle dynamic light scattering data, comprising: obtaining a series of measured correlation functions g(.sub.i) at scattering angles .sub.i; and solving an equation comprising

[00001]$\left[\begin{array}{c}g\left({}_1\right)\\ \mathrm{.Math.}\\ g\left({}_n\right)\end{array}\right]=\left[\begin{array}{c}{}_1.Math.K\left({}_1\right)\\ \mathrm{.Math.}\\ {}_n.Math.K\left({}_n\right)\end{array}\right].Math.x,$

wherein: K(.sub.i) is the instrument scattering matrix computed for angle i, x is the particle size distribution, and .sub.i is the scaling coefficient for angle i. The method comprises using the steps: a) providing initial estimates for scaling factors .sub.2 to .sub.n, and defining .sub.1=1; b) iterating scaling factors .sub.2 to .sub.n using a non-linear solver; c) solving for x using a linear solver; d) calculate residual; e) repeat steps b) to d) while the residual is greater than a predefined exit tolerance.

A suspension particle sensing apparatus includes a first flow channel, a suspension particle concentration sensor and a suspension particle filtering assembly. The first flow channel has a first entrance and a first exit. The suspension particle concentration sensor is disposed in the first flow channel, and is located between the first entrance and the first exit. The suspension particle filtering assembly is disposed at the first entrance, and includes a casing and a suspension particle filtering structure. The casing has a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is communicated with the first entrance of the first flow channel. The suspension particle filtering structure covers the second opening.

Metal oxide gel particles, may be prepared with a desired particle size, by preparing a low-temperature aqueous metal nitrate solution containing hexamethylene tetramine as a feed solution; and causing the feed solution to flow through a first tube and exit the first tube as a first stream at a first flow rate, so as to contact a high-temperature nonaqueous drive fluid. The drive fluid flows through a second tube at a second flow rate. Shear between the first stream and the drive fluid breaks the first stream into particles of the metal nitrate solution, and decomposition of hexamethylene tetramine converts metal nitrate solution particles into metal oxide gel particles. A metal oxide gel particle size is measured optically, using a sensor device directed at a flow of metal oxide gel particles within the stream of drive fluid. The sensor device measures transmission of light absorbed by either the metal oxide gel particles or the drive fluid, so that transmission of light through the drive fluid changes for a period of time as a metal oxide gel particle passes the optical sensor. If a measured particle size is not about equal to a desired particle size, the particle size may be corrected by adjusting a ratio of the first flow rate to a total flow rate, where the total flow rate is the sum of the first and second flow rates.

Metal oxide gel particles, may be prepared with a desired particle size, by preparing a low-temperature aqueous metal nitrate solution containing hexamethylene tetramine as a feed solution; and causing the feed solution to flow through a first tube and exit the first tube as a first stream at a first flow rate, so as to contact a high-temperature nonaqueous drive fluid. The drive fluid flows through a second tube at a second flow rate. Shear between the first stream and the drive fluid breaks the first stream into particles of the metal nitrate solution, and decomposition of hexamethylene tetramine converts metal nitrate solution particles into metal oxide gel particles. A metal oxide gel particle size is measured optically, using a sensor device directed at a flow of metal oxide gel particles within the stream of drive fluid. The sensor device measures transmission of light absorbed by either the metal oxide gel particles or the drive fluid, so that transmission of light through the drive fluid changes for a period of time as a metal oxide gel particle passes the optical sensor. If a measured particle size is not about equal to a desired particle size, the particle size may be corrected by adjusting a ratio of the first flow rate to a total flow rate, where the total flow rate is the sum of the first and second flow rates.

The present application relates to sensor systems for sensing mass concentration of particles smaller than a predetermined threshold in an air stream. Such systems may include an inlet (for receiving a total flow of air with particles) connected to a first splitter (for separating the total flow into a major flow and a minor flow), a joint where a first duct carrying the major flow and a second duct carrying the minor flow come together, and a sensor in the first duct for measuring the amount of particles smaller than the predetermined threshold in the major flow.

An apparatus and method for condensationally enlarging particles in a flow of air or other gas. The apparatus includes a coiled tube having a tube diameter and a coil diameter, the tube having an input receiving the flow and an output, the tube having a length between the input and the output. The walls of the tube are wetted with a condensing fluid. The walls of the first portion of the coiled tube are held a temperature that is lower than the highest temperature in the second portion of the tube. The tube may have a third vapor recovery portion with wall temperature lower than the highest temperature in the second portion, and which optionally may not be coiled. While heating and cooling, the method includes introducing a flow into an interior of the tube at an input, the flow moving the output.