The invention provides a composition comprising 1,1-difluoroethene (R-1132a); a second component selected from the group consisting of hexafluoroethane (R-116), ethane (R-170) and mixtures thereof; and, optionally carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2, R-744).

A system for processing essential oils includes a mixing tank, three winterization vessels, three respective filtering vessels, a fine filtering vessel, a holding tank, an evaporator, an essential oil reservoir, a solvent reservoir, and a solvent filtering vessel. The evaporator can include a heat exchanger configured to heat a plate down which a mixture including the oils flows, to evaporate other components of the mixture. Fluids can be advanced through the system using a pressurized inert gas.

Techniques and methods are provided for isolating nucleic acids from a sample. The methods include adding a chelating agent to the sample to block nucleic acid binding sites on contaminants in the sample; heating the sample to remove hydrocarbons; and lysing the cells using freeze-thaw cycles.

Samples are analyzed in a system that includes a gas chromatography column for separating components in a sample and a spectrometry system for detecting these components. An interferent present in the sample, water for example, flows through the column and the sample cell of the spectrometry system before beginning the analysis of analytes.

Samples are analyzed in a system that includes a gas chromatography column for separating components in a sample and a spectrometry system for detecting these components. An interferent present in the sample, water for example, flows through the column and the sample cell of the spectrometry system before beginning the analysis of analytes.

A method for isolating cytisine from plant material includes dissolving the plant material in an alcohol to form a liquid mixture, acidifying the liquid mixture by addition of a mineral acid, and concentrating the liquid mixture to form a concentrated aqueous solution. The method also includes extracting the concentrated aqueous solution with a first extractant to form a purified aqueous concentrate, alkalizing the purified aqueous concentrate with an alkaloid to form an alkaline aqueous concentrate, and extracting the alkaline aqueous concentrate with a second extractant. The method further includes removing the second extractant to obtain cytisine.

A treatment system is provided and comprises a precipitation unit and a recovery unit. The precipitation unit is configured to treat a solution using one or more miscible organic solvents to produce a mixture of precipitate solids and a liquid. The recovery unit is in fluid communication with the precipitation unit and configured to facilitate separating the liquid at least into an organic phase liquid and an aqueous phase liquid comprising a portion of the one or more miscible organic solvents. The treatment system further comprises a purification unit comprising one or more membrane devices in fluid communication with the recovery unit and configured to separate at least a portion of the one or more miscible organic solvents in the aqueous phase liquid from the aqueous phase liquid. A treatment system and a treatment process are also presented.

The invention relates to a method for refining a feed oil having contaminants therein. In the method, the feed oil is exposed to reducing conditions at elevated temperature and pressure so as to reduce at least some of said contaminants. The resulting oil is then degassed under reduced pressure under non-oxidizing conditions and the resulting oil extracted with water so as to produce a refined oil.

Set forth herein is a new method of salts cleaning from higher solubilization impurities by virtue of homogenization thereof with a solvent until the obtainment of a uniform suspension and curing thereof at a constant temperature, whereby the solubility factors delta for the salts subject to separation is the highest, the salt thus cleaned being then filtered and separated from the contaminated mother solution, the latter to be recirculated to the initial point of the process for further extraction of all the remaining components of the mix.

Set forth herein is a new method of salts cleaning from higher solubilization impurities by virtue of homogenization thereof with a solvent until the obtainment of a uniform suspension and curing thereof at a constant temperature, whereby the solubility factors delta for the salts subject to separation is the highest, the salt thus cleaned being then filtered and separated from the contaminated mother solution, the latter to be recirculated to the initial point of the process for further extraction of all the remaining components of the mix.