Provided herein are materials and methods relating to cell-free DNA. In particular, the technology relates to methods and materials for the preparation and handling of blood samples for future use in applications involving cell-free DNA.

A thickener for dewatering fluids having a vessel with a central well extending proximate a top portion of the vessel to a lower cone-shaped portion, a hindered settling zone, and a compressible sediment layer zone within the lower cone-shaped portion. Eductors housed in inlet wells have an inlet nozzle and a mixing tube to receive slurry to be treated and clear fluid to be mixed with the slurry. The fluid from the eductors is directed in counter circular paths via circular chambers situated proximate the inlet wells, such that fluid flowing in each direction collides and forms turbulence within the central well. Resultant fluid is directed into a lamella-type separator circumferentially located about a portion of the central well, having layered fluid paths directed radially outwards from said center longitudinal axis and upwards towards said vessel top portion through a conical, inclined fluid path, plate structure. The eductors are adjustable with a movable iris for limiting the amount of clear fluid exiting the eductor.

Methods and systems for production of lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate are described. One or more embodiments of the method include producing lithium hydroxide from potassium chloride, lithium chloride, and water. One or more embodiments of the method include producing lithium carbonate from potassium chloride, lithium chloride, water, and a carbon dioxide source. One or more embodiments of the method include producing lithium carbonate from sodium chloride, lithium chloride, water, and a carbon dioxide source.

A method for producing a semiconducting SWCNT dispersion of the present invention comprises: a step A of preparing a to-be-separated SWCNT dispersion that includes a SWCNT mixture, an aqueous medium, and a polymer including a structural unit A derived from a monomer represented by Formula (1), and a step B of centrifuging the to-be-separated SWCNT dispersion and subsequently collecting a supernatant including the semiconducting SWCNT from the centrifuged to-be-separated SWCNT dispersion. The weight-average molecular weight of the polymer is 1,000 or more and 100,000 or less. ##STR00001##

An automated sand separator discharge system includes a sand separator disposed downstream of a wellhead, an inlet conduit for transporting a process stream to the sand separator, a fluid outlet conduit for transporting a liquid and gas stream from the sand separator, a sand discharge conduit for removing sand from the sand separator, first, second, and third valves disposed along the sand discharge conduit, a first transducer connected between the first and second valves and operative to measure pressure in a portion of the sand discharge conduit and to produce a pressure reading, and a control panel operatively connected to the first, second, and third valves and the first transducer, the control panel being programmed to initiate and terminate discharge of sand from the sand separator, and to determine if the first and second valves are sealing completely when closed.

There is provided a particle classification system comprising: a classifier including: a vat defining an interior cavity, a feeder conduit upstream of the interior cavity, an overflow conduit in fluid communication between a top of the interior cavity and outside the vat, an underflow conduit downstream of the interior cavity and a controllable underflow valve fluidly connected to a bottom of the interior cavity, the underflow valve controlled to be either in an open configuration in which the interior cavity is in fluid communication with the underflow conduit or in a closed configuration in which the interior cavity is sealed from the underflow conduit; a feed preparation circuit upstream of the feeder conduit; a rejection circuit downstream of the overflow conduit, and a beneficiation circuit downstream of the underflow conduit. There is also provided a method of classifying fluid-borne particles comprising obtaining a feed containing high-density particles.

Disclosed is a hydrocyclone monitoring system. The hydrocyclone monitoring system comprises a hydrocyclone comprising a separation chamber having an inlet for feeding an input mixture into the separation chamber and first and second outlets for ejecting flows of 5 respective first and second components of the mixture from the separation chamber. The hydrocyclone monitoring system further comprises a conduit and a sensor assembly. The conduit is connected to the first outlet and defines a channel for conducting the flow of the first component ejected from the separation chamber. The sensor assembly is configured to detect characteristics of the flow of the first component in the channel. The hydrocyclone 10 monitoring system further comprises a processing system configured to receive from the sensor assembly measurement data indicative of the characteristics of the flow of the first component, and to determine a mode of operation of the hydrocyclone based on the measurement data. Also disclosed is a method of monitoring a hydrocyclone.

Disclosed is a hydrocyclone monitoring system. The hydrocyclone monitoring system comprises a hydrocyclone comprising a separation chamber having an inlet for feeding an input mixture into the separation chamber and first and second outlets for ejecting flows of 5 respective first and second components of the mixture from the separation chamber. The hydrocyclone monitoring system further comprises a conduit and a sensor assembly. The conduit is connected to the first outlet and defines a channel for conducting the flow of the first component ejected from the separation chamber. The sensor assembly is configured to detect characteristics of the flow of the first component in the channel. The hydrocyclone 10 monitoring system further comprises a processing system configured to receive from the sensor assembly measurement data indicative of the characteristics of the flow of the first component, and to determine a mode of operation of the hydrocyclone based on the measurement data. Also disclosed is a method of monitoring a hydrocyclone.

A liquid refining apparatus is disclosed. The liquid refining apparatus includes a substrate, a loader which is formed on the substrate and configured to receive a first liquid, a filter which is configured to reduce a concentration of at least one substance contained in the first liquid to obtain a second liquid with a reduced concentration of the at least one substance, a reactor which is configured to mix the second liquid with a reactant for target substance detection to obtain a third liquid containing, among a plurality of substances contained in the second liquid, a first substance which undergoes a predetermined reaction with the reactant and a second substance which does not undergo the predetermined reaction with the reactant, and a separator which is configured to separate the first substance and the second substance.

The present invention disclosed a continuous flow and batch process for the separation of metal or metal oxide nanoparticles continuously in a periodic manner at the liquid-liquid interface using a centrifugal separator cum extractor, wherein the nanoparticles are collected at the liquid-liquid interface of the polar and non-polar liquids.