A method, apparatus, and system for obtaining a solution from a solid product are disclosed. A solid product is housed in a dispenser. A liquid is introduced into the housing of the dispenser to interact with the solid product to form a solution. To control the concentration of the formed solution, the turbulence of the liquid introduced to the dispenser is controlled and adjusted either manually or on a real time basis to account for varying characteristics of either or both of the solid product and the liquid. The dispenser will adjust the turbulence based on the characteristics to maintain a formed solution within an acceptable range of concentration. The concentrated solution can then be discharged from the dispenser to an end use application.

A system for agitating manure includes a vessel shaped to be placed in a manure storage installation. The vessel includes a vessel frame having floatation for providing floatation to the vessel, at least one outlet nozzle attached to the vessel frame for agitating the manure, and a control system attached to the vessel frame for controlling the direction of the at least one outlet nozzle. The system includes a land based power source separated from the vessel having a fluid pump for pumping fluid from a land based input nozzle to supply fluid to the at least one outlet nozzle on the vessel. The system includes a fluid conduit connecting the land based power source to the at least one outlet nozzle and a remote control for user control of the control system of the vessel.

The present invention generally relates to microparticles and, in particular, to systems and methods for encapsulation within microparticles. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to microparticles containing entities therein, where the entities contain an agent that can be released from the microparticles, e.g., via diffusion. In some cases, the agent may be released from the microparticles without disruption of the microparticles. The entities may be, for instance, polymeric particles, hydrogel particles, droplets of fluid, etc. The entities may be contained within a fluid that is, in turn, encapsulated within the microparticle. The agent may be released from the entity into the fluid, and then from the fluid through the microparticle. In such fashion, the release of agent from the microparticle may be controlled, e.g., over relatively long time scales. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to methods of making such microparticles, methods of using such microparticles, microfluidic devices for making such microparticles, and the like.

Described herein are flash nanoprecipitation methods capable of encapsulating hydrophobic molecules, hydrophilic molecules, bioactive protein therapeutics, or other target molecules in amphiphilic copolymer nanocarriers.

A mixing chamber for use in a beverage carbonation system is provided. In one embodiment, the carbonation mixing chamber includes a housing, a fluid inlet pathway, a gas inlet pathway, and an outlet pathway. The housing may have an inner chamber, and the fluid inlet pathway can be configured to extend into the inner chamber of the housing and receive fluid from a fluid source. The gas inlet pathway can be configured to extend into the inner chamber of the housing and can be configured to receive gas from a gas source. The gas inlet pathway can include a plurality of nozzles positioned within the inner chamber and configured to direct gas in a plurality of directions that differ from one another. The outlet pathway can be configured to dispense a mixture of fluid and gas from the inner chamber.

Described herein are flash nanoprecipitation methods capable of encapsulating hydrophobic molecules, hydrophilic molecules, bioactive protein therapeutics, or other target molecules in amphiphilic copolymer nanocarriers.

Described herein are flash nanoprecipitation methods capable of encapsulating hydrophobic molecules, hydrophilic molecules, bioactive protein therapeutics, or other target molecules in amphiphilic copolymer nanocarriers.

A multi-component mixing device including at least a first supply of a first product and a second supply of a second product. The mixing device has a mixing chamber having at least a first inlet and a second inlet, the first supply opening into the mixing chamber at the first inlet and the second supply opening into the mixing chamber at the second inlet. The mixing device includes a nozzle arranged and adapted to inject the second product from the second supply into the mixing chamber as a flat jet. An associated mixing method is also provided.

The present invention generally relates to microparticles and, in particular, to systems and methods for encapsulation within microparticles. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to microparticles containing entities therein, where the entities contain an agent that can be released from the microparticles, e.g., via diffusion. In some cases, the agent may be released from the microparticles without disruption of the microparticles. The entities may be, for instance, polymeric particles, hydrogel particles, droplets of fluid, etc. The entities may be contained within a fluid that is, in turn, encapsulated within the microparticle. The agent may be released from the entity into the fluid, and then from the fluid through the microparticle. In such fashion, the release of agent from the microparticle may be controlled, e.g., over relatively long time scales. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to methods of making such microparticles, methods of using such microparticles, microfluidic devices for making such microparticles, and the like.

A container (10) for dispensing a liquid beverage concentrate is provided. The liquid beverage concentrate is formed of a first beverage component, disposed in a body (12), and a second beverage component, disposed within a cartridge (30) at least partially within the body, that are initially isolated. The first and second beverage components can be combined to form the liquid beverage concentrate by moving the cartridge, such as further into the body, to unblock a flow path (36) between the cartridge and the body.