Some variations provide a system for producing a functionalized powder, comprising: an agitated pressure vessel; first particles and second particles contained within the agitated pressure vessel; a fluid contained within the agitated pressure vessel; an exhaust line for releasing the fluid from the agitated pressure vessel; and a means for recovering a functionalized powder containing the second particles disposed onto surfaces of the first particles. A preferred fluid is carbon dioxide in liquefied or supercritical form. The carbon dioxide may be initially loaded into the pressure vessel as solid carbon dioxide. The pressure vessel may be batch or continuous and is operated under reaction conditions to functionalize the first particles with the second particles, thereby producing a functionalized powder, such as nanofunctionalized metal particles in which nanoparticles act as grain refiners for a component ultimately produced from the nanofunctionalized metal particles. Methods for making the functionalized powder are also disclosed.

A method of making an article bonding a layer of deformable material to a surface of a cartridge body having at least one valve body thereon to seal the at least one valve body, the valve body comprising a valve floor and valve walls comprising upper parts, wherein the valve floor is recessed from the surface and the valve walls extend from the surface to the valve floor, and wherein the valve body comprises walls that are curved or sloped in a direction that is non-normal to the plane defined by the surface; and deforming the layer such that upon release of a force causing the deformation, the layer is in contact with the upper parts of the valve walls and is in spaced from the valve floor so as to bias the valve to an open state.

A method of making an article bonding a layer of deformable material to a surface of a cartridge body having at least one valve body thereon to seal the at least one valve body, the valve body comprising a valve floor and valve walls comprising upper parts, wherein the valve floor is recessed from the surface and the valve walls extend from the surface to the valve floor, and wherein the valve body comprises walls that are curved or sloped in a direction that is non-normal to the plane defined by the surface; and deforming the layer such that upon release of a force causing the deformation, the layer is in contact with the upper parts of the valve walls and is in spaced from the valve floor so as to bias the valve to an open state.

According to various embodiments, a method is provided that comprises washing an array of DNA-coated beads on a substrate, with a wash solution to remove stacked beads from the substrate. The wash solution can include inert solid beads in a carrier. The DNA-coated beads can have an average diameter and the solid beads in the wash solution can have an average diameter that is at least twice the diameter of the DNA-coated beads. The washing can form dislodged DNA-coated beads and a monolayer of DNA-coated beads. In some embodiments, first beads for forming an array are contacted with a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) solution comprising a PEG having a molecular weight of about 350 Da or less. In some embodiments, slides for forming bead arrays are provided as are systems for imaging the same.

A method and apparatus for obtaining a product chemistry from a solid block is provided. The product is housed within a dispenser, which utilizes a liquid and a gas to erode the block and produce a concentrate solution. The liquid and gas characteristics can be adjusted in the field to achieve a predetermined concentrate level in the solution. The introduction of air into the dispenser saves water, while producing higher concentrate levels.

A method and apparatus for obtaining a product chemistry from a solid block is provided. The product is housed within a dispenser, which utilizes a liquid and a gas to erode the block and produce a concentrate solution. The liquid and gas characteristics can be adjusted in the field to achieve a predetermined concentrate level in the solution. The introduction of air into the dispenser saves water, while producing higher concentrate levels.

A slurry storage device that stores an aqueous slurry containing a high nickel material prepared by a dispersion device which mixes a powder and a solvent, the device includes a holding unit that holds the aqueous slurry, and a pH value rise suppressing unit that suppresses a rise in a pH value of the aqueous slurry.

A sample introduction system provides mixing of a sample and a diluent within the container via gas injection. In one or more implementations, the sample introduction system causes a probe of an autosampler to be inserted into a container containing a sample and a diluent so that an end of the probe is submerged beneath a surface of the diluent and the sample. Gas is then injected through the probe to mix the sample and the diluent within the container. An aliquot of the mixed sample and diluent is then withdrawn through the probe.

Disclosed is a device for contactlessly mixing fluid present on the upper surface of the slide, where the device comprises a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array, the first nozzle array adapted to impart a bulk fluid flow to the fluid present on the upper surface of the slide, and the second nozzle array adapted to impart at least a first regional fluid flow to at least a portion of the fluid present on the upper surface of the slide.

A method for draining fermenting must from a fermentation tank comprises: a) breaking into chunks a cap that forms in the tank while must ferments in the tank, b) after breaking the cap, mixing the must to homogenize the must and reduce the size of the cap chunks to a size that can pass through a drain of the tank, and c) opening the drain in the fermentation tank to remove the must from the tank. Breaking the cap into chunks includes: a) injecting gas into the must to form a bubble in the must, b) moving the bubble through the must to generate a flow of must within the fermentation tank, and c) shearing a surface of the cap with the generated flow to break the cap into chunks Mixing the must to reduce the size of the cap chunks includes: a) injecting gas into the must to form a bubble in the must, and b) moving the bubble through the must to mix the must.