A separation cell includes a separation channel forming chip and a discharge channel forming chip. The separation cell includes a separation channel forming plate that is provided on the separation channel forming chip and has a flat surface defining a separation channel having a longitudinal direction, a discharge channel forming plate that is provided on the discharge channel forming chip and has a flat surface defining a discharge channel extending along a longitudinal direction of the separation channel, a separation membrane that is provided on the flat surface defining the separation channel on the separation channel forming chip, and is for selectively allowing a carrier fluid to permeate, a porous support plate and is attached to block an opening of the discharge channel, and a positioning structure for positioning the separation channel forming chip and the discharge channel forming chip in a specific geometrical relationship with respect to each other.

The present invention provides an apparatus for feeding a feed slurry into a particle separator having a fluidisation source. The feed apparatus comprises a chamber having at least one baffle for dividing the chamber into a first zone and a second zone. A feed inlet feeds the slurry into the first zone (20) and the baffle deflects the slurry away from the second zone and direct fluidisation fluid from the fluidisation source through the second zone to combine with the slurry from the first zone. A particle separator incorporating the feed apparatus and a method of particle separation is also provided.

In a method and apparatus for separating low density particles from feed slurries, a bubbly mixture is formed in a downcomer and issues into a mid region in a chamber. An inverted reflux classifier is formed by parallel inclined plates below the mid region allowing for efficient separation of low density particles which rise up to form a densely packed foam in the top of the chamber, and denser particles which fall downwardly to an outlet.

In a method and apparatus for separating low density particles from feed slurries, a bubbly mixture is formed in a downcomer and issues into a mid region in a chamber. An inverted reflux classifier is formed by parallel inclined plates below the mid region allowing for efficient separation of low density particles which rise up to form a densely packed foam in the top of the chamber, and denser particles which fall downwardly to an outlet.

A flow-type field-flow fractionation apparatus 1 includes a first heater 14 and a second heater 16. The first heater 14 heats a carrier fluid between a first pump 12 and a separation cell 3. The second heater 16 heats a focus fluid between a second pump 15 and the separation cell 3. Thus, the carrier fluid heated by the first heater 14 is sent by the first pump 12 and flows into the separation cell 3, and the focus fluid heated by the second heater 16 is sent by the second pump 15 and flows into the separation cell 3. This can stabilize temperatures of the carrier fluid and the focus fluid flowing into the separation cell 3. Then, when an analysis is performed using the flow-type field-flow fractionation apparatus 1, the analysis can be performed with high reproducibility.

A flow-type field-flow fractionation apparatus 1 includes a first heater 14 and a second heater 16. The first heater 14 heats a carrier fluid between a first pump 12 and a separation cell 3. The second heater 16 heats a focus fluid between a second pump 15 and the separation cell 3. Thus, the carrier fluid heated by the first heater 14 is sent by the first pump 12 and flows into the separation cell 3, and the focus fluid heated by the second heater 16 is sent by the second pump 15 and flows into the separation cell 3. This can stabilize temperatures of the carrier fluid and the focus fluid flowing into the separation cell 3. Then, when an analysis is performed using the flow-type field-flow fractionation apparatus 1, the analysis can be performed with high reproducibility.

A field-flow fractionation device includes a separation channel, a carrier fluid supplier, a separation membrane, a waste liquid chamber, a cross-flow flow rate adjuster, and a carrier fluid adder. The carrier fluid adder is configured to add, to a flow of a carrier fluid having passed through the separation membrane, a flow of another carrier fluid at a carrier fluid adding position set on an upstream side of the cross-flow flow rate adjuster so that the flow rate of the carrier fluid flowing into the cross-flow flow rate adjuster is larger than the flow rate of the carrier fluid having passed through the separation membrane.

A field-flow fractionation device includes a separation channel, a carrier fluid supplier, a separation membrane, a waste liquid chamber, a cross-flow flow rate adjuster, and a carrier fluid adder. The carrier fluid adder is configured to add, to a flow of a carrier fluid having passed through the separation membrane, a flow of another carrier fluid at a carrier fluid adding position set on an upstream side of the cross-flow flow rate adjuster so that the flow rate of the carrier fluid flowing into the cross-flow flow rate adjuster is larger than the flow rate of the carrier fluid having passed through the separation membrane.

Devices, systems, and methods for separating incinerator combined ash are described. The devices, systems, and methods include a fines process that utilizes water or other liquid in the separation of portions of the incinerator combined ash.

Described is a process for the refinement of a quartz powder, comprising the step of separating microparticles of refractory minerals, in particular minerals containing rare earth metal compounds, from the quartz powder by an elutriation step.