Methods are provided for removing fine particles from crude oils extracted from mined oil sands using a non-aqueous extraction solvent. A bitumen derived from non-aqueous extraction of oil from oil sands can undergo optional physical separation to remove larger particles and then processed using electrostatic filtration to remove particle fines. This can allow for production of a bitumen product from a non-aqueous extraction process that has a sufficiently low particle content to be suitable for pipeline transport.

Methods are provided for removing fine particles from crude oils extracted from mined oil sands using a non-aqueous extraction solvent. A bitumen derived from non-aqueous extraction of oil from oil sands can undergo optional physical separation to remove larger particles and then processed using electrostatic filtration to remove particle fines. This can allow for production of a bitumen product from a non-aqueous extraction process that has a sufficiently low particle content to be suitable for pipeline transport.

In unipolar charging, a discharge current value at which charging efficiency is best and a discharge current dependency of multivalent charging differ depending on the particle size of the particles that are the object of charging. Therefore, for each particle size, a discharge voltage at which univalent charging efficiency is best and a discharge voltage at which the signal-to-noise ratio of a signal when particles of a different size are regarded as noise is best are obtained through experiment and stored in a storage unit (21). When scanning a classification voltage that is applied to a classification unit (32) of a DMA (3) to measure particle size distribution, a system controlling unit (2) acquires an optimal voltage corresponding to a particle size from the storage unit (21), and in conjunction with scanning of the classification voltage, controls a discharge power source (11) via a discharge voltage controlling unit (10) so that the discharge voltage is scanned in accordance with changes in particle size. It is thereby possible, for example, to reduce the amount of multivalent charged particles of different particle sizes that are mixed in with particles with a predetermined particle size that are extracted by classification, and to accurately determine the particle size distribution.

In unipolar charging, a discharge current value at which charging efficiency is best and a discharge current dependency of multivalent charging differ depending on the particle size of the particles that are the object of charging. Therefore, for each particle size, a discharge voltage at which univalent charging efficiency is best and a discharge voltage at which the signal-to-noise ratio of a signal when particles of a different size are regarded as noise is best are obtained through experiment and stored in a storage unit (21). When scanning a classification voltage that is applied to a classification unit (32) of a DMA (3) to measure particle size distribution, a system controlling unit (2) acquires an optimal voltage corresponding to a particle size from the storage unit (21), and in conjunction with scanning of the classification voltage, controls a discharge power source (11) via a discharge voltage controlling unit (10) so that the discharge voltage is scanned in accordance with changes in particle size. It is thereby possible, for example, to reduce the amount of multivalent charged particles of different particle sizes that are mixed in with particles with a predetermined particle size that are extracted by classification, and to accurately determine the particle size distribution.

A system and a method for separating and recycling magnets made from rare earth elements from an article of manufacture used an alignment device to property position the rare earth magnet for processing. Once proper alignment is made, a separating device removes the magnet and a portion of the article. A heating device demagnetizes the magnets and vibration causes the magnets to separate from the portion of the article. Electromagnets remove the portion of the article and the rare earth magnets pass through for reclamation.

A group of micro-objects in a holding pen in a micro-fluidic device can be selected and moved to a staging area, from which the micro-objects can be exported from the micro-fluidic device. The micro-fluidic device can have a plurality of holding pens, and each holding pen can isolate micro-objects located in the holding pen from micro-objects located in the other holding pens or elsewhere in the micro-fluidic device. The selected group of micro-objects can comprise one or more biological cells, such as a clonal population of cells. Embodiments of the invention can thus select a particular group of clonal cells in a micro-fluidic device, move the clonal cells to a staging area, and export the clonal cells from the micro-fluidic device while maintaining the clonal nature of the exported group.

A group of micro-objects in a holding pen in a micro-fluidic device can be selected and moved to a staging area, from which the micro-objects can be exported from the micro-fluidic device. The micro-fluidic device can have a plurality of holding pens, and each holding pen can isolate micro-objects located in the holding pen from micro-objects located in the other holding pens or elsewhere in the micro-fluidic device. The selected group of micro-objects can comprise one or more biological cells, such as a clonal population of cells. Embodiments of the invention can thus select a particular group of clonal cells in a micro-fluidic device, move the clonal cells to a staging area, and export the clonal cells from the micro-fluidic device while maintaining the clonal nature of the exported group.

A process for sorting materials using material-selective electroadhesive grippers is disclosed. At least one of an electroadhesive surface or a plurality of articles is manipulated such that multiple ones of the plurality of articles are at least intermittently proximate the electroadhesive surface. Voltage is applied to one or more electrodes in the electroadhesive surface to thereby cause the electroadhesive surface to selectively adhere to a subset of the plurality of articles based on the subset of the plurality of articles having different material properties than others of the plurality of articles. While the voltage is applied, the electroadhesive surface is moved with respect to the others of the plurality of articles to thereby separate the subset of the plurality of articles from the others of the plurality of articles.

The present invention includes methods, devices and systems for isolating a nucleic acid from a fluid comprising cells. In various aspects, the methods, devices and systems may allow for a rapid procedure that requires a minimal amount of material and/or results in high purity nucleic acid isolated from complex fluids such as blood or environmental samples.

An installation is provided that is intended to separate two families of components of a mixture placed in a receptacle. The installation is provided with a screen and comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a generator that generates, between the first and second electrodes, an agitating alternating electrical field. The alternating electrical field is capable of alternately projecting all or some of the components of the mixture that is present in the receptacle towards or against the first electrode and then towards or against the second electrode in order to generate mechanical impacts on the components that contribute to breaking down the mixture within the receptacle and in order to facilitate the passage of components belonging to the second family through the screen. The screen ensures components belonging to the first family are retained in the receptacle.