A gas transfer processing method includes: transferring gas to an inside or an outside of an absorption liquid within respective processing flow paths while circulating the absorption liquid through the respective processing flow paths; after the gas transferring, separating a mixed fluid including the absorption liquid discharged from outlets of the respective processing flow paths and gas by respective separation headers into the absorption liquid and the gas; and circulating the absorption liquid separated in the separating by returning the separated absorption liquid from the separation headers to inlets of the respective processing flow paths through respective recirculation lines, thus introducing the absorption liquid to the respective processing flow paths. The process promotes transfer of a target component to an absorption liquid, while enabling execution of a component transfer process by compact equipment.

An extraction and separation method separating a specific component from a raw material fluid using an extraction device including plural stages of extraction units connected sequentially. The extraction and separation method includes: extracting the specific component into an extraction solvent having a difference in specific gravity with respect to that raw material fluid from the raw material fluid while causing the raw material fluid and the extraction solvent to flow in a state of contact with each other in the extraction units for each stage; introducing at least part of the fluid discharged from an extraction unit to the next stage extraction unit in a state wherein the raw material fluid and the extraction solvent are mixed; and a final separation separating the raw material fluid, after the specific component has been extracted in the fluid discharged from the extraction unit in a final stage, and the extraction solvent that has extracted the specific component.

The invention provides a device and method for the real-time detection of aeropathogens. The device includes an aerosampler having an air inlet and at least one collector tube, a microfluidic system which includes a container, piping, a micro pump for flowing a liquid and a viral detection chamber. The viral detection chamber has an electrode which may be equipped with functionalized bio sensors, a counter electrode, an electronic detection system connectable to the electrodes of the viral detection chamber, and an embedded electronic processing system for processing data from the electronic detection system.

The invention provides a microfluidic system for monitoring the condition of lubricating oil. The microfluidic system comprises a microfluidic device with at least one microchannel (40) configured to allow a sample of lubricating oil (52a) to pass therethrough as a laminar flow. The device has at least one separating device (41) configured to selectively separate at least one component (54b) from the lubricating oil (52a) in the fluid flow. The microfluidic system also comprises a detector device (20, 22) configured to detect the presence and/or measure at least one property of the at least one component passing through the microfluidic device after separation in the microchannel (40).

An extracting method includes: an extracting step of extracting a specific component from a material fluid to an extraction agent while allowing the material fluid and the extraction agent to flow in a channel of the extraction unit for each stage; an outflowing step of outflowing a mixture fluid from the channel of the extraction unit for each stage before the extraction of the specific component reaches an extraction equilibrium; and a pH regulating step of regulating the pH of the material fluid separated in a separating step after flowing out of the channel of the extraction unit for a predetermined stage so as to cause a reverse change from a change caused in the pH of the material fluid in the extracting step, before the material fluid is introduced into the channel of the extraction unit for a stage succeeding to the predetermined stage.

A surfactant of formula (I):
A-(L.sub.1).sub.a-(C.sub.2).sub.b-(L.sub.2).sub.c-X(I) wherein A is a perfluoropolyether; L.sub.1 is CONR', wherein R is selected from H and C.sub.1-6 alkyl; a is 0 or 1; b is 0 or an integer between 1 and 10; L.sub.2 is a linking group; c is 0 or 1; and X is a charged group.

A surfactant of formula (I):

A-(L.sub.1).sub.a-(CH.sub.2).sub.b-(L.sub.2).sub.c-X(I) wherein A is a perfluoropolyether; L.sub.1 is CONR, wherein R is selected from H and C.sub.1-6 alkyl; a is 0 or 1; b is 0 or an integer between 1 and 10; L.sub.2 is a linking group; c is 0 or 1; and X is a charged group.

A gas transfer processing method includes: transferring gas to an inside or an outside of an absorption liquid within respective processing flow paths while circulating the absorption liquid through the respective processing flow paths; after the gas transferring, separating a mixed fluid including the absorption liquid discharged from outlets of the respective processing flow paths and gas by respective separation headers into the absorption liquid and the gas; and circulating the absorption liquid separated in the separating by returning the separated absorption liquid from the separation headers to inlets of the respective processing flow paths through respective recirculation lines, thus introducing the absorption liquid to the respective processing flow paths. The process promotes transfer of a target component to an absorption liquid, while enabling execution of a component transfer process by compact equipment.

An extracting method includes: an extracting step of extracting a specific component from a material fluid to an extraction agent while allowing the material fluid and the extraction agent to flow in a channel of the extraction unit for each stage; an outflowing step of outflowing a mixture fluid from the channel of the extraction unit for each stage before the extraction of the specific component reaches an extraction equilibrium; and a pH regulating step of regulating the pH of the material fluid separated in a separating step after flowing out of the channel of the extraction unit for a predetermined stage so as to cause a reverse change from a change caused in the pH of the material fluid in the extracting step, before the material fluid is introduced into the channel of the extraction unit for a stage succeeding to the predetermined stage.

A microfluidic system for separating an analyte from a sample fluid including a series of fluidic channels including at least one first region and at least one second region. The first region includes a plurality of L-nodes, which connects to each other in series. The second region includes a plurality of R-nodes, which connects to each other in series. The first region is configured to trigger at least about one lamination process cycle for both the sample fluid and the buffer fluid and the second region is configured to trigger at least about one reverse lamination process cycle for both the sample fluid and the buffer fluid, whereby the lamination process cycle and the reverse lamination process cycle causes the analyte to diffuse to the buffer fluid from the sample fluid. A method for separating the analyte is also disclosed.