The combined capillary electrophoresis electrospray mass spectrometry apparatus has a circuit to handle excess current allows separations under a wide range of electrophoretic conditions. The apparatus includes an electrospray with an emitter and an electrospray interface connected with a separation capillary configured to transport a sample with an injection end and a distal end. The injection end of the separation capillary is inserted into a reservoir containing a background electrolyte and the distal end is threaded within the electrospray interface and sized and shaped to mate with the electrospray interface. A power supply is electrically connected to the injection end and an amplifier at least one first diode positioned between the amplifier and the distal end allows current to flow to the distal end only. A second diode positioned between the distal end and a ground configured to allow current flow to the ground.

Methods and systems for the separation of isotopes from an aqueous stream are described as can be utilized in one embodiment to remove and recover tritium from contaminated water. Methods include counter-current flow of an aqueous stream on either side of a separation membrane. The separation membrane includes an isotope selective layer (e.g., graphene) and an ion conductive supporting layer (e.g., Nafion). An electronic driving force encourages passage of isotopes selectively across the membrane to enrich the flow in the isotopes.

Methods and systems for the separation of isotopes from an aqueous stream are described as can be utilized in one embodiment to remove and recover tritium from contaminated water. Methods include counter-current flow of an aqueous stream on either side of a separation membrane. The separation membrane includes an isotope selective layer (e.g., graphene) and an ion conductive supporting layer (e.g., Nafion). An electronic driving force encourages passage of isotopes selectively across the membrane to enrich the flow in the isotopes.

Techniques for forming a nanopore in a lipid bilayer are described herein. In one example, an agitation stimulus level such as an electrical agitation stimulus is applied to a lipid bilayer wherein the agitation stimulus level tends to facilitate the formation of nanopores in the lipid bilayer. In some embodiments, a change in an electrical property of the lipid bilayer resulting from the formation of the nanopore in the lipid bilayer is detected, and a nanopore has formed in the lipid bilayer is determined based on the detected change in the lipid bilayer electrical property.

This lithium-isotope enrichment device comprises a treatment tank which is divided into a supply tank and a recovery tank by means of an electrolyte membrane having lithium ion conductivity, and recovers, into the recovery tank, an aqueous solution ES for the recovery of .sup.6Li of which the isotope ratio of .sup.6Li is high from a Li-containing aqueous solution FS stored in the supply tank. While a power supply, which is connected between a second electrode of a porous structure provided on a recovery tank-side surface of the electrolyte membrane and a third electrode provided to be spaced apart from the electrolyte membrane in the recovery tank, applies a voltage V1 with the second electrode being made to be positive, the lithium-isotope enrichment device connects a first electrode provided in the supply tank to the second electrode.

A lithium isotope concentration device includes a treatment tank partitioned in a supply tank and a recovery tank by an electrolyte membrane having a lithium-ion conductivity. The electrolyte membrane is cooled by a cooling device via an Li-containing aqueous solution in the supply tank to have a low temperature at which the Li isotope separation coefficient is larger. A power supply device, connected between electrodes provided on opposite surfaces of the electrolyte membrane, applies a positive voltage to an electrode on a supply tank side.

A lithium isotope concentration device includes a treatment tank partitioned in a supply tank and a recovery tank by an electrolyte membrane having a lithium-ion conductivity. The electrolyte membrane is cooled by a cooling device via an Li-containing aqueous solution in the supply tank to have a low temperature at which the Li isotope separation coefficient is larger. A power supply device, connected between electrodes provided on opposite surfaces of the electrolyte membrane, applies a positive voltage to an electrode on a supply tank side.