The present invention provides microfluidic technology enabling rapid and economical manipulation of reactions on the femtoliter to microliter scale.

The invention generally relates to methods for quantifying an amount of enzyme molecules. Systems and methods of the invention are provided for measuring an amount of target by forming a plurality of fluid partitions, a subset of which include the target, performing an enzyme-catalyzed reaction in the subset, and detecting the number of partitions in the subset. The amount of target can be determined based on the detected number.

Disclosed herein are devices comprising: a sample conduit providing a path for fluid flow extending from a sample inlet to a sample outlet; a thermal housing enclosing the sample conduit, wherein the thermal housing comprises a plurality of measurement regions; and a motorized stage translatable along the thermal housing from a first location to a second location so as to align a detector with one or more of the plurality of measurement regions. Also disclosed are methods of use of the devices described herein.

System, including methods, apparatus, compositions, and kits, for the mixing of small volumes of fluid by coalescence of multiple emulsions.

The present invention provides microfabricated substrates and methods of conducting reactions within these substrates. The reactions occur in plugs transported in the flow of a carrier-fluid.

Methods and devices are provided herein for surfaces for de novo nucleic acid synthesis which provide for low error rates. In addition, methods and devices are provided herein for increased nucleic acid mass yield resulting from de novo nucleic acid synthesis.

De novo synthesized large libraries of nucleic acids are provided herein with low error rates. Further, devices for the manufacturing of high-quality building blocks, such as oligonucleotides, are described herein. Longer nucleic acids can be synthesized in parallel using microfluidic assemblies. Further, methods herein allow for the fast construction of large libraries of long, high-quality genes. Devices for the manufacturing of large libraries of long and high-quality nucleic acids are further described herein.

The invention provides a process for the preparation of ethylene glycol and 1,2-propylene glycol from starting material comprising one or more saccharide, wherein the process comprises the steps of: i) providing the starting material and hydrogen to a first reactor and reacting said starting material and hydrogen therein in the presence of a solvent and a first catalyst system comprising a retro-aldol catalyst composition and a hydrogenation catalyst composition; ii) continuously removing a first reactor product stream from the first reactor, said first reactor product stream comprising ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol and in the range of from 2 to 40 wt % of sugar alcohols; iii) contacting said first reactor product stream in a second reactor in the presence of hydrogen with a second catalyst system comprising at least a hydrogenation catalyst composition; and iv) converting a portion of the sugar alcohols in the second reactor into ethylene glycol and/or 1,2-propylene glycol to provide a second reactor product stream comprising ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol and in the range of from 10 to 80% of the amount of sugar alcohols present in the first reactor product stream.

Syngas is alternatingly introduced by a syngas alternating lead-in system through either of one- and the other-end-side heat storage bodies into flow passages in a primary reforming furnace, and oxidant is alternatingly supplied to the syngas by a primary-oxidant alternating supply system. The syngas derived from the primary reforming furnace by a syngas alternating lead-out system is introduced into a secondary reforming furnace to which connected is a secondary-oxidant supply system for supply of oxidant only at alternation in the syngas alternating lead-in and -out systems.

De novo synthesized large libraries of nucleic acids are provided herein with low error rates. Further, devices for the manufacturing of high-quality building blocks, such as oligonucleotides, are described herein. Longer nucleic acids can be synthesized in parallel using microfluidic assemblies. Further, methods herein allow for the fast construction of large libraries of long, high-quality genes. Devices for the manufacturing of large libraries of long and high-quality nucleic acids are further described herein.