A method for detecting an analyte in a sample, the method comprising contacting the analyte in a sample with nanoparticles comprising a capture probe for capturing said analyte, the capture probe being configured to act as a center for controlled aggregation of nanoparticles with said analyte to form an aggregate of predefined form, detecting the analyte by detecting the shape and/or size of the aggregate is provided. Also provided are nanoparticles comprising a capture probe for capturing an analyte, wherein the capture probe is configured to act as a center for controlled aggregation of nanoparticles with the analyte to form an aggregate of particular detectable size and/or shape, and an assay.

A method for detecting an analyte in a sample, the method comprising contacting the analyte in a sample with nanoparticles comprising a capture probe for capturing said analyte, the capture probe being configured to act as a center for controlled aggregation of nanoparticles with said analyte to form an aggregate of predefined form, detecting the analyte by detecting the shape and/or size of the aggregate is provided. Also provided are nanoparticles comprising a capture probe for capturing an analyte, wherein the capture probe is configured to act as a center for controlled aggregation of nanoparticles with the analyte to form an aggregate of particular detectable size and/or shape, and an assay.

A separator for extracting magnetic material from an airstream of magnetic material and non-magnetic material includes a planar chamber with an inlet port, outlet port and a waste port, and a series of magnets in a plane parallel to the chamber. The magnets rotate about a common axis thereby drawing magnetic material around the chamber and towards the outlet port whilst non-magnetic material is remains in the airstream and is discharged by the waste port.

A separator for extracting magnetic material from an airstream of magnetic material and non-magnetic material includes a planar chamber with an inlet port, outlet port and a waste port, and a series of magnets in a plane parallel to the chamber. The magnets rotate about a common axis thereby drawing magnetic material around the chamber and towards the outlet port whilst non-magnetic material is remains in the airstream and is discharged by the waste port.

A method is provided to clean glass mixed with non-glass undifferentiated trash. In the method, the glass pieces are kept as large as possible to thereby minimize the amount of surface area that needs to be cleaned. The glass pieces are cleaned without washing the glass pieces with water or a surfactant during the cleaning process. The non-glass contaminants are liberated from the glass by drying and abrasion, and then removed from the glass by screening and density separation.

A method is provided to clean glass mixed with non-glass undifferentiated trash. In the method, the glass pieces are kept as large as possible to thereby minimize the amount of surface area that needs to be cleaned. The glass pieces are cleaned without washing the glass pieces with water or a surfactant during the cleaning process. The non-glass contaminants are liberated from the glass by drying and abrasion, and then removed from the glass by screening and density separation.

A continuous discharge magnetic sweeper apparatus with a vertical axis rotary clean off attachment. The main magnetic sweeper consists of a handle, a back wheel, a frontal debris bin, a drive wheel and a finned drum housing a magnetic assembly. Magnetic debris is attracted by magnet assembly, accumulates on the finned drum and is deposited in the frontal debris bin. The vertical axis rotary clean off attachment connects to the magnetic sweeper and consists of a main frame body, a mounting feature, a support wheel, a rotary cap and a finned driving wheel. The finned driving wheel is a hollow finned wheel driven by contact with a wall, assisting the magnetic field to move shot from the wall side into the main sweeper's range to be picked up by the main sweeper apparatus.

A continuous discharge magnetic sweeper apparatus with a vertical axis rotary clean off attachment. The main magnetic sweeper consists of a handle, a back wheel, a frontal debris bin, a drive wheel and a finned drum housing a magnetic assembly. Magnetic debris is attracted by magnet assembly, accumulates on the finned drum and is deposited in the frontal debris bin. The vertical axis rotary clean off attachment connects to the magnetic sweeper and consists of a main frame body, a mounting feature, a support wheel, a rotary cap and a finned driving wheel. The finned driving wheel is a hollow finned wheel driven by contact with a wall, assisting the magnetic field to move shot from the wall side into the main sweeper's range to be picked up by the main sweeper apparatus.

A multi-channel magnetic control system is provided, which is used for mixing fluids containing magnetic particles or separating magnetic species. In the multi-channel magnetic control system, a plurality of magnetic field switches are allocated to surround a plurality of channels, and the magnetization directions of the magnetic field switches are controlled to generate an uneven local magnetic field gradient, so as to achieve the purpose of fluid mixing or separating the magnetic species. This system can be also used as controllable flow resistance devices for magnetic fluids. Based on the demand of magnetic field distribution, overall or local control of the magnetic field switches can be executed to perform parallel processing over the multi-channel system of multi-dimensional allocation, so as to effectively save the processing time. The mixing or separation rate can be obtained via detecting residual magnetic species by magnetoresistive sensors arranged in inlets and outlets of channels.

A multi-channel magnetic control system is provided, which is used for mixing fluids containing magnetic particles or separating magnetic species. In the multi-channel magnetic control system, a plurality of magnetic field switches are allocated to surround a plurality of channels, and the magnetization directions of the magnetic field switches are controlled to generate an uneven local magnetic field gradient, so as to achieve the purpose of fluid mixing or separating the magnetic species. This system can be also used as controllable flow resistance devices for magnetic fluids. Based on the demand of magnetic field distribution, overall or local control of the magnetic field switches can be executed to perform parallel processing over the multi-channel system of multi-dimensional allocation, so as to effectively save the processing time. The mixing or separation rate can be obtained via detecting residual magnetic species by magnetoresistive sensors arranged in inlets and outlets of channels.