The present invention is directed towards an apparatus and methods for a precise, fast and easy to use manipulation of beads. This method is particularly useful to carry out separation between the beads and the remaining supernants present in the fluid, maximizing the collection and purification efficiencies in tips for liquid handling.

Devices and methods are provided for in-line water treatment using strong magnetic fields to influence corrosion, separate toxins, suppress bacteria and bio-fouling, as well as inhibit or greatly reduce mineral scaling due to fluid flow in or around equipment components. For example, a device is provided for applying a magnetic field to a portion of tubing through which a fluid flow, such as water, is conveyed. The device includes a number of links joined together via detachable pivoting connections, such that links may be removed and/or links may be added, thereby allowing a diameter of the device to be adjusted so as to accommodate larger or smaller piping, as necessary, for retrofitting applications. The use of magnetic treatment of fluids such as water may allow extended cycles of operation with higher concentration of mineral salts without the use of chemical scaling suppressants.

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.

The present invention is directed towards an apparatus and methods for a precise, fast and easy to use manipulation of beads. This method is particularly useful to carry out separation between the beads and the remaining supernants present in the fluid, maximizing the collection and purification efficiencies in tips for liquid handling.

Methods of concentrating beads in a droplet and/or loading beads on a fluidic device are provided, including among other things, a method of concentrating beads in a droplet, the method comprising: (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising: (i) an interior droplet operations volume; and (ii) a reservoir exterior to the interior volume; (iii) a droplet established in a liquid path extending from the reservoir into the interior volume; (b) providing magnetically responsive beads in the portion of the droplet which is in the reservoir; (c) magnetically attracting the magnetically responsive beads through the liquid path into the portion of the droplet which is in the interior volume; and (d) forming a droplet comprising one or more of the magnetically responsive beads in the interior volume.

Systems, devices and methods for automatic magnetic separation of magnetized targets in a biological sample are herein disclosed, where they comprise a magnetic field shield/barrier controllably operable to control the magnetic field in terms of reaching and attracting the magnetized targets within the biological sample.

A magnetic drum separator comprises a drum rotatable about an axis, the drum comprising an internal chamber and an opening at an end of the drum providing access into the internal chamber. The magnetic drum separator also comprises an inlet for supplying a liquid or granular substance into the internal chamber through the opening, a magnet outside of the drum for attracting magnetic material in the liquid or granular substance towards an internal sidewall of the internal chamber, a collection device for recovering magnetic material attracted to the internal sidewall and an annular seal member attached to the end of the drum that rotates with the drum in use. A baffle that bears against the annular seal member partially seals the opening. A plurality of cavities formed in the annular seal member receive fluid leaking into a boundary between the annular seal member and the baffle.

A process. The process includes forming a slurry comprising electrode active material particles of one or more lithium-ion electrochemical cells, magnetizing the electrode active material particles and separating the magnetized electrode active material particles from the slurry.

A system for reducing dust emissions resulting from tire abrasion, comprising a collecting unit (1), arranged at a distance from the tread (4) of a tire (5) and has at least one first electromagnet and/or permanent magnet (2). At least the material with which the tread (4) of the tire (5) is formed is magnetic or is ferromagnetically, ferrimagnetically or anti-ferromagnetically magnetisable, so that the tire abrasion particles (6) created as a result of abrasion of the tread (4) are magnetic or are ferromagnetically, ferrimagnetically or anti-ferromagnetically magnetisable. The at least one first electromagnet and/or permanent magnet (2) is designed to magnetise tire abrasion particles (6) and to accumulate the magnetized tire abrasion particles (6) detached from the material of the tread (4) in a collection point (3), arranged on a vehicle.

In certain embodiments, the disclosure provides an inflatable bladder lid that configures with a cartridge configured for assay testing. The inflatable bladder provides substantially uniform pressure to the cartridge. The pressure is substantially distributed across the one or more regions of the cartridge to extend pressure over a wide cartridge surface. At least a portion of the bladder lid may comprise a flexible membrane material that inflates and stretches over at least a portion of the cartridge to conformally contact its first/top surface.