Microfluidic systems and methods are described for capturing magnetic target entities bound to one or more magnetic beads. The systems include a well array device that includes a substrate with a surface that has a plurality of wells arranged in one or more arrays on the surface. A first array of wells is arranged adjacent to a first location on the surface. A second and subsequent arrays, if present, are arranged sequentially on the surface at second and subsequent locations. When a liquid sample is added onto the substrate and caused to flow, the liquid sample will flow across the first array first and then flow across the second and subsequent arrays in sequential order. The wells in the first array each have a size that permits entry of only one target entity into the well and each well in the first array has approximately the same size.

The present disclosure describes a filtration device that includes a housing that includes a first tubular section connected to a second tubular section, wherein the first tubular section extends along a longitudinal axis and includes an open end that forms a fluid inlet of the housing, a closed end opposite the open end, and a connection opening positioned between the open and closed ends, and wherein the second tubular section includes a first open end connected to the connection opening of the first tubular section and a second open end that forms a fluid outlet of the housing; and a filter that is arranged inside of the first tubular section and that extends along the longitudinal axis of the first tubular section; wherein the filter includes an electromagnet configured to generate a magnetic field that surrounds at least the first tubular section and attracts metal contaminants in a fluid to the filter. A filter system is also described.

A sorting apparatus is provided for sorting selected magnetically attractable articles from non-selected magnetically attractable articles in a stream of articles. A sensor generates sensor signals representative of a property associated with a selected class of magnetically attractable articles. A separator device includes an array of magnets. A controller receives sensor signals from the sensor, identifies a location within the stream of articles of a selected magnetically attractable article, and selectively activates one or more magnets of the array of magnets and thereby magnetically attracts the selected magnetically attractable article from a first trajectory into a second trajectory while allowing non-selected magnetically attractable articles to continue along the first trajectory.

A sorting apparatus is provided for sorting selected magnetically attractable articles from a stream of articles including non-selected magnetically attractable articles. The apparatus may include a conveyor for conveying the stream of articles. The conveyor may include a conveyor belt formed in an endless loop including a discharge end configured to launch the stream of articles off the conveyor. A conveyor guide may be located inside of the endless loop adjacent the discharge end. The conveyor guide may be configured to support the conveyor belt such that the conveyor belt slides on the conveyor guide along a downwardly curved path. An array of magnets may be arranged inside of the endless loop for interacting with the stream of articles as the stream of articles passes off the discharge end.

A system for sorting metallic objects by magnetic separation has an electromagnetic core. The electronic core includes at least a first portion, a second portion, and a bottom. A sorting flap is arranged facing the electromagnetic core to fashion a circulation space for a conveyor of objects to be sorted from the first portion toward the second portion. The sorting flap includes a magnetic element arranged to form an air gap (E1) between the first portion and the sorting flap. The air gap forms a magnetic barrier opposing the passage of non-magnetic metallic objects, such that the objects are ejected from the conveyor. The second portion is arranged to ensure a return of the magnetic flux lines toward the first portion.

Provided are a microfluidic apparatus and a method for separating a target cell using the same. The microfluidic apparatus for separating a first material in a biological sample from the biological sample, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, includes: a body rotatable on a rotation axis; a mixing chamber included in the body, wherein the biological sample and magnetic beads that are combined with a second material in the biological sample are mixed in the mixing chamber; a separation chamber included in the body and connected to the mixing chamber, wherein a mixed sample of the first material and the second material combined with the magnetic beads is separated in the separation chamber; and a magnetic member positioned on one side of the body outside the separation chamber, wherein, in the separation chamber, the first material is separated from the second material combined with the magnetic beads by a centrifugal force and a magnetic force.

A process for preparing whitened fly ash includes the steps of: (a) subjecting fly ash to a size classification step to obtain size classified fly ash having a particle size such that at least 90 wt % has a particle size of from 44 μm to 250 μm; (b) optionally, contacting the size classified fly ash from step (a) with water to form a slurry, wherein the slurry has a solid content of less than 40 wt %; (c) subjecting the slurry obtained in step (b) to an exhaustive magnetic separation step to form magnetically treated fly ash, wherein the exhaustive magnetic separation step includes a first magnetic extraction step and a second magnetic extraction step, wherein the second magnetic extraction step is carried out at a higher magnetic field strength than the first magnetic extraction step; and (d) subjecting the magnetically treated fly ash obtained in step (c) to milling to form whitened fly ash.

In at least one illustrative embodiment, an electromagnetic filter may include a transfer pipe and multiple electromagnetic filter elements positioned in an interior volume of the pipe. Each electromagnetic filter element includes a support comb, a solenoid coupled to the support comb, and multiple magnetic members arranged in a planar array positioned within an opening of the support comb. Each magnetic member may rotate about an end that is coupled to the support comb. The magnetic members may be magnetostrictive sensors and may include a biorecognition element to bind with a target microorganism. A method for fluid filtration includes coupling the electromagnetic filter between a fluid source and a fluid destination, energizing the solenoids of each electromagnetic filter elements, and flowing a fluid media through the transfer pipe of the electromagnetic filter. The fluid media may be liquid food such as fruit juice. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

The invention relates to a system, comprising: a) a sample processing unit, comprising an input port and an output port coupled to a rotating container having at least one sample chamber, the sample processing unit configured provide a first processing step to a sample or to rotate the container so as to apply a centrifugal force to a sample deposited in the chamber and separate at least a first component and a second component of the deposited sample; and b) a sample separation unit coupled to the output port of the sample processing unit, the cell separation unit comprising separation column holder (42), a pump (64) and a plurality of valves (1-11) configured to at least partially control fluid flow through a fluid circuitry and a separation column (40) positioned in the holder, the separation column configured to separate labeled and unlabeled components of sample flowed through the column.

Methods and apparatus for processing fluids are described. In various aspects, a fluid processing system may include a magnetic assembly that includes a plurality of magnetic structures configured to generate a magnetic field gradient within a fluid container. The magnetic structures may be formed as a plurality of electromagnets configured to be individually actuated by a controller. Each of the electromagnets may generate a magnetic field within the fluid container. The electromagnets may be differentially actuated to create a magnetic field gradient within the fluid container to agitate, mix, or otherwise influence magnetic particles disposed within the fluid container. Activation of the electromagnets of an electromagnetic structure may generate a magnetic field gradient that influences magnetic particles in an x-y direction. In addition, activation of the electromagnets of a plurality of electromagnetic structures may generate magnetic field gradients that influences magnetic particles in an x-y direction and z-direction.