The invention provides methods for making porous devices from substantially monodisperse populations of substantially spherical particles of polyarylketone polymers or of thio-analogues of such polymers, of selected sizes. The porous devices allow greater control of porosity than previously available porous devices. In some embodiments, the porous devices are frits, filters, membranes or monoliths.

A device for processing samples is disclosed. Interior surfaces of the device, which come in contact with fluids, define wetted surfaces. A portion of the wetted surfaces are coated with an alkylsilyl coating having the Formula I: ##STR00001##
R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 are each independently selected from (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkoxy, —NH(C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl, —N((C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl).sub.2, OH, OR.sup.A, and halo. R.sup.A represents a point of attachment to the interior surfaces of the fluidic system. At least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 is OR.sup.A. X is (C.sub.1-C.sub.20)alkyl, —O[(CH.sub.2).sub.2O].sub.1-20—, —(C.sub.1-C.sub.10)[NH(CO)NH(C.sub.1-C.sub.10)].sub.1-20—, or —(C.sub.1-C.sub.10)[alkylphenyl(C.sub.1-C.sub.10)alkyl].sub.1-20—.

A device for processing samples is disclosed. Interior surfaces of the device, which come in contact with fluids, define wetted surfaces. A portion of the wetted surfaces are coated with an alkylsilyl coating having the Formula I: ##STR00001##
R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 are each independently selected from (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkoxy, —NH(C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl, —N((C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl).sub.2, OH, OR.sup.A, and halo. R.sup.A represents a point of attachment to the interior surfaces of the fluidic system. At least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 is OR.sup.A. X is (C.sub.1-C.sub.20)alkyl, —O[(CH.sub.2).sub.2O].sub.1-20—, —(C.sub.1-C.sub.10)[NH(CO)NH(C.sub.1-C.sub.10)].sub.1-20—, or —(C.sub.1-C.sub.10)[alkylphenyl(C.sub.1-C.sub.10)alkyl].sub.1-20—.

A chromatography device having a housing having an inlet and an outlet. At least two layers of media disposed between the inlet and the outlet inside of the housing forming a media stack, and wherein at least one of the layers comprises a functionalized layer. A spacer ring disposed between at the least two layers of media forming an air gap between them.

A chromatography device having a housing having an inlet and an outlet. At least two layers of media disposed between the inlet and the outlet inside of the housing forming a media stack, and wherein at least one of the layers comprises a functionalized layer. A spacer ring disposed between at the least two layers of media forming an air gap between them.

A silica-based stationary phase for chromatography columns and the methods of preparing such. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, a silica-based stationary phase that is substantially free of polyethers (e.g., polymer glycols). Also, a chromatography column comprising a silica-based stationary phase substantially free of polyethers (e.g., polymer glycols) within its channels as either a thin-film coating and/or a monolith and/or a monolithic coating. More particularly, a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) chromatograph comprising a silica-based monolith substantially free of polyethers (e.g., polymer glycols) as the stationary phase within the micro-channels of the column.

A silica-based stationary phase for chromatography columns and the methods of preparing such. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, a silica-based stationary phase that is substantially free of polyethers (e.g., polymer glycols). Also, a chromatography column comprising a silica-based stationary phase substantially free of polyethers (e.g., polymer glycols) within its channels as either a thin-film coating and/or a monolith and/or a monolithic coating. More particularly, a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) chromatograph comprising a silica-based monolith substantially free of polyethers (e.g., polymer glycols) as the stationary phase within the micro-channels of the column.

A method for extracting a low-molecular-weight substance existing in a biological sample, including: 1) an adsorption step of adsorbing the substance on porous carbon by mixing the biological sample with the porous carbon having mesopores of 3.5 nm to 150 nm and micropores of a larger size as a hierarchical structure, and recovering the porous carbon from the obtained mixture, or by bringing the biological sample into contact with a filtration filter on which the porous carbon is disposed or supported; and 2) a releasing step of releasing the low-molecular-weight substance from the porous carbon by mixing the porous carbon obtained after the adsorption step with an aqueous solution containing 0.1 mass % to 1 mass % of spherical silica having an average particle diameter of 10 nm to 100 nm and containing 10% to 12% of acetonitrile, or by causing the filtration filter to contact and pass through the aqueous solution.

Chromatography devices contain chromatography media and methods of making and methods of using chromatography devices. Chromatography devices enable a more efficient, productive and/or environmentally friendly chromatographic operation due to one or more of the following advantages over conventional chromatographic operations: elimination of a device packing step by the user; elimination of clean-in-place (CIP) steps; elimination of clean-in-place (CIP) steps utilizing sodium hydroxide solution; elimination of any validation steps by the user; and use of a chromatography device comprising biodegradable material. The chromatography media includes porous inorganic particles having a functionalized surface and having a median pore size of at least about 300 Angstroms (A), or at least about 300 A up to about 3000 A. The inorganic particles may have a BET surface area of at least about 20 m2/g, or at least about 25 m2/g, or about 30 m2/g, up to about 2000 m2/g.

Chromatography devices contain chromatography media and methods of making and methods of using chromatography devices. Chromatography devices enable a more efficient, productive and/or environmentally friendly chromatographic operation due to one or more of the following advantages over conventional chromatographic operations: elimination of a device packing step by the user; elimination of clean-in-place (CIP) steps; elimination of clean-in-place (CIP) steps utilizing sodium hydroxide solution; elimination of any validation steps by the user; and use of a chromatography device comprising biodegradable material. The chromatography media includes porous inorganic particles having a functionalized surface and having a median pore size of at least about 300 Angstroms (A), or at least about 300 A up to about 3000 A. The inorganic particles may have a BET surface area of at least about 20 m2/g, or at least about 25 m2/g, or about 30 m2/g, up to about 2000 m2/g.