Adsorbents can be structured for use in a wafer container microenvironment. The loading of these adsorbents can be tailored to the particular contaminants to be removed from the wafer container microenvironment. The loading can include adsorbents for one or more contaminants, the contaminants including acids, bases, condensable organic compounds, and/or volatile organic compounds. The adsorbent can further include a moisture removal material such as a molecular sieve. The contaminants to be removed can be determined by cleaning or staging conditions for the wafer container, testing of previous adsorbents used in processes.

Adsorbents can be structured for use in a wafer container microenvironment. The loading of these adsorbents can be tailored to the particular contaminants to be removed from the wafer container microenvironment. The loading can include adsorbents for one or more contaminants, the contaminants including acids, bases, condensable organic compounds, and/or volatile organic compounds. The adsorbent can further include a moisture removal material such as a molecular sieve. The contaminants to be removed can be determined by cleaning or staging conditions for the wafer container, testing of previous adsorbents used in processes.

A method of performing a thin layer chromatography comprises a step of providing a three-dimensional machine configured to move a rigid nozzle under control by a computer along a stationary adsorbent layer, the nozzle combines the ends of individual tubing carrying individually-controlled flows of eluent components, a step of individually operating a plurality of pumps for pumping individual eluent components through the respective tubing towards the rigid nozzle, a step of operating the three-dimensional machine for moving the rigid nozzle adjacent and along the outer surface of the adsorbent layer while continuing to pump individual eluent components, a step of operating a camera connected to the computer to observe a migration of the eluent front on the adsorbent layer, and a step of individually adjusting flow rates of individual pumps by the computer using a dynamic position of the eluent front as observed by the camera.

A method of performing a thin layer chromatography comprises a step of providing a three-dimensional machine configured to move a rigid nozzle under control by a computer along a stationary adsorbent layer, the nozzle combines the ends of individual tubing carrying individually-controlled flows of eluent components, a step of individually operating a plurality of pumps for pumping individual eluent components through the respective tubing towards the rigid nozzle, a step of operating the three-dimensional machine for moving the rigid nozzle adjacent and along the outer surface of the adsorbent layer while continuing to pump individual eluent components, a step of operating a camera connected to the computer to observe a migration of the eluent front on the adsorbent layer, and a step of individually adjusting flow rates of individual pumps by the computer using a dynamic position of the eluent front as observed by the camera.

A test strip for determining the concentration of a component in a liquid composition is disclosed. The test strip comprises a carrier sheet coated with a layer of an adsorbent, and a chemical dye deposited on the test strip near but spaced apart from a bottom edge of the test strip. In some embodiments, the test strip is a thin-layer chromatography (TLC) plate, and the retention factor of the chemical dye varies according to the concentration of the component in the liquid composition. A user can determine the concentration of the component based on the migration distance of the chemical dye on the test strip in a chromatography process. The test strip can be used to perform a fast and visual test to determine the ethanol content in a fuel sample.

A test strip for determining the concentration of a component in a liquid composition is disclosed. The test strip comprises a carrier sheet coated with a layer of an adsorbent, and a chemical dye deposited on the test strip near but spaced apart from a bottom edge of the test strip. In some embodiments, the test strip is a thin-layer chromatography (TLC) plate, and the retention factor of the chemical dye varies according to the concentration of the component in the liquid composition. A user can determine the concentration of the component based on the migration distance of the chemical dye on the test strip in a chromatography process. The test strip can be used to perform a fast and visual test to determine the ethanol content in a fuel sample.

A double-sided diaphragm micro gas-preconcentrator has a micro-gas chamber which is formed by stacking an upper silicon substrate with a lower silicon substrate with a back-on-face configuration. One or more suspended membranes are provided on every silicon substrate. The silicon where the suspended membrane is provided is completely removed for forming a cavity. A thin-film heater is deposited on every suspended membrane. A sorptive film is coated on an inner wall of every suspended membrane. Thus, the upper and lower sides of the preconcentrator in the present invention are suspended membranes, which improve the area of the sorptive film on the diaphragm. As a result, the preconcentrating factor is improved while keeping the small heat capacity, fast heating rate, and low power consumption features of the planar diaphragm preconcentrator.

A double-sided diaphragm micro gas-preconcentrator has a micro-gas chamber which is formed by stacking an upper silicon substrate with a lower silicon substrate with a back-on-face configuration. One or more suspended membranes are provided on every silicon substrate. The silicon where the suspended membrane is provided is completely removed for forming a cavity. A thin-film heater is deposited on every suspended membrane. A sorptive film is coated on an inner wall of every suspended membrane. Thus, the upper and lower sides of the preconcentrator in the present invention are suspended membranes, which improve the area of the sorptive film on the diaphragm. As a result, the preconcentrating factor is improved while keeping the small heat capacity, fast heating rate, and low power consumption features of the planar diaphragm preconcentrator.

A chromatographic medium having a separating agent layer, which is used to separate target substances, and a permeation layer, which is laminated so as to face the separating agent layer and which is used to enable permeation of the target substances separated by the separating agent layer, wherein a region in which the permeation layer is not laminated is present on a part of the separating agent layer, the separating agent layer exhibits a separating property for the target substances and exhibits an optical responsiveness to ultraviolet rays, and the permeation layer exhibits an optical responsiveness that is different from those of the target substances and the separating agent layer.

A chromatographic medium having a separating agent layer, which is used to separate target substances, and a permeation layer, which is laminated so as to face the separating agent layer and which is used to enable permeation of the target substances separated by the separating agent layer, wherein a region in which the permeation layer is not laminated is present on a part of the separating agent layer, the separating agent layer exhibits a separating property for the target substances and exhibits an optical responsiveness to ultraviolet rays, and the permeation layer exhibits an optical responsiveness that is different from those of the target substances and the separating agent layer.