초록 ▼

A thin channel split flow process for particle fractionation which effects a rapid and efficient separation of the particles comprising continuously introducing two or more fluid substreams of different composition into separate inlet ports of a thin enclosed channel having a thickness which is very

A thin channel split flow process for particle fractionation which effects a rapid and efficient separation of the particles comprising continuously introducing two or more fluid substreams of different composition into separate inlet ports of a thin enclosed channel having a thickness which is very thin compared to the other two dimensions and bringing the substreams into contact with adjacent substreams so as to collectively form a series of thin laminae flowing parallel to one another in the channel and in contact with one another over a sufficient length of channel to allow a desired level of mass transport between and through laminae, continuously introducing a fluid medium containing the particles to be separated as one or more of the fluid substreams and independently of the particle concentration, varying the fluid composition of the different substreams as needed to realize separation, at the outlet end of the channel splitting the collective streams into another set of substreams so as to permit separate recovery of one or more of the substreams.

대표청구항 ▼

A continuous process for fractinating small particles as small as polypeptides and no larger than biological cells contained in a fluid stream comprising: a. continuously introducing two or more fluid substreams of different composition into the inlet end of a thin enclosed channel having an inlet e

A continuous process for fractinating small particles as small as polypeptides and no larger than biological cells contained in a fluid stream comprising: a. continuously introducing two or more fluid substreams of different composition into the inlet end of a thin enclosed channel having an inlet end possessing at least two inlet means and an outlet end possessing at least two outlet means and having a thickness which is very thin compared to the other two dimensions and is less than 5 millimeters, and has a length of not more than about 20 centimeters, and bringing a substream into contact with adjacent substreams so as to collectively form a series of thin laminae flowing parallel to one another within the channel and in contact with one another over a sufficient length of channel to allow a desired level of mass transport between and through the laminae without substantial hydrodynamic mixing between the laminae, b. continuously introducing a fluid medium containing the particles to be separated by means of one of said inlet means into one or more of the fluid substreams and varying the fluid composition of the non-particle containing substreams as needed to realize separation, c. at the outlet end of the channel splitting the collective channel stream into another set of substreams so as to permit separate recovery of at least two of the substreams at separate outlet means at the outlet end of the channel, d. adjusting the flow rates at the inlet end as well as at the outlet end so as to obtain the desired separation, e. continuously removing all of the substreams being separated at least two separate outlet means at the outlet end of the channel, f. during the separation process subjecting the channel to one or more transverse driving forces or gradients having a component perpendicular to the plane of the flow stream in the channel, and being selected from the group consisting of gravitation, centrifugation, electrical, dielectrical forces, cross-flow forces, temperature gradients, density gradients and concentration gradients, and combinations thereof.