An example system includes an input channel to flow nucleic segments therethrough, a mixing portion coupled to the input channel, a separation chamber in fluid communication with the second end of the input channel, at least two output channels coupled to the chamber, and an integrated pump to facilitate flow through the separation chamber. The mixing portion is to include at least two different categories of beads having different sizes from each other and having a probe to attach to a corresponding nucleic acid segment. The separation chamber has a passive separation structure including an array of columns spaced apart to facilitate separation of the different categories of beads and attached corresponding nucleic acid segment into at least two flow paths based on a size of the category of the beads. Each output channel is to receive separated categories of beads and attached nucleic acid segments.

The invention is directed to a microfluidic device. The device includes an input microchannel, a set of m distribution microchannels, a set of m microfluidic modules and a set of m nodes. The m microfluidic modules (m ≥ 2) are in fluidic communication with the m distribution microchannels, respectively. The one or more nodes of the set of m nodes branch from the input microchannel, and further branch to a respective one of the set of m distribution microchannels. In addition, a subset, but not all, of the nodes are altered. The nodes of the set of m nodes have different liquid pinning strengths. As a result, the extent in which a liquid passes through one or more of the m microfluidic modules varies based on the different liquid pinning strengths, in operation. Additional sets of nodes may be provided to allow liquid to pass through ordered pairs of modules.

The present invention relates to a process for concentrating manganese from the tailing of a manganese-carrying mineral characterized by comprising the stages of removing coarse particle size fraction from the tailing, desliming and conducting an acid or a basic reverse cationic flotation. The manganese-carrying minerals of the present invention are usually minerals with low manganese content being preferred derived from the lithologies "Tabular Pelite" (or PETB), Pelite Siltite (or PEST), Detritic (or DETR), Rich Pelite (or PERC) and Metallurgical Bioxide (or BXME). The present invention also relates to a reverse cationic flotation used to concentrate manganese which is carried out using depressors agents and collectors agents as flotation reagents.

An automated system for sorting dissimilar materials, and in particular for sorting plastics from other materials and for sorting different types of plastics from one another comprises, depending upon the embodiment, combinations of a sizing mechanism, a friction separation, an air separator, a magnetic separator, a dielectric sensor sortation bed, shaker screening, a ballistic separator, an inductive sensor sortation system and a float/sink tank. The dielectric sensor sortation system may be either analog or digital, depending upon the particular implementation. One or more float/sink tanks can be used, depending upon the embodiment, each with a media of a different specific gravity. The media may be water, or water plus a compound such as calcium chloride. In addition, multiples of the same general type of module can be used for particular configurations. A heavy media system or a sand float process can be used either alternatively or additionally.

An apparatus and method for separating small rubbish and organic matters from garbage for collection by means of water by considering specific weight, buoyancy, and flow rate of water is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a plurality of conveyor screens (21, 24) incorporating injection nozzles (210, 240), a less inclined channel (32), a conveyor and an organic matter screen (34) for effectively separating floated rubbish, organic matters, and sunk rubbish from garbage for collection.