Abstract: A process and system for reducing the viscosity of heavy and extra heavy crude oils, and more particularly to a process for reducing the viscosity of heavy and extra heavy crude oils by means of total or partial oil deasphalting using a precipitating agent in order to obtain an upgraded crude oil of lower viscosity that can be pumped without the use of diluents. The upgrading also includes a reduction in metals and sulfur associated with asphaltene removal. The process consists of relatively simple equipment such as static mixers and stirred tanks and operation temperature is low and pressure is moderate.

Abstract: A flow cytometer. In one embodiment, the flow cytometer has a microfluidic structure defining a channel with a periodically modulated path for transporting a stream of fluid with magnetic particles along the modulated path, and a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) sensor positioned over the microfluidic structure to define a detecting zone in the microfluidic structure for detecting magnetic signatures of a magnetic particle passing along the periodically modulated path through the detecting zone, where in use the stream of fluid with magnetic particles is regulated such that each magnetic particle passes singly along the periodically modulated path through the detecting zone.