Abstract: The present invention relates especially to a process for the localized distribution of drops of a liquid of interest on an active surface. The process comprises the following steps: an introduction of liquid of interest into a box containing the said active surface, and an extraction of liquid of interest from the said box, the said active surface and also the other surfaces inside the box being substantially non-wetting with respect to the liquid of interest, with the exception of several uptake areas localized on the said active surface, which are each suitable for taking up a drop of liquid of interest. The uptake areas may surround working areas. The present invention also relates to processes for the electrochemical and optical detection of at least one analyte in a liquid of interest, and to an electropolymerization process.

Abstract: Task-specific onium salts, process for preparing them and use thereof for detecting and assaying metals, in particular heavy metals, in an aqueous medium.

Abstract: Method for microanalyzing ions with the following steps: placing a volume of an ionic liquid (2) inside a cavity (1) having an internal volume, where the volume of said liquid is smaller than said internal volume; placing inside said internal cavity (1) a solution (4) containing said ions (C+, A?) to be analyzed, where the solvent of the solution (4) and the ionic liquid (2) are chosen for being immiscible and allowing an ion transfer (C+, A?) from said solution (4) to said ionic liquid (2); and detecting the presence of said ions (C+, A?) in said ionic liquid (2) using an analysis means (3) for analysing at least one type of ion in solution in said ionic liquid (2), in a free state or in a complex, said analysis means (3) being contacted with said ionic liquid (2). A device and a system for carrying out this method are also provided.

Abstract: The multichannel potentiostat comprises a reference terminal, a counter-electrode terminal, and at least two working terminals, respectively designed to be connected to a reference electrode, a counter-electrode and at least two working electrodes of an electrochemical cell. The potentiostat comprises first and second regulating circuits to apply a setpoint voltage respectively between the first and second working terminals and the reference terminal. The potentiostat comprises a control circuit of the counter-electrode voltage applied to the counter-electrode terminal. The control circuit comprises a first input terminal connected to a predefined potential and a second input terminal to which a regulating voltage representative of at least one of the voltages of the working terminals is applied.

Abstract: A device for displacing a small volume of liquid under the effect of an electric control, including a first substrate with a hydrophobic surface provided with a first electrical conductor, a second electrical conductor positioned facing the first conductor, and a third conductor, forming with the second conductor, a mechanism for analyzing or heating a volume of liquid.

Abstract: (EN) The invention concerns a method for extracting at least one chemical or biological compound from a liquid phase comprising at least one functionalized ionic liquid, via a liquid extracting fluid (F) which is miscible with said ionic liquid(s), and a microfluidic system (10) for implementing said method. The inventive extraction method includes moving, on one surface (12) of a microfluidic system (19), at least one microdrop (14) of said liquid phase into an extraction solution (20) which comprises said extracting fluid and which is localized on said surface to obtain in output of said solution, under the effect of an electric field, an extract (E) moving away from said surface which is rich in extracting fluid and enriched in said or at least one of said compound(s), and a raffinate (R) moving on said surface which is rich in ionic liquid(s) and deleted in said or one of said compound(s).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a droplet microreactor, i.e. a microreactor consisting of a droplet of a specific liquid, the microreactor being wall-less, wherein the interface of the specific liquid with the ambient environment and with the support on which the droplet is deposited defines the limits of the microreactor. The microreactor is characterized in that it consists of a droplet comprising at least one ionic liquid. The present invention also relates to methods for carrying out chemical or biochemical reactions and/or mixes using said droplet microreactor, and also to a lab-on-chip comprising a microreactor according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates especially to a process for the localized distribution of drops of a liquid of interest on an active surface. The process comprises the following steps an introduction of liquid of interest into a box containing the said active surface, and an extraction of liquid of interest from the said box, the said active surface and also the other surfaces inside the box being substantially non-wetting with respect to the liquid of interest, with the exception of several uptake areas localized on the said active surface, which are each suitable for taking up a drop of liquid of interest. The uptake areas may surround working areas. The present invention also relates to processes for the electrochemical and optical detection of at least one analyte in a liquid of interest, and to an electropolymerization process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an operating device characterized in that it comprises an active surface that is substantially non-wetting with respect to a liquid of interest; at least one zone for the localized capture of a drop of said liquid formed on said active surface; at least one operating zone arranged with a capture zone in such a way that the operating zone is at least partially covered by the drop of the liquid when said drop is captured by said capture zone; and means for leaving a drop of said liquid on said capture zone. This device makes it possible in particular to form high-density arrays of drops of said liquid on a surface, with the aim in particular of carrying out chemical and/or biochemical reactions and/or of analysing the liquid of interest in each drop. It finds, for example, an application in biological chips.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a work device (1) comprising work zones. It can be used to obtain a matrix of drops on a surface, using a liquid of interest (E). It comprises a work box (Bo) provided with means (o, s) for introducing and extracting the liquid respectively into and from the box; a substrate (S) comprising an active surface that is substantially non-wetting for said liquid of interest contained in said box; distinct work zones (Zt) formed on said active surface and each surrounded by a border (b) formed on said active surface, the borders not touching one another and having no common edge and having a geometry such that when the liquid of interest is extracted from the box, a drop (g) of the liquid of interest remains imprisoned by each border and in contact with the work zone that it surrounds.

Abstract: The device of the invention comprises a support having a surface comprising an attachment zone (Z) capable of being functionalized with a probe (A) capable of binding, according to the pH and reversibly, to a target (B) so as to attach it; a working electrode (WE) and a counterelectrode (CE) for this working electrode, arranged on the support in the vicinity of the attachment zone; and means for applying a given electric current or a given potential to said working electrode so as to cause, when said attachment zone and said electrodes are immersed in an aqueous solution, a local variation in pH in the region of said attachment zone. The method for attaching and/or detaching a target or an object according to the invention uses this device, the attachment and/or the detachment being electrochemically controlled with the working electrode.

Abstract: Microreactor comprising an inlet or feed channel, an inlet or feed zone (1) for a flow of fluid, a reaction zone (2), an outlet zone (3) and an outlet or evacuation channel, said zones (1, 2, 3) and channels (46, 48) being in fluid communication, and at least one compound such as an enzyme capable of producing a biological or biochemical reaction with at least one constituent of said flow of fluid, said compound being attached to the surfaces of said inlet zone (1), reaction zone (2), and outlet zone (3).

Abstract: A process for producing Al-Mg-Si alloy sheet in T8 temper, including the steps of providing a sheet article of an intermediate gauge, solution heat treating the article, naturally aging the article for at least one day, cold rolling the article to final gauge, and artificially aging it, wherein the artificial aging step is performed by heating the cold rolled sheet at final gauge to a predetermined temperature for a time shorter than that at which maximum yield strength would be achieved. The intermediate gauge is selected such that a reduction between about 25% and about 71% therefrom is required to achieve the final gauge. The T8 sheet is characterized by strength and formability properties suitable for production of one piece drawn and ironed can bodies and lids therefor, and for other purposes.

Abstract: An optical test pattern for correcting convergence defects of a color camera comprises LN pattern elements (1.sub.ln) each disposed within one of the LN rectangles which result from a camera-screen lattice arrangement formed by L groups each consisting of M lines and by N columns, each pattern element being constituted by a vertical component and a diagonal component.