Abstract: Systems and method for production of furfural comprising combining a xylose-containing solution with an extraction solution comprising water-insoluble boronic acid to provide a first combined solution comprising an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous phase, said non-aqueous phase comprising xylose-diboronate ester (BA2X); combining at least a portion of the non-aqueous phase with a conversion solution to form a second combined solution, heating the second combined solution to convert at least a portion of the xylose-diboronate ester into furfural to a temperature at or above which the second combined solution consists essentially of a homogeneous liquid phase, cooling down the heated second combined solution to a temperature wherein the cooled second combined solution comprises an aqueous phase comprising water and furfural and (ii) a non-aqueous phase comprising water-insoluble boronic acid and furfural.

Abstract: Systems and method for production of furfural comprising combining a xylose-containing solution with an extraction solution comprising water-insoluble boronic acid to provide a first combined solution comprising an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous phase, said non-aqueous phase comprising xylose-diboronate ester (BA2X); combining at least a portion of the non-aqueous phase with an ionic conversion solution having a pH of less than or equal to 4 and comprising one or more salts to form a second combined solution, wherein the ionic conversion solution has a calculated molar ionic strength of at least 1, heating the second combined solution to convert at least a portion of the xylose-diboronate ester into furfural; separating the second combined solution into a second aqueous phase comprising from a second non-aqueous phase and recovering furfural from the second non-aqueous phase.

Abstract: A stamp for making a microarray of biomolecules, wherein the stamp has a stamp body having a stamping surface for stamping the biomolecules onto a substrate, a plurality of reservoirs for liquids having the biomolecules, wherein each of the reservoirs has a bottom wall and a plurality of channels extending between each of the bottom wall and the stamping surface, wherein each of the reservoirs and the channels has a macroporous hydrogel and wherein the stamping surface is provided with a hydrophobic coating.

Abstract: A stamp for making a microarray of biomolecules, wherein the stamp has a stamp body having a stamping surface for stamping the biomolecules onto a substrate, a plurality of reservoirs for liquids having the biomolecules, wherein each of the reservoirs has a bottom wall and a plurality of channels extending between each of the bottom wall and the stamping surface, wherein each of the reservoirs and the channels has a macroporous hydrogel and wherein the stamping surface is provided with a hydrophobic coating.

Abstract: A gold layer (20) is patterned with a gold oxide mask (30), which mask is patterned with an acid, preferably with microcontactprinting. The gold oxide mask (30) is stable in alkalic etch solutions for the gold layer (20). The gold oxide mask (30) may be maintained to create a reexposable gold pad (20).

Abstract: The present invention provides a soft lithographic stamp (30) and a method for the manufacturing of such a stamp (30). A stamp (30) according to the present invention comprises blocking regions (37) and printing regions (38). The blocking regions (37) are formed of a material which is different from the material the printing regions (38) are formed of and which exhibits a reduced permeability, diffusivity or absorbing or adsorbing capability to the printing compound, such that it prevents or significantly reduces chemical or physical transport or transfer of the printing compound from the blocking regions to a substrate that has to be patterned or printed.