Abstract: Apparatus and methods for processing liquids are provided. The apparatus include open-ended, hollow reactor compartments which are detachably connected to receptor ends of tube systems. In preferred embodiments, a portion of the tube system is fixed to a rotor arm which can be rotated in a circle and moved up and down. Another portion of the tube system is coupled to a metering syringe which serves for drawing in or ejecting fluids into or from the reactor compartment and/or the tube system. A plurality of process stations such as bottles containing reagents or solvents can be arranged on a circular tray such that they can be accessed by the reactor compartment or by the receptor end if the reactor compartment has been detached from the tube system. The invention can be used, for example, for automatic protein sequencing, whereby the proteins to be sequenced are held in place by a matrix in the reactor compartment.

Abstract: An apparatus for the stepwise performance of chemical reactions characterized by a cup-shaped reactor vessel spinning around its longitudinal axis, and a pipette for applying samples, reagents, and solvents onto the inner wall of the vessel. The pipette is rotatable around an axis, and can be positioned at a location from which it can be lowered into reservoirs for drawing in or for ejecting liquid. The pipette can furthermore be positioned at a location from which it can be lowered into the vessel for applying sample, reagents or solvents onto its inner wall or it can be positioned at a location from which it can be lowered to remove reaction products and excess products from the bottom of the vessel. The apparatus can be used for automatically sequencing proteins and/or peptides.