Abstract: In a vertical down-flow fluid bed reactor, suspended particles in liquid proximal to an inlet in an uppermost part of the reactor are agitated to form a downward extending turbulent zone having vigorously moving particles and a non-turbulent zone distal to the inlet having essentially stationary particles in liquid below and adjoining the turbulent zone. In a vertical up-flow fluid bed reactor, an upward extending turbulent zone is formed proximal to an inlet in a lowermost part of the reactor and the non-turbulent zone is above the turbulent zone. The downward or upward extend of the turbulent zone is determined by the degree of agitation. The particles may contain an active substance and be in the form of a conglomerate of base particles having a desired density to control floatation or sedimentation. Particles in the turbulent and non-turbulent zones may be different such as having different specific gravities.

Abstract: A fluidized bed chromatographic process for the purification and binding of molecules in a liquid to an active substance covalently bound to chromatographic adsorbent particles. The adsorbent particles are formed of a porous composite material having pores allowing access to the interior thereof and consisting of at least two density controlling particles of low or high density, or both, and a matrix formed by consolidating at least one conglomerating agent. The density controlling particles are dispersed in the matrix. The adsorbent particles have a relative density with respect to the liquid which is less than 0.95 and greater than 1.1, and they have a particle size within the range of 50-750 .mu.m. The relative density and particle size range of the adsorbent particles are selected to provide desired floatation/sedimentation properties of the adsorbent particles in the liquid in the fluidized bed process.

Abstract: A fluidized bed chromatographic process for purification and binding of molecules in a liquid by binding the molecules to an active substance covalently bound to chromatographic adsorbent particles in which process a fluidized bed of the adsorbent particles is formed and said liquid is passed through the fluidized bed, wherein the chromatographic adsorbent particles are formed of a porous composite material having pores allowing access to the interior of the composite material by the molecules, and the porous composite material includes: (i) density controlling particles which are either (a) hollow low density particles which are impermeable to the liquid and have a density providing floatation of the adsorbent particles in the liquid or, (b) high density particles having a density providing sedimentation of the adsorbent particles in the liquid; (ii) a matrix formed by consolidating at least one conglomerating agent selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic organic monomers and polymers; an

Abstract: Permeable substantially spherical hollow particles of 1-5000 .mu.m in size are formed having an outer shell of a mechanically rigid porous material. Pores of the shell are through-going pores that connect the inside of the particles to surroundings and allow chemical species to traverse the outer shell. To prepare the particles, impermeable hollow particles are treated with an acid or base under reflux conditions to form pores. The outer shell is formed of anhydrous forms of silicon dioxide, metal silicates, metal borosilicates, metal oxides or boric oxide. Metals and metal alloys are not used in forming the outer shell. Particles containing a polymer are formed by immersing the permeable hollow particles in a solution of components that polymerize to form the polymer, allowing the solution to partially fill the particles via the pores and polymerizing the components.