Isolation cell, high pressure

In transfer-rod designs, the sample can either be located at the end of the rod (4, 5, 8), or within a cutout in the rod (6, 7,10, 11) as was shown in Fig. 1. When located at the end of the rod, an all-metal valve is used to isolate the high-pressure cell from UHV during reaction measurements (4, 5). In this case, the microreactor must be evacuated with a separate pump before opening the valve for transfer back to UHV. Since this pump... 

Careful attention to such detail is necessary as a second line of defence against the effects of reactive hazards. The level of protection considered necessary may range from the essential and absolute minimum of effective eye protection, via the safety screen, fume cupboard or enclosed reactor, up to the ultimate of a remotely controlled and blast-resistant isolation cell (usually for high-pressure operations). In the absence of facilities appropriate to the assessed level of hazard, operations must be deferred until such facilities are available. 

Crystallization of ECSCs was isothermally carried out under high pressure using a piston cylinder high pressure cell with diamond window (PCDW) originally made by us. The formation of isolated ECSCs was confirmed by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). 

When carrying out cell disruption operations it is often necessary to provide cooling of the cell concentrate due to the high pressures developed in the equipment. An additional consequence of high-pressure operation is that cell disruption equipment can generate aerosols which may be undesirable, particularly for biologically hazardous organisms. In these cases, the ability to steam sterilize the equipment is required, for decontamination, and some type of secondary containment may also be required, such as an isolator or a contained area within a facility to which access is controlled. 

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