System and method for superheating and/or supercooling of liquids and use of the system and/or method

Abstract

System and method for for superheating and/or supercooling of liquids and use of the system and/or method, wherein the liquid is within a capillary tube, wherein there is at least one heating and/or cooling means for heating the liquid above boiling point of the liquid at ambient pressure or cooling the liquid below freezing point of the liquid at ambient pressure, wherein the at least one heating and/or cooling means is in thermal contact with the capillary tube in an area, in which there is liquid inside the capillary tube, and wherein the capillary tube is scratch-free at its inner surface.

1 . Open system for superheating and/or supercooling of liquids, wherein the liquid is within a capillary tube, wherein there is at least one heating and/or cooling means for heating the liquid above boiling point of the liquid at ambient pressure or cooling the liquid below freezing point of the liquid at ambient pressure, wherein the at least one heating and/or cooling means is in thermal contact with the capillary tube in an area, in which there is liquid inside the capillary tube, and wherein the capillary tube is at least nearly free of nucleation centers at its inner surface. 
     
     
         2 . Open system according to  claim 1 , wherein the area of the with liquid filled capillary tube extends on both sides beyond the area of the capillary tube where the heating and/or cooling means are in thermal contact with the capillary tube. 
     
     
         3 . Method for superheating and/or supercooling of a liquid under use of an open system according to  claim 1 , wherein the open system is operated in a flow-through mode. 
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 3 , wherein the flow-through mode is accomplished by the operation of at least one feeder screw or pump for conveying the liquid through the area of the capillary tube where the at least one heating and/or cooling means are in thermal contact with the capillary tube. 
     
     
         5 . Method for superheating and/or supercooling of a liquid under use of an open system according to  claim 1 , wherein the open system is operated in a batch mode. 
     
     
         6 . Use of an open system and/or a method according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is water or an organic solvent. 
     
     
         7 . Use according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid contains biomolecules, wherein said biomolecules are dissociated when superheated or supercooled and exposed for an exposure period. 
     
     
         8 . Use according to  claim 7 , wherein the biomolecules are biopolymers selected from the group consisting of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids. 
     
     
         9 . Use according to  claim 7 , wherein the biomolecules are proteins or peptides. 
     
     
         10 . Use according to  claim 7 , wherein the biomolecules are selected from the group consisting of secondary metabolites, sugars, polycyclic aromatic carbohydrates, phospholipids, glycolipids, sterols, glycerolipids, vitamins, hormones, neurotransmitters, fatty acids, isoprenoids, lantibiotics and polyketides. 
     
     
         11 . Use according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid contains prokaryotes, eukaryotes or viruses.