A device for determining characteristics of a dispersion of particles and of soluble components of a liquid in a vessel , comprising: an extracting means for continuously and simultaneously extracting a first stream of the liquid and a second stream of the liquid from the vessel , one or more first mixing chambers for continually diluting and/or conditioning the first stream of the liquid in one or more stages, wherein the one or more first mixing chambers comprise a first dilution/conditioning means being a first solvent or mixture of solvents for diluting and/or conditioning the first stream of liquid, whereby the diluted and/or conditioned first stream of the liquid facilitates characterization of the dispersion of the particles, one or more second mixing chambers for continually diluting and/or conditioning the second stream of the liquid in one or more stages, wherein the one or more second mixing chambers comprise a second dilution/conditioning means being second solvent or mixture of solvents for diluting and/or conditioning the second stream of liquid, wherein the second solvent or mixture of solvents is different from the first solvent or mixture of solvents, whereby the diluted and/or conditioned second stream of the liquid facilitates characterization of the soluble components, a particle characterizing means for characterizing the particles in the first diluted and/or conditioned stream of the liquid, and a component characterizing means for characterizing the soluble components in the second diluted and/or conditioned stream of the liquid; wherein the first dilution/conditioning means is different from the second dilution/conditioning means. an extracting means for continuously and simultaneously extracting a first stream of the liquid and a second stream of the liquid from the vessel , one or more first mixing chambers for continually diluting and/or conditioning the first stream of the liquid in one or more stages, wherein the one or more first mixing chambers comprise a first dilution/conditioning means being a first solvent or mixture of solvents for diluting and/or conditioning the first stream of liquid, whereby the diluted and/or conditioned first stream of the liquid facilitates characterization of the dispersion of the particles, one or more second mixing chambers for continually diluting and/or conditioning the second stream of the liquid in one or more stages, wherein the one or more second mixing chambers comprise a second dilution/conditioning means being second solvent or mixture of solvents for diluting and/or conditioning the second stream of liquid, wherein the second solvent or mixture of solvents is different from the first solvent or mixture of solvents, whereby the diluted and/or conditioned second stream of the liquid facilitates characterization of the soluble components, a particle characterizing means for characterizing the particles in the first diluted and/or conditioned stream of the liquid, and a component characterizing means for characterizing the soluble components in the second diluted and/or conditioned stream of the liquid; wherein the first dilution/conditioning means is different from the second dilution/conditioning means. <EOS>