Patent ID: 6902680

Claim:
A method for selectively filtering mixtures containing biopolymers utilizing an apparatus containing compartments comprising inlet and outlet openings of a carrier body under reduced pressure and for vacuum drying drops of the mixtures present in the area of the outlet openings of the compartments, comprising: a chamber comprising an interior space limited by a top wall, a bottom wall and lateral walls connecting them, the top wall comprising an opening with an opening edge whereon a closing lid or the carrier body can selectively be placed in a substantially gastight manner by means of outlet openings directed towards the interior space of the chamber, one of the lateral walls being formed as an access lateral wall which can be opened and closed substantially gastightly for introducing the carrier body into the interior space of the chamber, and the bottom wall comprising a drain for liquid exiting from the outlet openings of the compartments of the carrier body, and a vacuum pump with a suction conduit terminating in the interior space of the chamber for producing a first low pressure for drawing liquid samples through the outlet openings of the compartments with the carrier body being placed on the opening edge of the top wall and the access lateral wall of the chamber being closed and for producing a second low pressure higher than the first low pressure for drying drops of liquid samples still present on the outlet openings of the compartments with the carrier body being located in the interior space of the chamber and the lid being placed on the opening edge of the top wall as well as the access lateral wall of the chamber being closed, said method comprising separating, isolating and/or purifying biopolymers from said mixtures containing said biopolymers.