Apparatus for Separating Magnetic Particles from Liquids Containing said Particles, and an Array of Vessels Suitable for use with such an Apparatus

An apparatus for separating magnetic particles from a liquid which contains said particles, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) an elongated vessel which contains said elongated vessel (11) having a length axis (12) and a bottom, said vessel being arranged in a vessel holder (13) with its length axis (12) in a substantially vertical position, said vessel (11) having a lower portion which has a tapered cross-section that diminishes towards the bottom of the vessel and a side wall (14) which has an outer surface which forms an angle with the length axis (12) of said vessel (11),
• (b) a magnet (15) having a plane outer surface (16) and being adapted for being moved by transport means (17) along a motion path (25), said magnet (15) and said transport means (17) being so arranged with respect to said vessel (11) that over a portion of said motion path (25) said plane outer surface (16) of said magnet is in contact with a portion of said outer surface of said side wall (14) of said lower portion of said vessel (11), and
• (c) transport means (17) for moving said magnet (15) between a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position along said motion path (25), said motion path being so arranged that said magnet (15) is moved downwards and towards the length axis (12) of said vessel (11) when said magnet (15) is moved from said first predetermined position to said second predetermined position along said motion path (25).