Methods for obtaining liquid from a solid phase

A method for isolation of a biological component, comprising:

• (a) contacting (i) a liquid that comprises a biological component, with (ii) a porous solid phase, under conditions and for a time sufficient to releasably bind the biological component to the porous solid phase;
• (b) releasing the releasably bound biological component from the porous solid phase into a liquid that is releasably bound to the porous solid phase;
• (c) subsequently forming a liquid seal at a first end of the porous solid phase to which the liquid is releasably bound, wherein the liquid seal comprises a layer of an immiscible liquid that is immiscible with the liquid that is releasably bound to the solid phase;
• and
• (d) applying a pressure differential across the porous solid phase to cause the layer of immiscible liquid to move through the porous solid phase towards a second end of the porous solid phase, thereby displacing the liquid that is releasably bound to the porous solid phase towards the second end and releasing said releasably bound liquid from the second end, and thereby isolating the biological component.