embodiments of the present invention include processing steps and subsystems , within automated - biopolymer - synthesis systems and within other automated systems for organic - chemistry - based processing , for removing reagent solutions and solvents from reaction chambers following various synthetic reaction steps and washing steps undertaken during biopolymer synthesis . embodiments of the present invention employ any of various different types of liquid - absorbing materials to wick , or remove by capillary action , liquids from reaction chambers . wicking - based methods and subcomponents of the present invention remove significantly greater fractions of solutions from reaction chambers than conventional methods and subsystems and , in addition , are mechanically simpler and produce fewer deleterious side effects than currently used methods and subsystems .