Abstract: Systems and methods for a cartridge which may be included in a medical suction device are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a cartridge may comprise a porous filler material loaded with absorption granules for absorbing liquids, and a hydrophobic liquid barrier which is permeable only to one or more of air and gasses, and positioned within the cartridge so that liquids in the cartridge cannot exit the cartridge. The cartridge may further comprise perforated walls and sealed walls, arranged within the cartridge in an alternating order and orientated parallel to one another and perpendicular to a net flow direction of fluids in the cartridge, and spaced from one another such that passages are formed between the walls.

Abstract: The process of this invention destroys contaminants in a contaminant-containing aqueous stream. The subject process comprises providing a contaminant-containing aqueous feed stream including an initial amount of at least one of a group of contaminants including perchlorates, nitrates, and nitrites. The contaminant-containing aqueous feed stream includes a reducing agent. Next the reducing agent-containing, contaminant-containing aqueous stream is heated. Finally, the heated contaminant-containing aqueous stream is contacted with an oxidation-reduction catalyst for a period of time sufficient for reducing the excess amount of any of the perchlorates, nitrates, and nitrites contaminants by at least about 90%.

Abstract: The process of this invention comprises providing a membrane for separating CO.sub.2 into a first CO.sub.2 sample phase and a second CO.sub.2 analyte phase. CO.sub.2 is then transported through the membrane thereby separating the CO.sub.2 with the membrane into a first CO.sub.2 sample phase and a second CO.sub.2 analyte liquid phase including an ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species. Next, the concentration of the ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species in the second CO.sub.2 analyte liquid phase is chemically amplified using a water-soluble chemical reagent which reversibly reacts with undissociated CO.sub.2 to produce conductivity changes therein corresponding to fluctuations in the partial pressure of CO.sub.2 in the first CO.sub.2 sample phase. Finally, the chemically amplified, ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species is introduced to a conductivity measuring instrument. Conductivity changes in the chemically amplified, ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.

Abstract: The process of this invention comprises providing a membrane for separating CO.sub.2 into a first CO.sub.2 sample phase and a second CO.sub.2 analyte phase. CO.sub.2 is then transported through the membrane thereby separating the CO.sub.2 with the membrane into a first CO.sub.2 sample phase and a second CO.sub.2 analyte liquid phase including an ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species. Next, the concentration of the ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species in the second CO.sub.2 analyte liquid phase is chemically amplified using a water-soluble chemical reagent which reversibly reacts with undissociated CO.sub.2 to produce conductivity changes therein corresponding to fluctuations in the partial pressure of CO.sub.2 in the first CO.sub.2 sample phase. Finally, the chemically amplified, ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species is introduced to a conductivity measuring instrument. Conductivity changes in the chemically amplified, ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.

Abstract: The present process is designed for removing elemental iodine and iodide ions from an aqueous solution containing iodine and iodide ions. This process employees a strong-base anion exchange resin. The resin comprises trialkyl amine groups each preferably comprising from alkyl groups containing 3 to 8 carbon atoms. The aqueous solution containing elemental iodine and iodide ions is passed through the resin and thereby treats the aqueous solution by removing elemental iodine and iodide ions therefrom. The volume of the aqueous solution passing through the resin until reaching the Breakthrough Point is at least about 8 liters per cubic centimeter.

Abstract: Solid phase ionic calibration standards are disclosed that comprise sparingly and selectively soluble solids. The calibration standards are especially useful in calibration pH electrodes used to monitor weak ionic strength solutions, and permit rapid pH electrode recovery times.

Abstract: There are essentially three aspects to the present invention. In a first aspect, there is provided solid-phase calibration materials for selectively imparting predetermined inorganic or organic carbon levels to a fluid stream by dissolution, comprising solids that are sparingly and selectively soluble in the fluid stream. In a second aspect, the same materials may be used as standards for calibrating an on-line or off-line carbon analyzer at predetermined TIC and TOC levels in a fluid stream. In a third aspect, there is provided a calibration system that utilizes the standards to impart predetermined levels of selected TIC and TOC levels in a fluid sample stream. In one form of the invention, a process is provided for automatically calibrating analytical instrumentation with respect to total organic carbon and total inorganic carbon.

Abstract: A reagentless separator for removal of hydrolyzed species such as bicarbonate or carbonate to free or dissolved acid gases from a solution comprises a flow-through solid-phase acid bed through which the solution is passed for decreasing the pH of the solution and thus converting the hydrolyzed species into a free or dissolved acid gases. The converted hydrolyzed species is then separated from the solution by a gas permeable membrane degasser having an acid gas permeable membrane across which a partial pressure gradient is established. The solution may be an aqueous solution containing CO.sub.2 or any other hydrolyzed gas. The dissolved acid gas separator will be especially useful on space craft missions where water must be recycled.

Abstract: A method of the present invention is provided for removing low molecular weight contaminants from a contaminant-containing material. This contaminant-containing material can include alcohol compounds, aldehyde compounds and peroxide compounds. The method comprises providing an alcohol oxidase enzyme-based catalyst system including coimmobilized transition metals comprising platinum and copper for catalytically oxidizing the contaminant-containing material. Then, the contaminant-containing material is catalytically oxidized in the presence of the alcohol oxidase enzyme-based catalyst system to form organic acid compounds. The organic acid compounds can then be removed.