Patents Examined by Benjamin J Behrendt
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Patent number: 8877050Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the treatment of liquid effluents laden with hydrocarbons, which comprises: feeding the effluents into a treatment tank; supplying the treatment tank with a reversible sorbent having a defined particle size; mixing the effluents with the reversible sorbent in the treatment tank in order to load said reversible sorbent with the hydrocarbons in the effluents; removing the hydrocarbon-laden reversible sorbent from the top of the treatment tank; extracting the treated effluents from the bottom of the treatment tank; and separating the hydrocarbons from the laden reversible sorbent from the treatment tank.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2008Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Osead Hydrocarbon Technologies, SASInventors: Christian Martin, Rene Pascal
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Patent number: 8857279Abstract: Methods of concentrating an analyte that is in liquid and method of detecting an analyte in a liquid are disclosed. Methods of screening a liquid for the presence of an analyte are also disclosed. Processes comprising continuously collecting a sample of fluid throughout the process and analyzing the sample are disclosed as are processes comprising treating ultrafilter membranes. Devices and systems for concentrating an analyte that is in liquid and for screening a liquid for an analyte are disclosed as well as devices and systems for concentrating an analyte from a continuous sample are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2008Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Inventors: William P. Hanson, Maureen A. Dyer, Robert E. Hetrick, Jennifer A. Oberholtzer
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Patent number: 8827085Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane is formed by embedding a braid having a spiral open weave of monofilaments only, to avoid a “whiskering” problem common in prior art multifilament braid-supported tubular membranes. The open weave is characterized by contiguous, circumferential, rhomboid-shaped areas of polymer film separated by monofilaments. When the braid is supported on a plasticized PVA cable it can be infiltrated with membrane polymer which, when coagulated embeds the braid positioning it around the lumen. The spiral weave, free of any circumferentially constricting monofilament, when embedded in film, allows the membrane to be biaxially distensible. In other words, the membrane has “give” not only in the axial or longitudinal direction but also in the radial direction. “Give” in the radial direction permits soiled membranes to be backwashed under higher pressure than in a comparable braid which is not radially distensible.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2011Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Cheil Industries Inc.Inventors: Chang Min Seo, Gyeong Mo Lee
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Patent number: 8808540Abstract: An aeration/backwash device (16) for use with a porous membrane filtration module (5) including one or more membranes (6) extending longitudinally between vertically spaced upper (7) and lower headers (8) into which the ends of the membranes are potted. The membranes (6) having a permeable wall which, in use, is subjected to a filtration operation wherein feed containing contaminant matter is applied to one side of the membrane wall and filtrate is withdrawn from the other side of the membrane wall. The aeration/backwash device (16) adapted to at least partially surround a portion of said membrane module (5) and including a communication chamber (17) having spaced through-openings (18, 19) in fluid communication with the chamber (17) and the membrane module (5).Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2004Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLCInventor: Warren Thomas Johnson
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Patent number: 8801998Abstract: In a method for producing a polyamide nanofiber product that contains PTFE particles, a spinning solution containing polyamide, PTFE, and a conductivity-increasing additive is provided and nanofibers are produced by electrospinning from the spinning solution. The conductivity-increasing additive is an acid-resistant additive; a surfactant additive; or an acid-resistant and surfactant additive and contains one or more organic salts. The polyamide nanofiber product with PTFE particles is used in filter media and is especially applied to a filter layer of cellulose or synthetic material.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2012Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Mann+Hummel GmbHInventors: Nico Behrendt, Anton Kreiner, Maximilian Steinbrunner, Heiko Brosi, Bjoern Schmid
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Patent number: 8801935Abstract: A process for preparing a reverse osmosis membrane that includes: (A) providing a polyamine, a polyfunctional acid halide, and a flux increasing additive having the formula Z+B? where Z+ is an easily dissociable cation and B? is a beta-diketonate; (B) combining the polyamine, polyfunctional acid halide, and flux increasing additive on the surface of a porous support membrane; and (C) interfacially polymerizing the polyamine and the polyfunctional acid halide, and flux increasing additive on the surface of the porous support membrane to form a reverse osmosis membrane comprising (i) the porous support membrane and (ii) a discrimination layer comprising a polyamide. The reverse osmosis membrane is characterized by a flux that is greater than the flux of the same membrane prepared in the absence of the flux increasing additive.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2011Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: NanoH2O, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Alan Koehler, Christopher James Kurth
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Patent number: 8801937Abstract: A process for treatment of water containing an azole-type anticorrosive for copper, includes adding ferrous ions to the water containing the azole-type anticorrosive for copper and having a pH of 4-8, thereby precipitating an insoluble iron-azole complex, and separating the insoluble iron-azole complex. An amount of the ferrous ions added is 0.5 to 5.0 times, by molar ratio, an amount of the azole-type anticorrosive for copper in the water containing the azole-type anticorrosive for copper. After the insoluble iron-azole complex is separated, remaining total organic carbon (TOC) components are subjected to an ozone treatment.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2009Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Kurita Water Industries Ltd.Inventors: Tomoharu Yasuike, Atsushi Nemoto
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Patent number: 8778186Abstract: The invention provides a method of contacting a membrane having a highly cross-linked polydicyclopentadiene matrix with a feed solution having a) a first component with a molecular weight in the range of from about 100 g mol?1 to about 600 g mol?1 and a cross-sectional area of less than about 0.40 nm2 and b) a second component with a molecular weight in the range of from about 100 to about 600 grams g mol?1 and a cross-sectional area of greater than about 0.50 nm2 so that the feed solution is fractionated into a permeate comprising the first component and a retentate enriched in the second component.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: University of Iowa Research FoundationInventors: Ned B. Bowden, Abhinaba Gupta, Tyler R. Long
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Patent number: 8758622Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane (6) in a membrane filtration system by flowing gas bubbles past the surfaces of the membrane (6) to scour accumulated solids therefrom. The method includes flowing a liquid past a supply of gas; creating a reduced pressure within the liquid flow to cause a flow of gas from the supply of gas (9) into the liquid flow and form gas bubbles therein and then flowing the liquid containing the gas bubbles past the surfaces of the membrane (6) to scour the surfaces thereof. Apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2005Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLCInventor: Joachim Muller
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Patent number: 8758621Abstract: A method of purifying impure water contaminated with a filterable impurity and a dissolved impurity, such as seawater, comprising the steps of: providing impure water to a primary microfiltration or ultrafiltration unit to remove the filterable impurity and produce impure filtered water contaminated with a dissolved impurity; providing the impure filtered water contaminated with a dissolved impurity to a reverse osmosis unit to produce a potable water stream and a residual reverse osmosis stream; and treating the residual reverse osmosis stream prior to reuse. The treatment may be in the form of passing through a secondary filter (such as another microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane or a cartridge filter, and the subsequently treated reverse osmosis reject may be used to backwash the microfiltration or ultrafiltration unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2005Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLCInventor: Joseph Edward Zuback
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Patent number: 8753519Abstract: A process for removing silicon compounds from aqueous NaCl brine includes, first, adjusting a weak brine to a pH value of less than 3 with hydrochloric acid. Iron(III) chloride or other trivalent iron ions are added to the acidified weak brine, the obtained weak brine is then continuously fed to a stirred dissolution vessel which contains undissolved salt in addition to brine. Fresh salt is charged batch-wise and intermittently to the dissolution vessel to produce strong brine. The obtained strong brine is fed to a stirred buffer vessel, the pH value in this buffer vessel being maintained at a level ranging from 5 to 8. A strong-brine flow is continuously withdrawn from the buffer vessel and filtered, and the filtrate containing the added iron and silicon is discharged. Also a system for carrying out this process is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2008Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: UHDE GmbHInventors: Werner Pohl, Christoph Stegemann, Thomas Steinmetz, Sami Pelkonen
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Patent number: 8739977Abstract: Disclosed herein are a composite semipermerable membrane and a method for producing the same. The composite semipermeable membrane comprises a microporous support membrane and a separation functional layer provided on the microporous support membrane, wherein the separation functional layer contains a condensation product produced by condensation of at least one selected from the group consisting of ions of trialkoxysilanes each having an imidazolium group and a conjugated base of a polymer having at least one acidic group. The composite semipermeable membrane achieves excellent selective separation of divalent ions over monovalent ions, and is suitable for use in various water treatment fields such as seawater desalination and drinking water production.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2010Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.Inventors: Hiroki Minehara, Koji Nakatsuji
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Patent number: 8734650Abstract: A system and method for removing gas from a gas producing subterranean formation and removing contaminants from the produced water is provided. The method includes providing a mixture of gas and water gathered from a gas producing well. Thereafter the method entails separating the gas from the mixture to produce a gas product and the produced water which includes organics, suspended solids and dissolved solids including silica. Thereafter, suspended solids are removed from the produced water. After removing some of the suspended solids, the produced water is directed to a micro porous polymer extraction (MPPE) unit. In the MPPE unit aromatic organic compounds are removed from the produced water. Thereafter the produced water is treated in a membrane bioreactor to remove additional organics. Thereafter the produced water is directed to at least one RO unit that produces a high dissolved solids containing reject stream and a low dissolved solids permeate stream.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies North America, Inc.Inventor: Robert Bradley
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Patent number: 8734651Abstract: An apparatus for conducting single-pass filtration of ink waste is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a filter connected to a housing unit and a plurality of absorbent layers within the housing unit, wherein the plurality of absorbent layers are in any order and include: a layer for removing metal and polar compounds, a layer for removing non-polar color impurities, a layer for removing acid functional components, a layer for removing additives with polar or protic functional groups, and a layer for removing residual water. A process and a system that include or utilize the apparatus are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Doris Pik-Yiu Chun, Hou T. Ng
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Patent number: 8728314Abstract: A membrane element is provided between a pair of water collecting cases. Water collecting spaces in which permeate having penetrated through the membrane element is collected are formed in the water collecting cases. The water collecting case of one membrane module and the water collecting case of the other membrane module are coupled via coupling portions. The coupling portions have flow holes. The water collecting space of the water collecting case of the one membrane module and the water collecting space of the water collecting case of the other membrane module communicate with each other via the flow holes of the coupling portions.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2008Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Hidetoshi Masutani, Yasunobu Okajima, Tomokazu Kitano
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Patent number: 8728321Abstract: This invention relates to a process for removing solid matter from process liquids that are miscible with water. A brine made from water and dissolved salt and which is more dense than the process liquid is placed underneath and in contact with the mixture of process liquid and solid matter. The particles and pieces of solid matter move from the process liquid and then through the brine. In so doing the process liquid that is carried with the solid matter is displaced by the more dense brine.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventor: Craig Anthony Nazzer
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Patent number: 8695811Abstract: A hybrid porous structured material may include a porous region (that forms a nanopore structure) and a non-porous region. The porous region may form a stacked structure where a plurality of spherical bodies are stacked so as to contact each other in three dimensions. The non-porous region may form a structure that fills a gap between the plurality of spherical bodies of the porous region.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2012Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hyo Kang, Sung Soo Han, Pil Jin Yoo, Du Yeol Ryu, Young Hun Kim, Seon Ju Yeo
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Patent number: 8696904Abstract: A reverse osmosis element is provided. The reverse osmosis element includes a plurality of permeate tubes arranged to form a core frame. The reverse osmosis element further includes a plurality of leaves wound over the core frame. Each leaf of the plurality of leaves is coupled to one permeate tube of the plurality of permeate tubes. A retentate channel is defined by the plurality of permeate tubes of the core frame, and sealed by the plurality of leaves wound over the core frame. The reverse osmosis element includes first and a second end caps coupled to the plurality of permeate tubes. At least one of the first and the second end caps includes a retentate discharge port, and at least one of the first and second end caps includes one or more permeate discharge ports.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2010Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ramasamy Thiyagarajan, Todd Alan Anderson, Anubhav Kumar, Philip Paul Beauchamp, Gurumkonda Srinivasa Rao Hanumanth
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Patent number: 8679338Abstract: A system is provided that includes one or more acoustic microfilters through which is flowed a mixture of a fluid and a particulate to selectively filter particles from the fluid. Also included are one or more phononic crystal units coupled to the acoustic microfilter(s) to further selectively filter particles from the fluid. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2011Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Flodesign Sonics, Inc.Inventors: Edward A. Rietman, Bart Lipkens, Jason Dionne
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Patent number: 8672143Abstract: Disclosed is a composite semipermeable membrane, which comprises a separation functional layer on a microporous support, and in which the separation functional layer is made of a condensation product of a polymer that has acidic groups and a trialkoxysilane groups having an imidazolium structure in side chains. The composite semipermeable membrane has excellent selective separation performance for divalent ions over monovalent ions, while exhibiting excellent long-term durability. Also disclosed is a method for producing the composite semipermeable membrane. The composite semipermeable membrane is suitable for uses in various water treatment fields such as the desalination of seawater and the production of drinking water. In addition, the composite semipermeable membrane does not deteriorate as much as conventional composite semipermeable membrane even in cases where the membrane is sterilized by having chlorine-containing raw water permeate therethrough continuously or intermittently.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2011Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.Inventors: Hiroki Minehara, Koji Nakatsuji