Abstract: A device for high gradient magnetic separation contains, between two pole pieces, an ordered filter structure with parts of magnetic material, which are arranged perpendicular to the direction of a magnetic field and the flow direction of a medium to be filtered, the filter structure comprising flat ribbons with a thickness of less than 100 .mu.m of a material with a coercitive field strength H.sub.c less than 0.2 Oe, which are arranged so that their axes and the normals of their flat sides are approximately perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field, requiring only a very small field strength for magnetizing the filter structure in order to obtain high flux density gradients.

Abstract: A filter assembly for detachable connection with a housing, comprising an elongated tubular filter element; and a holder assembly for the filter element, which includes a closure plate which engages one end of the filter element and an annular retainer which engages the other end. An elongated rod extending axially through the center of the filter element connects the closure member and annular member together so that the filter element is entrapped therebetween. The filter assembly is insertable through the open end of the housing and into the filter chamber so that the housing inlet is open through the annular retainer to the interior of the filter element. The filter element is spaced radially inwardly from the walls forming the filtering chamber thus defining an annular chamber which is fluidly connected to the housing outlet. A closure cap is then secured to and closes the end of the housing.

Abstract: The fluid separation device contains a plurality of fluid separation elements, each element having fluid inlet, a treatable fluid chamber, a product fluid chamber, a product fluid outlet connected to the product fluid chamber, and a concentrated fluid outlet connected to the treatable fluid chamber. The elements are divided into at least first and second stages, each of which contains a plurality of elements. A pressure vessel surrounds the elements to maintain them at an elevated pressure. A manifold is attached to the outlet end of each of the elements. The manifold has a first channel formed therein for connecting the concentrated fluid outlet of each of the elements of the first stage with the fluid inlet of each of the elements of the second stage.

Abstract: An aromatic polyimide membrane having an excellent gas-separating property comprises (A) a substrate consisting of a porous membrane comprising at least one aromatic polyimide having at least 80 molar % of at least one type of recurring unit of the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R is a tetravalent aromatic radical and R.sup.1 is a divalent aromatic radical, the porous membrane exhibiting a hydrogen gas permeability (PH.sub.2) of 1.times.10.sup.-5 to 5.times.10.sup.-1 cm.sup.3 /cm.sup.2.sec.cmHg and a ratio of hydrogen gas permeability (PH.sub.2) to carbon monoxide gas permeability (PCO) of 2 to 5; and (B) 50% or more, based on the weight of the porous membrane substrate, of a gas-separating liquid contained in the porous membrane substrate, the gas-separating liquid being substantially incapable of dissolving therein the porous membrane substrate and having a boiling point of 180.degree. C. or more.

Abstract: A permselective ion-exchange membrane, preferably comprising hollow fiber(s) immersed within a regenerant, is used to selectively neutralize or suppress the conductivity of electrolyte in a stream of eluent also containing chromatographically separated ions. The invention particularly specifies a chromatographic separating column useful with an electrolyte eluent solution to separate ionic species by elution chromatography, wherein the effluent of the separator column is treated by the described membrane to suppress the conductivity of the electrolyte but not that of the separated ions.

Abstract: Apparatus for hemofiltration is disclosed, including a reverse osmosis module for purifying an impure supply of water, a container for adding concentrate thereto and preparing a replacement liquid, a semipermeable hemofiltration membrane filter for filtering the supply of blood and the replacement liquid in order to produce an ultrafiltrate stream and a filtered blood stream from the supply of blood and a filtrate stream from the replacement liquid so that the filtered blood and filtrate streams can be mixed and returned to the patient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for effecting washing, bleaching, or thickening, etcetera of paper pulp or the like utilizes stationary screens, yet provides efficient treatment without significant screen clogging. Pulp introduced into the bottom of a cylindrical upright vessel is caused to flow in particular radial segments and channels. Introduction of pulp into all channels of a particular radial segment, extraction of withdrawn liquid from the radial segments, removal of treated pulp from the top of the vessel, and the introduction of treating liquid between the stationary screens, are coordinated so that uniform treatment of the upwardly flowing pulp results.

Abstract: A blood collecting bag is clamped along its peripheral edges between two shells. Inlet and outlet ports are formed in one side edge of the bag and are also clamped between the shells. The shells form a vacuum chamber around the bag with the bag serving as a sealing gasket and also house a liquid trap connected to the gas outlet from the bag. Pressure between the two shells is equalized through a vent hole formed through the bag. The bag comprises a membrane forming front and rear faces joined along peripheral edges. The disposable bag includes a laminated filter which lies flat between the front and rear faces of the bag when the bag is collapsed. The filter is sealed between the two faces of the bag along one edge thereof and is joined to the rear face of the bag along its opposite edge to define inlet and outlet chambers. Preferably, the shells are of clear plastic molded to conform to the shape of the expanded bag within the chamber.

Abstract: A method and system for desalination of water by so called membrane distillation, wherein saline water is evaporated through the pores of a membrane whose proper operation requires that it not be wetted by either the distilland or distillate. Therefore, liquid intrusion into the pores of the membrane through which the distillate passes must be prevented by the surface tension of the liquid. Surfactants normally found in the saline feed water which have been found to cause liquid intrusion into the pores of the membrane are removed immediately prior to the distillation step by physical or chemical means such as adsorption by activated charcoal.

Abstract: Phosphorus is recovered from the phosphorus sludge formed in the electrothermal production of phosphorus by contacting the sludge with a hydrophobic surface with sufficient force to cause the droplets of phosphorus in the sludge to coalesce and accumulate on the surface, from which it can become detached in the form of large phosphorus drops. One such recovery process involves contacting the sludge, under hydrostatic or other pressure, with a porous membrane formed of a hydrophobic material, through which passes coalesced phosphorus from the sludge, the water and the bulk of the impurities of the sludge being restrained against passage. Other coalescing procedures involve shearing the sludge between sliding hydrophobic surfaces and passing the sludge between hydrophobic surfaces in rolling contact. Typical hydrophobic materials are polyethylene, polypropylene, and rubber.

Abstract: A rotatable drum solids-liquids separation device having bailer scoop means forming a fluid-holding trough attached to and rotatable with the drum which is operable to pick-up fluid in an internal drum sump and during rotation to lift and transport the fluid to an outlet position higher in elevation than the sump level, normally at the centerline of the drum.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fresh-water producing apparatus to be immersed in a marine medium and of the type comprising at least one reverse-osmosis selective semi-permeable membrane.This apparatus comprises three stages: a fresh-water stage consisting of collecting means for the produced chamber provided with a semi-permeable membrane placed between this chamber and the fresh-water collecting means; and, a third stage comprising a mobile piston and an hermetic chamber having a gaseous atmosphere. The piston is designed to enter in variable depth the high-pressure chamber by one side having an effective area s and comprising an opposite side with an effective area S exceeding the area s and arranged to be at the pressure of the marine medium.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane-type fluid separation apparatus useful for selective separation of fluids in various techniques such as gas permeation, liquid permeation, dialysis, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a membrane separation element comprising a pair of corrugated semipermeable membranes each defining a plurality of parallel passages for the fluid to be treated on active surface side thereof, and a plurality of parallel passages for a filtrate fluid on the other side thereof, said membrane being placed on each other in such a manner that the passages on the active surface side of one of said membranes may face and cross the passages on the active surface side of another membrane, said membranes being sealed together along a pair of opposite edges.

Abstract: A small-sample dialyzer having dialysis cells comprising a plastic tube covered on one end with a dialysis membrane, the dialysis cells being mounted in a cell holder positioned to place the membrane on the cells in contact with the liquid in the container into which an ingredient in the sample is to dialyze. The dialysis process may take place without external agitation, with agitation by magnetic means, or, agitation by means of a linear shaker apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for obtaining a controlled flow of fluid from a source to a patient. The apparatus includes a plunger movable vertically in a chamber and made from resilient material and having a pair of vertically spaced lands. The chamber defines a recess with the lands and the plunger in the space between the lands. Lubricating fluid is disposed in the recess. Fluid such as intravenous fluid is introduced into the chamber in one reciprocal movement of the plunger and is withdrawn from the chamber in the other reciprocal movement of the plunger. A porous washer filled with lubricating fluid is disposed in contiguous relationship to a particular one of the lands for providing an auxiliary reservoir of the lubricating fluid. Such washer may be contiguous to the lower one of the two (2) lands.

Abstract: A cup (2) of the centrifuge has two chambers (1,3). In the first chamber is placed the first blood bag (6) filled with blood fluid, which is inserted into the chamber together with an elastically deformable inset cup (4). A pressure pad (9) bears at one end on the outside (7) of the inset cup (4) and at the other end on the inside (8) of the chamber (1) of the centrifuge. During the centrifuging, the pressure pad (9) is admitted with pressure which results in a great volume increase. The inset cup (4) is thus compressed elastically so that the blood bag (6) is compressed and the blood components centrifuged in the blood bag are transferred corresponding to the volume increase of the pressure pad (9) into an empty satellite-blood bag arranged in the adjacent chamber (2). Over the upper connecting part (81) of the blood bag projecting from the chamber (1) is pushed a holder (64) which prevents bending of the connecting tube during the centrifuging process.

Abstract: A device for the diffusion of substances between fluids through semi-permeable membranes is disclosed. The device includes a stack of longitudinally extending spacer plates alternating between the folds of a folded semi-permeable membrane in which channels extend longitudinally across the face of the spacer plates, and the spacer plates also include ducts extending transversely through the stack at each end thereof, each being in fluid communication with one of the longitudinally extending sides of the spacer plates, and including a fluid connector extending between the transverse ducts at a location displaced from that longitudinally extending side and the longitudinal channels on the spacer plates.

Abstract: An insulin supplier, which can be effectively used for the treatment of diabetic patients, comprising a casing and at least one tubular structure composed of a polymeric semipermeable membrane to provide an internal chamber inside of the tubular membrane and an external chamber outside of the tubular membrane, either one of the internal chamber and the external chamber having at least one fluid-inlet and at least one fluid-outlet; wherein blood or another body fluid is introduced into that chamber which has the at least one fluid-inlet and the at least one fluid-outlet and a solution of insulin is introduced into the other chamber, whereby insulin in an effective amount required for metabolism within the body is supplied to the blood or the body fluid depending on the blood glucose level through the polymeric semipermeable membrane between the internal and external chambers over a long period of time.

Abstract: A three-dimensional network of rigid, porous hollow filament of inorganic material is provided which has high flux capability in treating fluid for separation purposes. The network is made by coating a continuous combustible core with a paste of the inorganic material, fabricating the resultant coated core into the network, followed by firing the coated core to burn off the core and sinter the coating to rigid porous hollow filament.