Abstract: A composite membrane for microfiltration comprises a woven metal mesh support and films bridging the interstices comprising inorganic particles, e.g. zirconia, bonded together by 1-25% of an inorganic adhesive. Group IV metal e.g. Si or Zr phosphate adhesives are preferred. Low temperature film formation without sintering permits the use of non-refractory metal supports.

Abstract: The device is made up of modules comprising a number of hollow membrane fibres or tubes which fibres or tubes are intended for being flowed through by one of the medium flows, while the other medium flows at the outside of said fibres or tubes whose ends project in a sealed manner through module parts lying opposite each other and forming part of chambers having an aperture for feeding or discharging of medium, the feed apertures and discharge apertures of adjacent modules being in register and connected to each other in a liquid-tight manner, the chambers form part of a point-symmetrical frame with a square, polygonal or circular shape and the longitudinal directions of the fibres or tubes of adjacent modules are substantially perpendicular to each other and the feed aperture and discharge aperture of each module have diametrically or diagonally opposite positions. The device can be assembled such that modules thereof are linked together located after one another or next to each other.

Abstract: A hollow fiber separatory device or module is produced by injection molding a thermoplastic potting material around thermoplastic hollow fibers. The thermoplastic hollow fibers are enhanced in order to increase the fibers' ability to withstand the high temperatures inherent in injection molding techniques. Also disclosed is a process for preparing two or more hollow fiber modules whereby the fibers are potted in an hourglass configuration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a particulate hydrated filter material containing clay for refining glyceride oil, including such oil containing contaminants resulting from the cooking of food. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of making such hydrated filter materials.

Abstract: A method and a liquid membrane is disclosed, in a liquid membrane separation process, for enhancing the stability of the membrane without any significant loss in solute permeability rate through the membrane, by converting the membrane liquid to suitable non-Newtonian form by the addition of a high molecular weight polymer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the separation of viscous mixtures, comprising charging the mixture with solvent to form a dispersion before extraction to improve the extraction over a simple solvent extraction. The mixture to be treated is charged with solvent before the extraction and is then sprayed into the extraction column where it is dispersed. This treatment provides extraction of highly viscous, pasty materials. The charging with solvent can take place until the mixture is saturated with the solvent, and favorable temperature and pressure conditions for charging may be provided in a charging column that is separate from the extraction column.

Abstract: A composite microporous membrane is provided having a microporous nonretentive substrate and a retentive microporous layer coated directly to the substrate in the absence of an intermediate support layer.

Abstract: In known membrane filter modules the sealing of the inlet of the faces of the capillary or hollow fiber membranes relative to the inlet of the stainless steel filter housing suffers from loosening of the sealing compound from the housing and from ruptures within the sealing compound due to different extension coefficients of the materials employed. With the inventive membrane filter module the safe employment of stainless steel filter housings with sealings and fluid distributing heads made of plastic is possible. At least a portion of the outer mantle surface of the end of the membrane bundle which is enclosed by a sealing compound or fused with plastic material is exposed so that the exposed outer mantle surface of the end of the membrane bundle may cooperate with sealing elements. Due to the fact that the sealing no longer acts on the stainless steel housing a simple and safe combination of the membrane filter module with the fluid distributing heads made of plastic is achieved.

Abstract: A five stage treatment system for treating oily wastewater to fit it for discharge to surface waters comprising a coalescer for separating free oil, an ultrafiltration unit for separating emulsified oil, an activated carbon filter for separating residual light organic compounds, a cation exchanger for removing heavy metal ions, a pH adjusting unit for adjusting the treated water to substantially neutral pH prior to discharge, and a controller for regulating the operation of the system. An optional gravity separation stage and/or a clarifier stage may also be included, if desired. Flow of permeate from the ultrafiltration stage is monitored and control valves admitting feed solution to the ultrafiltration unit or discharging retentate from the ultrafiltration unit are adjusted in response to the measured values to maintain a desired rate of permeate flow.

Abstract: As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the instant invention provides a concave filter 530 which comprises two oppositely disposed geotextile fabric sheets 560A and 560B. Fabric sheets 560A and 560B are porous for filtering the liquid from the slurry solids and may be fabricated from a geotextile material such as the material composing filter sheets 330a and 330b (see FIG. 4). Disposed between fabric sheets 560A and 560B is at least one drainage grid 350 such as the drainage grid 350 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 4A.

Abstract: A modular hollow-fiber filter unit (10; 100; 200) for use in a water purifier includes a jacket member (24; 104; 204) surrounding a bundle (20) of hollow fibers (22; 106; 206) within a housing (12; 102; 202). The jacket member has one or more air-vent passages or pockets (30) defined by air-pervious, liquid-impermeable wall members (42; 64) to vent air bubbles accumulated within the housing (12; 102; 202) of the filter unit.

Abstract: A process for separating the grease, solids and water components from grease such as grease traps and fry grease. The grease is collected and introduced into a primary holding tank to effect primary crude separation. The grease is removed to a second stage separator for further concentration. The water and solids are separately directed to a second stage to separate these components. The separated water is treated suitable for discharge into a sewer. The solids are dried and the solids and grease are then suitable for re-use. In the preferred embodiment, the separators are centrifuges. Heating of the grease may also be necessary to achieve proper viscosity for handling and to remove bacteria.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is provided in which aqueous based wastes are processed to remove solids, decant phase separated product, optimize chemically for solvent specific extraction, remove toxic metals and organics via solvent extraction and remove residual metals and organics via flocculation/filtration and adsorption with activated carbon. The system employs chemical optimization of the aqueous waste stream by the addition of reagents to optimize subsequent treatment and the addition of chelating agents which inhibit the precipitation of heavy metals so that they are maintained in the waste stream as an organometallic complex which can be extracted via carbon dioxide extraction and concentrated for recovery, recycling or final disposal.

Abstract: A transfusion filtering device for preventing foreign matters from entering into a human body. This transfusion fiber comprises a cylindrical housing, hydrophilic porous hollow fibers disposed in the housing in parallel with the axis of the housing, and hydrophobic porous hollow fibers disposed in the housing along the inner wall of the housing, the upper ends of the hydrophobic porous hollow fibers being exposed to the outer atmosphere so as to discharge air accumulated in the housing.

Abstract: A dead-end type filtration system wherein a bulk (or bulk suspension) comprising a fluid containing suspended matters is filtered through a micro-filter membrane to separate the fluid form the suspended matters, back wash is periodically carried out under such conditions that pressure on the transmitted fluid side of the filter membrane is higher than pressure on the bulk side thereof, and back wash liquid together with the suspended matters desorbed form the liter membrane is discharged from the filtration system to the outside, characterized by that said filter membrane has an anisotropic structure where the pore diameters of the filter membrane are changed continuously or discontinuously in the thickness direction of the filter membrane, and the pore diameters on one side of the filter membrane are different from those on other side thereof.

Abstract: Diffusion dialysis system which is decontaminated acids which have been contaminated with metal ions, such as during plating operations and the like. The system includes a plurality of vertically stacked, horizontally disposed anion exchange cells. Each cell includes the anion exchange membrane adapted to permit the diffusion of anions and to block the diffusion of cations therethrough. The system includes a frame which supports one supply tank for holding water and another supply tank for holding the waste acid each disposed at a level higher than the stack of anion exchange cells so that the water and acid will have a head of static pressure. Each cell of the stack includes channels for supplying waste acid to one side of the membrane and water to the opposite side of the membrane and at the opposite ends thereof to provide for the counterflow of acid and water across the upper and lower surfaces of each membrane.

Abstract: System, apparatus and method for efficiently and effectively isolating analytes from a liquid sample by solid phase extraction comprises a workstation platform with a plurality of suction providing stations for receiving either or both a detachably mounted collection chamber housing a removable collection vessel and membrane holder with removable, screen supported disc membrane, the holder having an inlet opening for receiving a liquid and a passageway through the screen supported disc membrane to an exit port for flow and collection, at the appropriate time, of analytes, extraction solvent, or liquid sample. The membrane holder is adapted to be releasably mounted into either the suction stations or the collection chamber. The removable collection vessel in the collection chamber enables prompt, timely, safe and effective removal of solvent, analyte or liquid from the system. The workstation platform is preferably rotatable for ease of access to the plurality of suction providing stations.

Abstract: Microporous nylon materials which retain near constant time to hydrosaturation during and after heating to temperatures necessary for sealing together a plurality of surfaces, and the synthesis thereof. Nylon 46 dissolved into a mixture of liquid nylon 46 solvents and nonsolvents is dispersed on a fabric substrate, then precipitated to form a laminate, from which a wash removes the nonsolvents and forms the microporous material.

Abstract: A rotary filtration apparatus is provided, of the type which includes a multiplicity of membrane packs arranged in a stack on a rotor frame, which facilitates replacement of membrane packs. A membrane pack assembly (16, FIG. 1) includes a multiplicity of membrane packs arranged in a stack between a pair of stack plates (70, 72), and held in compression by several tension members (80) spaced about the pack and coupled to the plates. The rotor frame (14) has top and bottom frame plates (50, 52) and a plurality of tying members (40) tying peripheral portions of the plates together. A sufficient number of the tying members are removable to leave an opening in the frame periphery that is large enough to allow the precompressed membrane stack assembly (16) to be moved radially into the rotor frame, at which time the removed tying members are replaced. The membrane packs can be stacked within a group of tying members (234, FIG. 10 ), and can be compressed by a compressor (280, FIG.

Abstract: Halogen-substitutable hydrogen atoms are linked to nitrogen atoms of a polymer, with ethylenically-unsaturated monomers. By using inorganic or organic hypohalogenites and/or organic N-halogen derivatives as halogenation means, hydrogen atoms on the nitrogen atoms of the polymer membranes or polymer formed materials are replaced by halogen atoms and part of these are removed by reducing agents in the presence of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, with radical grafting of these on to the nitrogen atoms, after which the remaining halogen atoms are removed by reducing agents in the absence of monomers.