Abstract: An apparatus for treating organic waste water including a treating tank equipped with oscillatable submerged type contactors in which the organic waste water is treated. A top mixer is disposed under water in a top portion of the treating tank for creating a current of water in agitated condition. Pipe mixers are disposed below the top mixer, each pipe mixer including a pipe which is open at both ends and a band-like agitating blade fitted in the pipe and having a baffle plate portion. One end opening of each pipe mixer is positioned below the top mixer and the other end opening thereof is positioned in a lower portion of the treating tank, so that the current of water from the top mixer can pass through the pipe mixer from the one end opening toward the other end opening and can be discharged from the other end opening.

Abstract: A ceramic filter used for filtering molten metal, particularly molten aluminum, made by sintering the composition comprising 90 parts by weight of electrofused alumina for an aggregate and 5 to 15 parts by weight of an inorganic binder. The inorganic binder comprises 5 to 15 wt % of B.sub.2 O.sub.3, 15 to 50 wt % of MgO, 3 to 10 wt % of SiO.sub.2 and the remainder Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.

Abstract: Sterilized and packaged mineral water comprises sterilized mineral water having a hardness of not less than 50 mg/l and a content of dissolved carbonic acid gas ranging from 9 to 30 mg/l (as calcium carbonate) and a number of bacteria of not more than 10.sup.-3 /ml which is obtained by sterilizing pumped-up mineral water having a hardness of not less than 50 mg/l and a content of dissolved carbonic acid gas ranging from 10 to 31 mg/l by filtering through a filter having a pore size of not more than 0.22 .mu.m. The packaged and sterilized mineral water can be effectively prepared by a method which comprises packaging pumped-up mineral water in a container without subjecting it to any heat-sterilization treatment wherein the mineral water is sterilized by passing through a filter having a pore size of not more than 0.22 .mu.m, packaged in a sterilized container under an aseptic condition of not more than Class 100 and then the container is airtight-sealed.

Abstract: The instant invention is a membrane useful for separating organic matter such as proteins from aqueous solutions which resists fouling and maintains a high flux during separation. The membrane is prepared by either drying a polysulfone composite membrane, or first treating a polysulfone composite membrane with aqueous methanol and then drying it. The membrane is then exposed to elemental fluorine in an inert gas in the substantial absence of oxygen at a temperature in the range of about -45.degree. to 70.degree. C. After fluorine treatment, the membrane is exposed to air. The fluorine content in the treatment mixture may be from 0.0125 to about 10 volume percent, preferably 0.025 to 2 volume percent. The fluorine treatment does not significantly alter the membrane pore size.

Abstract: A method for separating water by pervaporation from a liquid mixture comprising isopropanol and water, which comprises (a) heating the liquid mixture, then supplying the heated mixture to a pervaporation membrane module unit using a polyimide-type separating membrane to conduct separation of the liquid mixture, recycling a part or whole of the liquid not permeated through the membrane to a feed liquid mixture, supplying a fresh feed liquid mixture to an optional place in the circulation route, and withdrawing the liquid mixture from an optional place in the circulation route, (b) controlling the amount of the liquid to be recycled among the liquid not permeated through the membrane to a level of at least 10 times by volume the amount of the fresh feed liquid mixture, and (c) controlling the difference between the liquid temperature at the inlet of the membrane module unit and the liquid temperature at the outlet of the membrane module unit to a level of at most 20.degree. C.

Abstract: Composite solvent stable membranes for treating organic liquids comprise a crosslinked layer of less than 5 microns in thickness supported on a solvent stable porous membrane substrate, which layer includes at least one polymer selected from polyphenylene oxide type polymers and polysulfone type polymers, provided that the crosslinked layer includes at least one polymer derived from haloalkylated polyphenylene oxide type monomers. Such composite membranes include solvent stable membranes which swell to an extent of no more than about 10% when immersed in various organic solvents, and their mixtures with each other and/or water.

Abstract: A novel automated filter cleaning system capable of removing contaminants clogging the filter disk without having to resort to the operator's manual operation is disclosed. The system comprises a turntable or filter magazine for holding the filter disks in a stacked condition, a first ultrasonic cleaner for applying an ultrasonic field to one side of the filter disk, a second ultrasonic cleaner for applying an ultrasonic field to the other side of the filter disk, a water injection cleaner for removing residual contaminants from the ultrasonically cleansed filter disk, a robotic carrier for transporting the filter disk from a particular station to another, and a controller for controlling the overall operation of the filter cleaning system. A method is also provided for cleaning the filter disk by a combined action of ultrasonic treatment and water injection.

Abstract: There is disclosed a filtration process using at least one hollow fiber membrane module including a large number of porous hollow fibers bundled therein. In the process, the filtration step of passing raw water containing fine particles through the pores of the hollow fibers from the outsides thereof to the insides thereof to thereby trap the fine particles on the outer surfaces of the hollow fibers is followed by the cooling step of lowering the temperature of water inside the hollow fiber membrane module to cool the hollow fibers before the scrubbing step of charging bubbles into water around the outer surfaces of the hollow fibers to vibrate the hollow fibers to thereby exfoliate the fine particles trapped on the outer surfaces of the hollow fibers. The scrubbing step is followed by the drain step of draining the resulting waste water out of the system.

Abstract: With known fluid distributing heads a change of the fluid path for a given fixedly mounted membrane filter apparatus is only possible by using special adapters, respectively, insert parts due to the varying geometry of the flow channels of the fluid distributing heads for outer, respectively, inner flow paths. The suggested fluid distributing heads specific to inner or outer flow path facilitate the use of a filter module with fluid distributing heads within a membrane filter apparatus.

Abstract: Membrane separation process is improved by use, as a support membrane, of a polyacrylonitrile membrane the surface of which has been oxygen-plasma treated whereby at least a portion of the surface has been oxidized to --COOH groups.

Abstract: A water purification system includes a storage tank, a prefilter, a reverse osmosis element, a deionization module, a feedwater connection, a brine discharge line, and an electronic memory panel, all of which are incorporated within mounted or mountable on the underside of a kitchen sink. The system also includes a long reach faucet and a product water connection connects the storage tank to the long reach faucet from which the storage tank discharges purified water.

Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of diatomite, especially in a filtration sludge for disposal in a landfill or reuse as a filtration aid, having a flow dryer followed by a cyclone and filter separator. The dry product is then subjected to treatment in a high-temperature treatment chamber and a cyclonic separator separates 80% of the solids from the gas. These solids are quenched and then cooled. The balance of the solids in the gas stream are fed as the drying gas to the flow through dryer after water injection cooling to reduce the temperature of the hot gas to a temperature at below that which organics are volatilized in the dryer.

Abstract: A composite structure, particularly a filter structure, is provided comprising a support having a surface and a porous membrane formed integrally to the surface of the support. The support preferably includes means for directing a fluid away from the surface of the support. The support surface is at least slightly soluble in a solvent. The porous membrane comprises a resin soluble in the solvent and precipitated while the casting solution is in contact with a porous substrate and the surface of the support. The membrane is formed and integrally secured to the surface of the support contemporaneously.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for dewatering radioactive waste slurry solids. The apparatus includes a vacuum pump for applying a vacuum to a suitable flexible filter and collapsible membrane combination in which the slurry solids are contained so that the slurry solids are compressively dewatered when the vacuum is applied. The apparatus further includes a container for suitably storing the resulting dewatered slurry solids.

Abstract: The housing (2, 3, 4) of the filtering device has a cover (4), provided with a filtrate outlet (9), a cover that is detachable applied to a housing part (3) exhibiting an intake (7) for the suspension (8) to be filtered. A filter (11) is placed between housing part (3) and cover (4). A rotor (14), provided with stripping lamellae (17) for stripping the solids settling on the filter (11), rotates in the housing (2, 3). The filter (11) is formed by a flat, plane screen (11) placed perpendicular to the axis of a rotor (22). The intake (7) is aligned radially to the lamellae (17). For replacing or cleaning the filter (11), it suffices to remove the housing cover (4). The lamellae (17) are cleaned by the suspension flowing in the filtering device.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention has general applicability to the manipulation of the concentration, by partial depletion or enrichment, of one or more volatile components in a given liquid while leaving the other volatile components in the liquid in a substantially undisturbed or unadulterated state.

Abstract: A counter-current flow membrane module for liquid separations consisting of a body comprising hollow fiber membranes wherein the hollow fiber membranes are arranged transversely of the longitudinal axis of the module and the channels in the hollow fibers are connected to spaces present around the body which is furthermore surrounded by a shell. The module comprises two or more transverse current flow (cross-flow) segments formed by seals between the body and the shell, wherein at least one fiber layer or fiber fabric is applied per segment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing descending particle matter and chemical precipitate so that this material can be removed from a water body on a timely basis to remove offending nutrients. This method uses a plurality of funnel shaped collection chambers each attached at its apex to a collection conduit. Descending particle matter and precipitate concentrates at the apex of the chamber where a flow control valve closes upon activation of a suction on the receiving conduit so that external flow is restricted and flow velocity within the tube is maximized to aid suspension and removal of accumulated material. A tube selector is utilized to apply suction to only one collection conduit at a time, and a chemical feed apparatus is employed to produce the chemical precipitate above the receiving chambers. By this method, nutrients and particle matter can be removed from water bodies thus restoring their water quality.

Abstract: Membrane separation process is improved by use, as a support membrane, of (i) a polyacrylonitrile membrane on which at least a portion of the surface --CN groups have been hydrolyzed --COOH groups or (ii) a membrane formed of polyacrylonitrile and polyacrylic acid.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved reverse osmosis membrane that shows surprisingly improved solute rejection and permeation properties. The membrane includes a separating layer of a polyamideurea formed in situ by reaction of isocyanate-substituted acyl chloride and a diamine-treated microporous substrate.