Abstract: An alginate gel adsorbent to remove heavy metal ions according to the present invention is prepared by adding dropwisely 0.1-5 wt % alginate solution to a polyvalent cationic solution thereby cross-linking alginic acid with polyvalent cations. An alginate gel adsorbent containing activated carbon capable of simultaneously removing heavy metal ions and organotoxic materials, that is, activated carbon/alginate gel adsorbent, is prepared by adding dropwisely a mixed solution of 0.17-10 wt % of alginate and 0.1-10 wt % of activated carbon powder to a polyvalent cationic solution thereby cross-linking alginic acid with polyvalent cations in order to immobilize polyvalent cation to alginic acid containing activated carbon. The polyvalent cationic solution is selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride (CaCl2), strontium chloride (SrCl2), barium chloride (BaCl2) and aluminium chloride (AlCl3).

Abstract: A sludge trapping container has a side wall and a bottom each having a plurality of holes defined therein by electron beam machining. Each of the holes has a tapered shape such that the diameter D1 of an end thereof opening at an outer wall surface of the sludge trapping container is smaller than the diameter D2 of an end thereof opening at an inner wall surface of the sludge trapping container. The sludge trapping container is economical as it is suitable for repeated use, and can trap a sludge highly efficiently and can be cleaned highly efficiently because of the gradient of inner surfaces of the holes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a purifying device for liquid, that has filtering means (1) in order to separate impurities in the liquid to be treated by mechanical filtration and purifying means (2), such as an activated carbon element or like, in order to eliminate impurities in the liquid to be treated by absorption or correspondingly, which means (1, 2) are arranged essentially built-in therein. The mechanical filtering means (1) are carried out by a thin filtering film (1a) made of plastic based material, such as PTM (Particle Track Membrane), TeM (Track-edge Membrane) or like, the porosity of which is 5-15%, the thickness preferably 10-25 &mgr;m and the size of pores 0,5 &mgr;m at its height.

Abstract: This application discloses a method for enhanced removal of chloramines from a fluid media by contacting said media with a catalytic activated carbon. The catalytic activated carbons used in the present invention may be prepared from carbon materials that have been contacted or otherwise exposed to nitrogen-containing compounds at temperatures above 700° C., and preferably are in the form of a solid carbon block.

Abstract: This application discloses a method for enhanced removal of chloramines from a fluid media by contacting said media with a catalytic activated carbon. The catalytic activated carbons used in the present invention may be prepared from carbon materials that have been contacted or otherwise exposed to nitrogen-containing compounds at temperatures above 700° C.

Abstract: A process for removing a solute from a fluid process stream containing said solute and containing a solvent. The process comprises (a) continuously contacting the process stream with a portion of a rotating mass of sorbent material at a temperature that allows sorption of the solute by the sorbent material to form a solute-adsorbed portion of sorbent material; (b) continuously rotating the mass of sorbent material; (c) raising the temperature of the solute-adsorbed and rotated portion of sorbent material by contacting said portion with an eluant stream having a temperature that allows release of the solute to form an eluted portion of sorbent material; (d) cooling the further rotated and eluted portion with a cooling stream to form a regenerated portion of sorbent material; simultaneously with steps ad collecting product stream containing solvent, and continuously repeating the above-named steps.

Abstract: A purification process composed of: contacting a contaminated composition including an optional fluid, a polymer, and an impurity with an adsorbent composition including an adsorbent, wherein the adsorbent is selected from the group consisting of an alumina and a magnesium sulfate, wherein a portion of the impurity binds to the adsorbent, wherein the polymer is a polycarbonate, a carbazole, a polyarylate, or a copolyester having the formula where n is the degree of polymerization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to water treatment, in particular to a process for the removal of dissolved organic carbon from water. The process includes the following steps, adding an ion-exchange resin to water containing a contaminant such as dissolved organic carbon, dispersing the resin in the contaminated water to enable adsorption of the dissolved organic carbon onto the resin, and separating the resin loaded with contaminant from the water. In a preferred embodiment the process employs a magnetic ion-exchange resin.

Abstract: Contaminated water is treated by adsorbing contaminant onto a sorbent to concentrate the contaminant and then oxidizing the contaminant via the Fenton and related reactions. Iron is attached to the sorbent or can be added in solution with an oxidant. Both systems, iron attached to the sorbent or iron in solution, can be used to oxidize contaminants on or near the surface of the sorbent. The process can be used to treat contaminated water in above-ground and below-ground treatment systems.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of removing hormone(s) from a liquid, the method comprising contacting the liquid with a filter comprising activated carbon fibers. Also disclosed is an article of manufacture comprising (i) a filter comprising activated carbon fibers and (ii) instructions informing a user that the filter is capable of removing hormone(s) from I.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cleaning liquids containing impurities. Adsorbents are added to the liquid, which adsorb the impurity. Several particles of adsorbent are agglomerated with the impurities adsorbed therein/thereon to form greater particles of adsorbent. The now greater particles of adsorbent are suspended in the liquid once again. The liquid containing the greater particles of adsorbent is then filtered. An apparatus possesses at least one agglomerator with a feed inlet, an outlet each for the separated components (clear runnings, concentrated suspension) and an apparatus for producing the agglomeration. The latter is preferably an apparatus for producing an electric field. A pressure filter with a feed inlet for the concentrated suspension and an outlet each for the separated components is further provided.

Abstract: A unique filtration device (10) which removes metal ions from a contaminated aqueous stream through the use of partially hollow wicking fibers (20) impregnated with a selected liquid (18) which can capture the metal ions in the aqueous stream. The wicking fibers (20) are formed into a filter element (12) which extends from a chamber (16) through which the aqueous stream is directed into a chamber (18) wherein the unwanted metal ions are removed from the extracting liquid (18). The wicking fibers (20) include internal longitudinal cavities (22) each with a relatively small longitudinal extending opening (24). The wicking fibers (20) are filled with the selected liquid extraction (18) which remains within the fiber through capillary action by which capillary action the individual wicking fibers (20) rapidly draw the selected liquid,(18) with which they comes into contact, through the internal cavities (22).

Abstract: A simulated moving bed separation system is provided, in which a fluid circulation flow path can be washed for a short time. This system is provided with a circulation flow path having two or more packed beds connected in series and endlessly to each other, with desorbing-charging inlet, extract draw-out port, feedstock introducing port and raffinate draw-out port arranged in this order in the direction of flow of a circulation liquid, which are allowed to intermittently shift in the direction while being kept in this order, and with packed bed-washing pipes, valves and pumps. A desorbing liquid is introduced through the desorbing liquid introducing port into the circulation flow path. An extract rich in a strongly adsorptive constituent to be separated is drawn out through the extract draw-out port.

Abstract: A process for determining by simulation the optimum stabilization conditions of a simulated moving bed (SMB) separation system allows to obtain set values for the purity of an extracted constituent and for the efficiency. In order to determine the optimum flow rates, a single simulation is carried out, which includes a succession of stages intended for rectification of the fluid flow rates during limited time intervals (T), including each, after each time interval, comparison of the respective purity degrees and efficiencies obtained, resulting from situations stemming from simulations over a time interval (&Dgr;t) where rectifications are applied to at least one flow rate, with those of a reference situation resulting from a simulation over the same time interval but without flow rate rectification, followed by a selection of flow rates aimed to minimize the quantity of impurities in the extract and the quantity of constituent in the raffinate.

Abstract: A technique of utilizing a sulfuric acid/peroxide liquid mixture, for example, its waste liquid material, is to be developed so that the waste liquid can be re-utilized and effectively applied to obviate the problem resulting from disposal. To this end, there is provided a method for utilizing a sulfuric acid/peroxide liquid mixture, for example, its waste liquid, in which peroxide in the sulfuric acid/peroxide liquid mixture is decomposed to render it possible to utilize the liquid mixture as sulfuric acid.

Abstract: Strongly acid cation exchangers with improved properties are obtained if the sulphonation of the non-functionalized polymers is carried out at a high temperature and/or in the absence of oxygen.

Abstract: A water purifier (1) for use with bottle containers, capable of being installed easily on a bottle container such as a PET bottle and capable of efficiently purifying water by allowing the flow rate of the purified water to be stable, includes a filter case (2) and a filter medium (3) charged therein. Wherein a joint (5) fittable to a filler port (Pm) of the PET bottle (P) is provided at the upstream side end part of the filter case (2), a vent tube (6) extends from the outside of the PET bottle (P) to the inside of the PET bottle (P) through the wall surface of the joint (5) and the filler port (Pm), air flows through the vent tube (6) into the PET bottle when water is passed from the filler port (Pm) through the water purifier (1). At the time of water purification, air flow control means capable of controlling the flow rate of air flowing into the bottle container may be provided in the vent tube (6).

Abstract: A structure for venting of gasses from fluids, and in particular, venting of gasses from filter elements or filter media used in water treatment devices. The structure incorporates a fluid flow diverter having a vent tube, tangential flow diverter and a lower air collection space to vent air from an interface between stages of the filter cartridge. The vent structure is particularly suited to systems having a pressure drop of 1 psi or less, such as those systems which filter a fluid by a pressure differential generated by gravity alone, or aided by a manual pressurization means. There is also disclosed a multi-stage filter cartridge, incorporating the vent structure, and having an upper stage including granular carbon and a lower stage including a plurality of hollow fibers.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing a watery substance, such as sludge or manure, wherein in a mixer-drier (33) the watery substance to be processed, which may or may not be mechanically partly dewatered (in 31) and/or preheated (in 32), is mixed with zeolites of type A, which adsorb water from the watery substance while releasing adsorption heat which causes an amount of moisture to evaporate, while from the mixer-drier vapor and a mixture of zeolites and dried matter are discharged, whereafter the zeolites are regenerated in an oven (35) through heating, and are returned to the mixer-drier after being separated from dry matter residue formed by the heating, such as ash, and released moisture. Prior to the supply to the oven, at least a part of the dried matter can be extracted by a separation device (34) the mixture formed in the mixer-drier.

Abstract: Isotope water molecules, e.g., HTO and T2O, are separated from contaminated water by conveying the contaminated water through a separation chamber containing a separation material formed of an inorganic substrate with hydration sites having multiple associated waters of hydration, whereby the waters of hydration are preferentially replaced by the isotope water molecules. The discharged water, which is lower in concentration of isotope water molecules due to the preferential replacement, can be conveyed through a second separation chamber containing additional separation material to remove additional isotope water molecules. Following saturation, the separation material is heated to separate the isotope water molecules. The relatively concentrated water driven off by heating is stored or otherwise disposed of, and the separation material is reused.