Abstract: A process is described involving the detoxification of waste water containing heavy metals which includes recovering the metals in salable form. The metals are removed from the waste water by contacting the water with an ion exchange resin bed contained in a portable canister until it is determined that the resin is saturated with metal. This determination is made by measuring the appearance of heavy metal salts in the effluent from the canister. Regeneration of the resin and recovery of the metal is accomplished in a location diverse to that where the metal is removed from the waste water by (a) back washing the resin with water into a backwashing receiver (b) forward washing the resin with water (c) forward washing the resin with a regenerating solution (d) collecting the regenerating solution in a plurality of fractions wherein the first fractions contain the majority of the metal recovered and (e) forward washing the resin with water to remove excess regenerating agent.

Abstract: Device for the ultrafiltration of a pressurized high-temperature liquid, having, inside a pressure resistant casing (1), a second casing (11) to which are fastened tube plates (15,16) carrying tubes (14) forming an ultrafiltration wall, and a first set of partitions inside the second casing (11) for channelling the flow of the filtrate. A second set of partitions (27) arranged in the casing (11) above the upper tube plate (16) and partitions placed in the casing (1) underneath the lower tube plate (15) make it possible to channel the fluid to be purified and the concentrate. The part of the filter which incorporates the tubes (14) can easily be removed. The fluid circulates at a constant rate in all parts of the filter.

Abstract: A heavy metal can be removed from waste water, in which the metal is contained as ions, by adding to the waste water a metal scavenger together with at least one of sodium monosulfide, sodium polysulfides and sodium hydrogensulfide to form a metal ion containing floc. The resulting floc is then removed from the waste water by filtration. The metal scavenger contains at least one carbodithio group and/or at least one carbodithioate salt group as N-substituents per molecule.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for substantially reducing the concentration of coal tar based contaminants in waste water streams. The method comprises first forming an intimate mixture of the waste water stream to be treated with at least one coal tar based extractant. The intimate mixture then is subjected to an extraction temperature sufficient to reduce the concentration of the contaminant in the waste water stream to its equilibrium concentration as the extraction temperature employed. Finally, the mixture is separated and a treated waste water stream recovered which is characterized by a substantially reduced and constant concentration of the contaminants and a substantially reduced biological demand.

Abstract: A process for reducing the concentration of fine, residual solids still remaining suspended in clarified geothermal brine overflow from a primary brine clarification stage in which hot, flashed, silica-rich geothermal brine, containing suspended silicious material, is gravity separated, comprises flowing the brine overflow from the primary clarification stage into a closed secondary clarifier vessel having an internal reaction well. Capacity of the secondary clarifier vessel provides a brine residence time in the vessel of between about 45 and about 150 minutes, the brine residence time in the reaction well being between about 10 and about 20 minutes. Brine in the vessel is blanketed with steam flashed from the brine to exclude air from the vessel. In the reaction well, the brine is contacted with a flocculating agent, preferably a cationic polyacrylamide having a molecular weight of at least about 1 million, in an amount of between about 0.25 and about 2 parts per million.

Abstract: Aqueous nitric solutions of salts of at least one rare earth, and containing contaminating amounts of at least one alkaline earth cation, e.g., calcium, barium and/or radium, are conveniently purified by liquid/liquid extracting same with an organic phase which comprises a polyether extractant for said at least one alkaline earth cation, e.g., a crown ether, and whereby said at least one alkaline earth cation is selectively transferred into said organic phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a raking apparatus which has at least an upper section and a rake section rotatably coupled to the upper section for rotatable movement from a first position spaced from the bar screen to a second position for removing debris from the bar screen. The rake section moves from the first position to the second position under the influence of a counterweight or other biasing force. A shock absorber placed between the rake section and the upper section controls the forward motion of the rake section to prevent damage to the rake apparatus from uncontrolled forward movement of the rake section from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the separation and recovery of particulate matter having an average diameter of about 1 micron or less through the use of aqueous hi-phase systems and the modification of the surface properties of the particulate matter through use of a surfactant to modify its tendency to selectively migrate to one phase of the bi-phase system.

Abstract: A rake apparatus for use with a bar screen in a fluid channel that catches debris whereby the rake apparatus enters the channel with reciprocal movement to remove debris caught on the screen bars. The novel raking apparatus has the ability to encounter an obstruction in the bottom of the channel and remove all or part of the obstruction during each cycle of operation without damage to the raking structure. This is accomplished by forming the raking apparatus of an upper section, a midsection and a lower rake section wherein the midsection is rotatably attached to the upper section and weighted to provide a force on the midsection and its attached rake section in the direction of the bar screen. The rake section is pivotally attached to the midsection to allow the rake section to pivot backwards with respect to the midsection if it strikes an obstruction while allowing the midsection to continue its forward motion thereby protecting the apparatus from damage.

Abstract: A method for separation of a liquid mixture wherein a component, intended to be separated, in the liquid mixture is concentrated in the interiors of particles having an average size of 0.1 to 10 .mu.m; the particles are then transported to the surface of a polymeric porous membrane having an average pore size 0.1 to 50 times the average size of the particles under an electrostatic field; and the particles are then separated by a pressure difference loaded on the membrane.

Abstract: A process is described for recovering phosphorus from pond sludge found in ponds located near phosphorus plants. An aqueous solution of the sludge, which has a phosphorus concentration in the range of 5% to 70% by weight, is heated at a temperature in the range of 165.degree. F. to 212.degree. F., preferably for about 1/2 hour to about 6 hours, washed with water at an elevated temperature, and then reheated. A phosphorus layer having an enhanced concentration of recoverable elemental phosphorus is formed as a result of this process.

Abstract: A chemical treatment for the removal for manganese or manganese and fluoride from an aqueous waste effluent obtained from the acid-fluoride washing or alkali (non-fluoride) washing in a step in the manufacture of aluminum cans. The treatment consists of adding in an acid medium sufficient phosphate ion to react with the manganese and/or fluoride and thereafter adding in an alkali medium sufficient calcium ion to react with the manganese, phosphate and/or fluoride. The ratio of phosphate to calcium ion added is 3:1 to 1:2.5.

Abstract: The specification discloses a novel calcium silicate water-treating agent exhibiting a superior ability to remove various kinds of phosphorus compounds or other environmental pollutants contained in wastewater, the calcium silicate water treating agent comprising a burned product which is prepared by burning a mixture containing as main constituents calcium compound, thermally decomposable to calcium oxide (CaO), and SiO.sub.2 -containing compound at a temperature of 1300.degree. to 1600.degree. C., the molar ratio of CaO/SiO.sub.2 of the resultant burned product being in the range of 1.5 to 5.0, preferably 2.0 to 4.0. In this water treating agent, SiO.sub.2 component may be partially replaced by Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and/or Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3. A further water treating agent is prepared by heating the hydrate of the burned product prepared above at a temperature of 50.degree. to 700.degree. C.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane for the dialysis of blood is formed by melt-spinning a block copolymer which has a reduced viscosity of 1.5 to 4.0 and is comprised of 30 to 60% by weight of an aromatic polyester having a water absorption up to 1% by weight and 40 to 70% by weight of polyoxyethylene or its derivative having a number average molecular weight of 3000 to 20000.

Abstract: Separation of clarified water and rapid settling of the particulate solids e.g. ash, slag, char and mixtures thereof from aqueous dispersions of quench cooling and/or scrubbing water as produced in the partial oxidation process for ash-containing solid carbonaceous fuels is effected by mixing with said dispersion a sulfonated product of humic acids and their salts and adjusting the pH of the mixture to a value in the range of about 2 to 6.

Abstract: A plastic filterware having a filter membrane consisting essentially of cellulose nitrate welded to a surface of a membrane support member.The weld can be substantially in the shape of a ring having a width of about 2.29 millimeters. The filterware can include an upper receiving chamber for receiving liquid to be filtered, a support member at the lower end of the receiving chamber and a lower receptacle below the support member of receiving filtrate.

Abstract: Redissolution and/or reoxidation of metals precipitated by chemical reduction from aqueous solutions can be prevented by adding a bicyclic, aromatic, organonitrogen compound to the solution in a amount insufficient to cause precipitation of said metal but sufficient to prevent the redissolution and reoxidation of the precipitate. The compounds added can be selected from benzotriazoles, benzothiazols and benzimidazoles.

Abstract: A process for controlling the formation of undesirable by-products in an aqueous system containing residual halogenated 5,5-dialkyl hydantoins is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of treating the aqueous system with bromide ion and shocking the aqueous medium with free chlorine.

Abstract: Improved devices for filtration of fluid suspensions that form flow resistant filter cakes, e.g., waste-water treatment sludges, have a cylindrical filter unit mounted for rotation about an approximately horizontal axis. Influent is charged in one end, filter cake forms on an inner rigid filter media surface and discharges at the other end. Pressurized air is applied along a top, longitudinal area and vacuum assist is applied along a bottom longitudinal area of the rotating filter unit. In preferred embodiments, the cylindrical unit is formed of wire spirally wound into a cylinder with spaces therebetween, there are a plurality of spaced apart bars fixed normal to the helical wire on the inner surface and rigid filter media formed of particulate material bonded in a resin matrix fills the cavities between the bars and covers the wire spirals.

Abstract: A small volume laboratory filter having a thin rectangular body and coaxial inlet and outlet sleeves connected to opposite ends thereof. A very thin filter cavity is formed in the body and lies in a plane inclined slightly to the common axis of the inlet and outlet sleeves. The cavity is divided by a filter membrane into extremely thin chambers, one communicating with the inlet sleeve and the other with the outlet sleeve. A rigid package for the filter is sealed across one end by a flexible cover which when stripped from the package exposes the inlet sleeve so that it may be readily engaged by a syringe nipple or other fluid source without the user having to touch the filter. When the inlet sleeve is engaged, the filter may be withdrawn from the package.