Abstract: A separator separates a first from a second phase of a liquid in a tubular container. The separator has a float made of elastic material having a circumferential sealing edge and at least one ballast fastened to the underside of the float. The density of the ballast is greater than the density of the float and the density of the entire separator lies in a value range between the density of the first phase and the density of the second phase of the liquid. In order to securely prevent penetration of parts of the second phase of the liquid into the region above the separator within the tubular container, when the separator moves into the sealing position and is positioned there, the sealing edge of the float is formed at a predetermined distance greater than zero above the center of gravity of the entire separator.

Abstract: A steam cooking apparatus incorporates a steam cooking vessel for retaining water that is converted to steam. An interior food basket is configured to fit within the steam cooking vessel and retains the food to be steamed and has an insert basket lid that is adjustably coupled with the interior food basket to retain the food therein. The insert basket lid is adjustable in height within the interior food basket to accommodate different amounts of food in the interior food basket. Standoffs may be configured between the interior food basket and the base of the cooking vessel to prevent direct water contact with the food. A vessel lid may have lid aperture adjuster panel that enables changing the open area of apertures in the vessel lid.

Abstract: A method of removing phosphorus from water includes contacting an oxidizer with water including phosphorus to form water including oxidized phosphorus. The method also includes contacting the water including the oxidized phosphorus with a reactive media to capture the oxidized phosphorus on the reactive media, in the reactive media, or a combination thereof, as a solid salt comprising the oxidized phosphorus.

Abstract: A pedicure, manicure, and massage spa water treatment system is described. The treatment system provides a container for containing spa treatment water and multiple fish, a spa water treatment container having a first spa water treatment section hydraulically connected to the container and a second spa water treatment section hydraulically connected to both the container and the first spa water treatment section, and a carbon reactor device. The spa treatment water hydraulically and sequentially flows from the container to the first spa water treatment section, to the second spa water treatment section, and subsequently to the container. An inlet of the carbon reactor device is in hydraulic communication with the first spa water treatment section and an outlet of the carbon reactor device being in hydraulic communication with the second spa water treatment section. Only a portion of the filtered spa treatment water contacts the carbon reactor device.

Abstract: A method of treating an aqueous solution comprises forming a treatment stream comprising a condensable material. The treatment stream is introduced to an aqueous solution comprising water and a solute to fractionally precipitate the solute out of the aqueous solution and form a solids stream comprising the solute and an aqueous liquid stream comprising at least one solute-depleted solution of the water and the condensable material. The condensable material of at least a portion of the aqueous liquid stream is separated from the water of the at least a portion of the aqueous liquid stream to at least partially reform the treatment stream and form an aqueous liquid product stream depleted in the solute. Aqueous solution treatment systems and additional methods of treating an aqueous solution are also described.

Abstract: A method for non-combustive gasification of a hydrocarbon material includes introducing a mass of hydrocarbon material into a chamber, wherein a transmissive wall of the chamber has a pass band in the infrared frequency spectrum, removing air from the chamber; heating the hydrocarbon material within the chamber by radiating, from an infrared emitter, infrared radiation at a frequency corresponding to the pass band to convert at least one component of the hydrocarbon material to a gas, and turning the hydrocarbon material within the chamber to expose inner material to the infrared radiation.

Abstract: Embodiments include a method for converting renewable energy source electricity and a hydrocarbon feedstock into a liquid fuel by providing a source of renewable electrical energy in communication with a synthesis gas generation unit and an air separation unit. Oxygen from the air separation unit and a hydrocarbon feedstock is provided to the synthesis gas generation unit, thereby causing partial oxidation reactions in the synthesis gas generation unit in a process that converts the hydrocarbon feedstock into synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is then converted into a liquid fuel.

Abstract: A separator for separating a first from a second phase of a liquid in a tubular container includes a float made of elastic material having a circumferential sealing edge and at least one ballast fastened to the underside of the float. The density of the ballast is greater than the density of the float and the density of the entire separator lies in a value range between the density of the first phase and the density of the second phase of the liquid. In order to ensure an unrestricted light inflow of the liquid into volume regions of the container lying below the separator in the initial position, the float is designed disk-shaped; and that the ballast is designed in the form of a plurality of fingers extending away from the underside of the disk-shaped float, distributed at its edge.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for receiving manure from a vacuum truck, as that manure is collected from alleys of a dairy barn, includes receiving the manure in a mixing basin. The received manure is diluted in the mixing basin with a jet of water discharging a sufficient volume of water to form a sand-laden manure flow having a velocity of over 3 feet per second and dilute the received manure into a sand-laden manure suspension of less than seven percent manure solids. The resulting sand laden manure suspension is conducted into a vestibule of a sand settling lane to slow the flow of the sand laden manure suspension to enter a sand settling lane at a velocity of less than 1.25 feet per second. Sand is collected in the sand settling lane.

Abstract: A compound heavy metal chelating agent, which relates to the field of chemical and environmental protection technology, includes dithiocarboxylate functionalized ethoxylated pentaerythritol core hyperbranched polymer and alkylene diamine-N,N?-sodium bisdithiocarboxylate with a molar ratio in a range of 1:1.0 to 1:10.0. The two different structural types of components have the synergistic positive effect. While chelating heavy metals, the compound heavy metal chelating agent alternately combine with heavy metals to form insoluble chelating super-molecular deposits, which has both chelation and flocculation functions. The compound heavy metal chelating agent meets the standard for treating heavy metal wastewater, and low concentration heavy metal wastewater. It has a wide adaptability range, and does not need to add coagulant. Moreover, it is simple in preparation method, easily available for raw materials, low in cost, and easy to be industrialized.

Abstract: An ethoxylated pentaerythritol core hyperbranched polymer with dithiocarboxylate as side group and terminal group and its applications as a heavy metal chelating agent are disclosed, which relates to the field of chemical and environmental protection technology. The hyperbranched polymer has a chemical formula of C[CH2OCH2CH2OCOCH2CH2N(CSSM)CH2CH2NHCSSM]4, wherein M is Na+, K+ or NH4+. A preparation method of the hyperbranched polymer is simple, the raw materials are easily available, and it is easy to be industrialized. The hyperbranched polymer is able to be used as a heavy metal chelating agent. Its special three-dimensional space structure is able to alternately chelate with heavy metals to form a large three-dimensional molecular conjugate with low solubility, strong stability, and compactness, which is able to effectively treat wastewater and waste containing heavy metals.

Abstract: A stable aqueous composition of sodium chlorite and a hydrated borate donor having a pH of greater than 9.0 and the weight percent ratio of sodium chlorite (reported as NaClO2) to hydrated borate donor (reported as the sum of H2O+B2O3) is less than 1.5:1 respectfully. A method of remediating an aqueous system using the stable aqueous composition.

Abstract: A method for systematically controlling rapid proliferation of cyanobacteria cells in lakes in spring is described. The method applies physical, biological and chemical methods in an integrated and synergistic manner and includes using flexible enclosures to close a control water area and using modified soil to adsorb and settle algal cells; coupling four technologies including algae control by fish, algae control by biological floating islands, algae inhibition by plants and algae control by microorganisms; and using H2O2 to kW algae and using 40% FeCl3+CaCO3 and 50% Ca(NO3)2 to treat sediment. The method establishes a complete system for physical, chemical and biological control of algae, forms joint control of exogenous contaminants, endogenous contaminants and cyanobacteria, integrates physical, biological and chemical methods and optimizes systematic methods that are used synergistically.

Abstract: Solutions for leveling the surface of cookware are disclosed. In one embodiment, at least one detachable adjustable leg makes contact with the stove surface to tilt the cooking surface to make it level. The pressure on the stove surface can be increased or decreased, thereby increasing the tilt until the cooking surface is level. In another embodiment, at least one detachable adjustable leg is weighted at one end and the weighted end extends outward to make the cooking surface level. In yet another embodiment, the cookware comes with at least one adjustable leg permanently attached. In all cases, multiple adjustable legs can be used to increase the stability and accuracy. In another embodiment, adjustable legs protrude from the top or bottom surface of a grate that typically covers a flame on gas stove surface.

Abstract: A field groundwater filtering sampling and moving-water flow index measuring device comprises a precipitation tank, an electrode measuring column of moving-water flow, a suction filter unit and a control unit; also provided is a measuring method by adopting the index measuring device. Sample filtering and electrode measuring work in the field groundwater sampling process can be integrally solved, sampling time point selection after well washing is scientifically and automatically achieved, and the sample filtering and collecting efficiency is remarkably improved; and meanwhile, the accuracy of testing various in-situ indexes such as pH value, oxidation reduction potential and the like in groundwater is remarkably improved in the design of moving-water flow electrode measurement. The method has good application prospect and value for carrying out groundwater monitoring and evaluation, remediation and governance, and the like.

Abstract: A thickener/clarifier system includes a thickener/clarifier and one or more sensors measuring respective process or operating parameters of the thickener/clarifier(s) during operation thereof. The sensors are operatively coupled via hard-wired connections and possibly via 4-20 mA converters to one or more wireless transmitters. At least one wireless receiver receives the wireless signal(s) from the transmitter(s). At least one display is hard-wire coupled to the receiver(s) for displaying a magnitude of each process or operating parameter measured.

Abstract: Processes for separating and isolating proteins and fats from biomass matter utilizes a pH adjustment of a slurry. The biomass feedstock is derived from commingled animal and/or plant-based streams with highly variable concentrations of fat, proteins and impurities present in the biomass. A wide range of pH adjustment spanning highly acid to highly basic has been shown to be effective at separating the commingled streams into their constituent products. The processes do not rely on the proteins being solubilized into the solution, but rather solubilizing the fat portion, physically separating the constituents and precipitating the fat in a downstream process, resulting in two value streams: a highly digestible protein component and a fat component. The protein component has nutritional value as companion pet, animal and aquaculture feed ingredient and the fat component has value as standalone or blended solid or liquid biofuels, greases or specialty chemicals.

Abstract: Provided is a sewage treatment device and method for synchronously recovering water and electric energy, belonging to the field of sewage treatment.

Abstract: A high performance media for filtration and other applications uses specially designed binder fibers, wherein the filter media uses higher strength binder fibers to provide the media with high efficiency, high permeability, and high dirt holding capacity while also providing higher strength and stability during process and use.

Abstract: Inhalation of low levels of nitric oxide can rapidly and safely decrease pulmonary hypertension in mammals. A nitric oxide delivery system that converts nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide employs a surface-active material, such as silica gel, coated with an aqueous solution of antioxidant, such as ascorbic acid.