Abstract: A method of determining pore size of a porous material. The method includes saturating the porous material with a conducting liquid. Measuring, with an electro-acoustic device, a phase of the seismo-electric or electro-seismic signal at a single frequency or multiple frequencies. Calculating an average pore size from the measured phase of the seismo-electric or electro-seismic signal at single frequency using a theory that takes into account the hydrodynamic relaxation of the conducting liquid inside of the pores of the porous material. Calculating pore size distribution from the similar measurement conducted at multiple frequencies using the same theory.

Abstract: A device for determining particle size distribution on-line for concentrated dispersions or emulsions. The device includes an electronic block for generating electric pulses of specified frequencies on MHz scale and measuring magnitude and phase thereof. An acoustic sensor has an ultrasound transmitter to convert the electric pulses into ultrasound pulses of a same frequency and an ultrasound receiver to convert the ultrasound pulses back into electric pulses. The transmitter and the receiver each have a respective face. A stepping motor is connected to a movable piston, which carries one of the ultrasound transmitter or the ultrasound receiver thereon. A pipe with a flexible wall to conduct the dispersion or emulsion past the acoustic sensor. The pipe is disposed between the transmitter and the receiver, and the pipe has an exterior surface. The face of the transmitter and the face of the receiver are affixed to the exterior surface of the pipe.

Abstract: A method of determining pore size of a porous material. The method includes saturating the porous material with a conducting liquid. Measuring, with an electro-acoustic device, a phase of the seismo-electric or electro-seismic signal at a single frequency or multiple frequencies. Calculating an average pore size from the measured phase of the seismo-electric or electro-seismic signal at single frequency using a theory that takes into account the hydrodynamic relaxation of the conducting liquid inside of the pores of the porous material. Calculating pore size distribution from the similar measurement conducted at multiple frequencies using the same theory.

Abstract: A method is described which applies the combination of Electroacoustic and Complex Conductivity measurements to characterize particle electric surface properties, such as ?-potential, and bulk properties, such as the dielectric permittivity, in systems where conductivity data is required for applying an appropriate theoretical model for calculating output parameters from the measured data. In particular, this is important in low conducting systems for which the double layer thickness exceeds the particle radius or in the systems where particles have either high bulk dielectric permittivity or high conductivity.

Abstract: The process of heavy metals removal from the waste water using silica dispersion without mixing silica dispersion with the waste water. This is achieved due to the membrane device where silica dispersion and waste water stream are separated by membrane with pore sizes smaller that size of the silica particles. The process is organized as counter-flow, which means that silica dispersion and waste water flow in the opposite directions. This provides the maximum utilization of the adsorption capacity corresponding to the adsorbent being in equilibrium with the high initial concentration of the contaminant in distinction from the low utilization when adsorbent works in equilibrium with the low output concentration. In the particular instance the membrane device comprises a lumen of a bundle of hollow fibers with silica dispersion flowing either inside or outside of the fibers and wastewater flowing on the opposite side of the fiber membrane. This process eliminates step of separating silica from the wastewater.

Abstract: A method is described which applies the combination of Electroacoustic and Complex Conductivity measurements to characterize particle electric surface properties, such as &zgr;-potential, and bulk properties, such as the dielectric permittivity, in systems where conductivity data is required for applying an appropriate theoretical model for calculating output parameters from the measured data. In particular, this is important in low conducting systems for which the double layer thickness exceeds the particle radius or in the systems where particles have either high bulk dielectric permittivity or high conductivity.

Abstract: The process of heavy metals removal from the waste water using silica dispersion without mixing silica dispersion with the waste water. This is achieved due to the membrane device where silica dispersion and waste water stream are separated by membrane with pore sizes smaller that size of the silica particles. The process is organized as counter-flow, which means that silica dispersion and waste water flow in the opposite directions. This provides the maximum utilization of the adsorption capacity corresponding to the adsorbent being in equilibrium with the high initial concentration of the contaminant in distinction from the low utilization when adsorbent works in equilibrium with the low output concentration. In the particular instance the membrane device comprises a lumen of a bundle of hollow fibers with silica dispersion flowing either inside or outside of the fibers and wastewater flowing on the opposite side of the fiber membrane. This process eliminates step of separating silica from the wastewater.