Abstract: A membrane sensor for detecting fouling, the membrane sensor comprising a first chamber having an inlet and an outlet; a second chamber having an outlet; only one membrane, the membrane being disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber for allowing fluid to permeate the membrane from the first chamber to the second chamber; a first pressure transducer configured for obtaining a first pressure upstream of the membrane; a second pressure transducer configured for obtaining a second pressure downstream of the membrane; and a resistance regulator configured for adjusting the second pressure.

Abstract: A membrane sensor for detecting fouling, the membrane sensor comprising a first chamber having an inlet and an outlet; a second chamber having an outlet; only one membrane, the membrane being disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber for allowing fluid to permeate the membrane from the first chamber to the second chamber; a first pressure transducer configured for obtaining a first pressure upstream of the membrane; a second pressure transducer configured for obtaining a second pressure downstream of the membrane; and a resistance regulator configured for adjusting the second pressure.

Abstract: A membrane distillation bioreactor (100) is provided for treating contaminated inflow such as wastewater. A contaminated inflow may be treated by biodegrading a contaminant in the inflow with a biological agent in the bioreactor to produce a lower contaminant inflow, which may be distilled, by membrane distillation, through a distillation membrane (108) in fluid communication with the bioreactor, to produce an outflow. The inflow may be wastewater. The outflow may be purified water. In one embodiment, the membrane may be located in the reaction chamber of the bioreactor vessel (102) and may be submerged in the mixed liquor. In a different embodiment suitable for wastewater treatment, the membrane may be located external to the bioreactor. The bioreactor may be aerobic or anaerobic.

Abstract: The failure of an upstream filtration membrane, or the presence of a foulant in a fluid is detected using a membrane-based detector. The fluid or an effluent from the filtration membrane is directed to permeate through a first permeable membrane, and from the first membrane to permeate through a second permeable membrane. A ratio between (P1-P2) and (P2-P3) is determined, where P1 is a first pressure at a feed side of the first membrane, P2 is a second pressure between the first and second membranes, and P3 is a third pressure at a permeate side of the second membrane. The ratio is correlated with the failure of the filtration membrane, or with the presence of the foulant.

Abstract: A membrane distillation bioreactor (100) is provided for treating contaminated inflow such as wastewater. A contaminated inflow may be treated by biodegrading a contaminant in the inflow with a biological agent in the bioreactor to produce a lower contaminant inflow, which may be distilled, by membrane distillation, through a distillation membrane (108) in fluid communication with the bioreactor, to produce an outflow. The inflow may be wastewater. The outflow may be purified water. In one embodiment, the membrane may be located in the reaction chamber of the bioreactor vessel (102) and may be submerged in the mixed liquor. In a different embodiment suitable for wastewater treatment, the membrane may be located external to the bioreactor. The bioreactor may be aerobic or anaerobic.

Abstract: The failure of an upstream filtration membrane, or the presence of a foulant in a fluid is detected using a membrane-based detector. The fluid or an effluent from the filtration membrane is directed to permeate through a first permeable membrane, and from the first membrane to permeate through a second permeable membrane. A ratio between (P1-P2) and (P2-P3) is determined, where P1 is a first pressure at a feed side of the first membrane, P2 is a second pressure between the first and second membranes, and P3 is a third pressure at a permeate side of the second membrane. The ratio is correlated with the failure of the filtration membrane, or with the presence of the foulant.

Abstract: Anhydrous magnesium chloride is prepared by a process in which hydrated magnesium chloride (10) is mixed in a vessel (11) with ethylene glycol (12). The mixture (13) is dehydrated in distillation columns (14, 15 and 16) with the dehydrated ethylene glycol magnesium chloride solution (20) pumped into a crystalliser (21) simultaneously with the separate addition of anhydrous ammonia gas (22) to the crystalliser (21). Prior to the introduction of reactants (20 and 22), the crystalliser (21) contains ethylene glycol saturated with ammonia. A crystalliser slurry of magnesium chloride hexammoniate (23) is continuously pumped from the crystalliser (21) into a pressure filter (24) where the crystals are washed with methanol saturated with ammonia (26). The washed crystals (27) are transferred to a fluidised bed calciner (28) where methanol is evaporated from the crystals at 120.degree. C. and thereafter the crystals are calcined to anhydrous magnesium chloride at 450.degree. C.

Abstract: A method to prevent corrosion of a stainless steel cathode in a copper electrowinning system uses compounds added to the electrowinning solution which reduce the level of free chlorine. Examples of such compounds are thiourea, alkyl sulphonate surfactants and protein glues.