Abstract: An apparatus for reverse osmosis, the apparatus comprising: a single-stage reverse osmosis (SSRO) unit; and a counter-current membrane cascade with recycle (CMCR) unit comprising a plurality of stages of reverse osmosis including at least a first stage and a second stage wherein permeate from the first stage is configured to be introduced as feed to the second stage; wherein retenate from the SSRO unit is configured to be introduced as feed to the first stage, and wherein product obtained using the apparatus comprises permeate from the SSRO unit and permeate from a last stage of the CMCR unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an antibacterial cryogel, its preparation method, and its use for disinfecting water. The invention further relates to an antibacterial porous hydrogel.

Abstract: A spacer for a membrane module, the spacer comprising: a plurality of first filaments defining a plurality of fluid flow channels, in use the plurality of fluid flow channels being adjacent a membrane of the membrane module; and a plurality of second filaments provided on the plurality of first filaments and extending into the fluid flow channels, the second filaments moveable relative to the first filaments in response to an external stimulus during flow of fluid in the fluid flow channels.

Abstract: A spacer for a membrane module, the spacer comprising: a plurality of first filaments defining a plurality of fluid flow channels, in use the plurality of fluid flow channels being adjacent a membrane of the membrane module; and a plurality of second filaments provided on the plurality of first filaments and extending into the fluid flow channels, the second filaments moveable relative to the first filaments in response to an external stimulus during flow of fluid in the fluid flow channels.

Abstract: An apparatus for reverse osmosis, the apparatus comprising: a single-stage reverse osmosis (SSRO) unit; and a counter-current membrane cascade with recycle (CMCR) unit comprising a plurality of stages of reverse osmosis including at least a first stage and a second stage wherein permeate from the first stage is configured to be introduced as feed to the second stage; wherein retenate from the SSRO unit is configured to be introduced as feed to the first stage, and wherein product obtained using the apparatus comprises permeate from the SSRO unit and permeate from a last stage of the CMCR unit.

Abstract: A method for determination of pore-size distribution in a porous material called evapo porometry (EP) is capable of determining pore sizes from approximately the nanometer scale up to the micron scale. EP determines the pore size based on the evaporative mass loss at constant temperature from porous materials that have been pre-saturated with either a wetting or non-wetting volatile liquid. The saturated porous material is placed in an appropriate test cell on a conventional microbalance to measure liquid mass loss at a constant temperature as a function of time. The mass-loss rate is then related to the pore-size distribution. The microbalance permits measuring the mass as a function of time. The slope of the mass versus time curve is the evaporation rate. The evaporation rate is related to the vapor pressure at the interface between the liquid in the porous material and the ambient gas phase. The vapor pressure in turn is related to the pore diameter.

Abstract: The invention relates to an antibacterial cryogel, its preparation method, and its use for disinfecting water. The invention further relates to an antibacterial porous hydrogel.

Abstract: A method for determination of pore-size distribution in a porous material called evapo porometry (EP) is capable of determining pore sizes from approximately the nanometer scale up to the micron scale. EP determines the pore size based on the evaporative mass loss at constant temperature from porous materials that have been pre-saturated with either a wetting or non-wetting volatile liquid. The saturated porous material is placed in an appropriate test cell on a conventional microbalance to measure liquid mass loss at a constant temperature as a function of time. The mass-loss rate is then related to the pore-size distribution. The microbalance permits measuring the mass as a function of time. The slope of the mass versus time curve is the evaporation rate. The evaporation rate is related to the vapor pressure at the interface between the liquid in the porous material and the ambient gas phase. The vapor pressure in turn is related to the pore diameter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the pore structure of thin polymeric sheets, such as porous membranes and thin films, during solvent casting or interfacial polymerization. The invention may be used to reduce or eliminate macrovoid pore defects from solvent-cast or interfacially polymerized polymeric membranes used in a variety of separations or controlled release tasks or to create a desired pore structure in porous thin films, such as may be used in breathable garments, surgical dressings, and screen printing. A nonuniform electric field is generated at one or more locations in proximity to a liquid film in which a desired pore structure is to be formed. Due to the difference in dielectric constant between the liquid within the pores and that in the surrounding liquid, the electric field causes an attractive or repulsive force on the evolving pores.

Abstract: The invention comprises an OCR catalyst reactor which includes passive spheres and catalyst particles having substantially the same size and separated on opposite sides of a distributor cone by a screen. The use of passive spheres of substantially the same size to the catalyst particles provides for a more uniform distribution of the gas liquid reactants charged into the reactor vessel. The screen is configured such that it provides a separation of the catalyst and the passive spheres while being sized to prevent plugging.

Abstract: A medical device and method for affecting mass transfer between blood and a fluid. In one application, this mass transfer is an oxygenation of the blood. Generally, a membrane which separates the blood and fluid is moved in a predetermined manner and in a direction which is substantially parallel to that of the primary direction of the flow to augment the mass transfer efficiency/rate. Importantly, this movement of the membrane is relative to the blood mass transfer boundary layer which steepens or increases the oxygen concentration gradient and decreases the thickness of the blood mass transfer boundary layer and thereby improves upon the mass transfer efficiency/rate of oxygen into the blood.

Abstract: A reverse osmosis membrane process or hybrid membrane - complementary separator process for producing enriched product or waste streams from concentrated and dilute feed streams for both solvent/solvent and solute/solvent systems is described.