Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for the defluorination of a liquid hydrocarbon mixture, containing organic fluorides, produced during the conversion of hydrocarbons using a fluorine-containing catalyst. In one embodiment, both a thermal means and a contacting material are used to effectuate a more complete defluorination. The liquid hydrocarbon mixture is extracted from a distillation column and heated sufficiently in the thermal means to decompose at least some of the organic fluorides. The effluent from the thermal means is separated into a vaporous and a liquid effluent. The liquid effluent is passed to the bottom of the distillation column where it undergoes further defluorination through contact with the contacting material.

Abstract: Volatile acids containing metal salt impurities, such as metal pickling solutions-are regenerated by a process in which the acid is subjected to sulfuric acid distillation. Resulting volatile acid vapor is condensed and recycled to the pickle tank, while the residual acid mixture is treated in an acid sorption unit, preferably of the acid retardation type. Acid sorbed in the acid sorption unit is periodically eluted with water and recycled, while metal impurities are rejected in a deacidified by-product solution.

Abstract: A method for the separation and recovery of volatiles from a sludge containing about 1 to 80% by weight liquid solvents and 20 to 99% by weight solids, in which said sludge is fed with a reagent powder material in an amount effective to form a mixture having a high surface area to a distillation vessel, said mixture is heated to a temperature up to about 350.degree. C. while said mixture is advanced through the vessel for a time sufficient to distil a sufficient portion of the solvents to yield a solid residue powder, distilled solvents are condensed, and the solid residue powder recovered. The vessel preferably is a mechanical fluidized bed distillation vessel and said mixture is fluidized while being heated therein under a partial vacuum in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. The effective amount of reagent powder material includes about 5 to 70 wt % of the reagent powder material.

Abstract: A distillation method for the purification of crude propylene oxide containing contaminating quantities of water and methanol by partially purifying the crude propylene oxide in a plural stage distillation zone to provide a vaporized overhead distillate propylene oxide fraction containing a minor contaminating amount of vaporized water, andpassing the propylene oxide vapor fraction through a drying chamber containing a porous hygroscopic solid absorbent to selectively absorb water vapor onto the absorbent,and liquefying and recovering the thus-dehydrated purified propylene oxide.

Abstract: A process for separating phthalimido-peroxycaproic acid (PAP) from solutions in organic solvents, wherein the organic solvents have a solubility in water equal to or lower to 10% by weight, is provided. The process employs the following steps:(a) dispersing the solution in an aqueous medium to form a suspension;(b) bubbling an inert gas into the resulting suspension; and(c) recovering PAP from the suspension.

Abstract: A water distillation apparatus and method include an improved control system for operation and maintenance, condensers with plastic to metal seals between a plastic condenser manifold and metallic cooling tubes, and a filter with steam bypass to allow for easy sterilization of the filter and remaining distillation system. The control system includes a three pronged probe assembly for monitoring conditions within an evaporation chamber. One of the three probes monitors steam conductivity and provides a steam fault signal to indicate an upper level of contaminants in the steam. A purge pump is responsive to fault signals, including the steam fault signal, to pump water from the evaporation chamber.

Abstract: A process for the removal of organic impurities and dissolved salts from hydrazine hydrate and aqueous solutions thereof by distillation of the hydrazine hydrate under reduced pressure, passing the hydrazine hydrate vapor through an adsorbent, and condensing the vapor.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a container for accommodating water to be treated and evaporating the water. Container is attached with water supply for supplying the water to be treated into the container. The water to be treated in container is heated by a heater. Vapor evaporated from the inside of container is cooled by a cooler. Distilled water output from cooler is irradiated with ultraviolet light by a ultraviolet light irradiator. An organic decomposed substance contained in the distilled water irradiated with the ultraviolet light is removed by organic decomposed substance removal device, and ultrapure water is obtained.

Abstract: Proposed is an improvement in a method for the preparation of an enriched and purified aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution from a crude aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution comprising the steps of evaporating the crude aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution in an evaporator into vapor with accompanying liquid in the form of a mist, separating the vapor from the mist of liquid in a gas-liquid separator and subjecting the vapor to fractionating distillation in a fractionating distillation column in order to greatly upgrade the product solution relative to the impurity content.

Abstract: A multiple-stage process for the collection and treatment of biological waste, and for rendering the biological waste biologically inactive for the safe and economical environmentally non-contaminating disposal thereof. Moreover, also disclosed is an arrangement for the collection and treatment of biological waste utilizing the inventive process, and is especially adapted for the collection and treatment of biological waste which is generated during an embalming procedure implemented on a cadaver, such as a human cadaver.

Abstract: A halohydrocarbon solvent recovery process. The process in one embodiment includes heating a gross mixture including solvent, fatty-acid impurities and water in a bath to vaporize at least a portion of the solvent and the impurities. A portion of the vapor is then condensed in a reflux condenser to form a condensate mixture. After drying and impurity absorption, a solvent product of at least 99% purity may be recovered. In one embodiment, the gross mixture is obtained from steam stripping dry-cleaner filter cartridges.

Abstract: A method has been discovered for stripping aromatic hydrocarbon contaminants from wastewater and retaining the aromatic hydrocarbons on activated carbon. The wastewater is contacted countercurrently with stripping gas. The stripping gas is passed over a bed of activated carbon to regenerate the stripping gas. The entire volume of stripping gas is recycled to the stripping vessel. There is no purge of stripping gas or aromatic hydrocarbons to the atmosphere. The removed aromatic hydrocarbons are retained by the activated carbon and periodically recovered. An activated carbon particularly adapted for retaining and recovering aromatic hydrocarbons has been found.

Abstract: A circulation cooler (10) has a heat exchanger (12) in a housing (11) that contains a cooling liquid and is detachably connected by its forward flow (13) to an inlet line (5), and by its return line (14) to the outlet (6) of a condenser (4) of a distillation apparatus (1). The circulation cooler (10) moreover has a vacuum pump (21) inside its housing (11) and an absorber (28) outside its housing (11). A second condenser (24) is interposed along the cooling agent inlet line (13) between the circulation cooler (10) and the condenser (4) of the distillation apparatus (1), and is connected to a vacuum line (27). The cooling liquid (25) flows successively to the heat exchanger ( 12) through the two condensers (24, 4) , then back to the heat exchanger (12). In both condensers, which are under a vacuum through common vacuum line (26, 27) , the condensation of the liquid substances is effected in the form of main condensation and aftercondensation phases.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing odourless dimethyl ether (DME) which is thus an excellent propellant. This dimethyl ether is produced from methanol, the methanol feed, prior to the reaction to form dimethyl ether, and/or the dimethyl ether product still containing odorants being treated with acidic materials, preferably acidic ion exchangers.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved process for the recovery of ethylene glycol from spent glycol generated in the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate. The spent glycol typically consists of metal oxide catalyst residues, low molecular weight terephthalate oligomers, diethylene glycol and other trace impurities. The improved process of the present invention is based on the principle that elevating the temperature of the spent glycol increases the solubility of the low molecular weight oligomers so that the low molecular weight oligomers can be dissolved in the ethylene glycol and further that the spent glycol at an elevated temperature may be passed through an ion exchange bed to remove metal oxide catalysts, color forming impurities and other trace impurities.

Abstract: Ground water which contains heavy metal ions and toxic volatile organic compounds is purified by passing an air stream through it to purge out the organic compounds, adsorbing the displaced organic compounds on a molecular sieve and destroying them using a strong oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide. This procedure avoids having the heavy metal ions from the water collect on the molecular sieve which causes the destruction of the oxidizing agent.

Abstract: Method for the recovery of solvent from a solvent-based wash liquid containing non-hazardous waste resulting from an equipment cleaning operation. The wash solution typically averaging approximately 90 percent solvent and 10 percent resin, pigments and other dissolved or suspended solids is continuously tumbled in a tumbler/evaporator vessel together with a highly porous, adsorbent extender in granulated form, while maintaining temperatures sufficient to evaporate the solvent and prevent the solid matter from sticking together after processing. The extender is a substantially inert, material and may be selected from diatomaceous earth, powdered calcium silicate, powdered glass (100 mesh), oak sawdust (100 mesh), cedar sawdust (100 mesh), bentonite, charcoal (100 mesh) and ground corn cobs. The amount of extender introduced into the vessel is of the order of 5 to 20 percent by weight of the wash solution. The system may employ jacketed ribbon, double cone or rotating helix blenders.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for recovering and disposing of volatile organic contaminants, from water contaminated with organics, which system includes a pump to feed water from the body of contaminated water to the system, with indirect heat exchange and direct steam addition to raise the temperature of the water, a stripping vessel to strip the heated water with gas to strip the volatile contaminants from the water, gas supply to provide stripping gas to the vessel conduits to pass the removed volatile contaminants to a vessel containing a bed of adsorbent selective for the removal organics and regenerating the near-saturated bed by stripping with ambient air heated by heat exchange with the exhaust gas from a fuel-fired heater, passing the contaminant-containing regenerating gas from the regenerating bed to said fuel-fired heater, and combusting the contaminants in said fuel-fired heater.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for obtaining an aroma concentrate that is enriched in lactones. The present invention is particularly concerned with a process for concentrating lactones from a distillate obtained by the distillative deacidification of a fat composition rich in lauric acid residues, said distillate containing at least 0.1 wt. % of lactones having 6-20 carbon atoms, by subjecting the distillate or a fraction thereof to a fractional distillation so as to obtain a fraction containing at least 1 wt. % of lactones having 6-20 carbon atoms.The present invention offers a commercially and technically attractive route for obtaining natural lactones.Other aspects of the present invention are a lactone concentrate obtainable by the above process, the use of such a concentrate for flavoring food products and to food products flavored by such a lactone concentrate.

Abstract: A low profile water distiller has a housing. A steam chamber is located within the housing having a horizontal dimension greater than its vertical height. A condenser is also located within the housing having a horizontal dimension greater than its vertical height. The vertical height of the condenser is generally the same as the vertical height of the steam chamber. A raw water conduit extends in a generally horizontal plane within the housing for delivering water to be distilled into the steam chamber. A steam conduit also extends within the housing for delivering steam from the steam chamber to the condenser. The steam conduit extends in a generally horizontal plane parallel to the generally horizontal plane of the raw water conduit. An air circulation channel within the housing draws cooling air through the condenser in a generally horizontal path parallel to the generally horizontal planes of the raw water conduit and the steam conduit.

Abstract: A process for the separation of propylene glycol from a mixture of low-boiling fatty alcohols and propylene glycol which comprises extracting the mixture with water to produce a water-propylene glycol mixture and fractionating the water-propylene glycol mixture to produce propylene glycol that is substantially anhydrous and an apparatus for carrying out the process.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of removing amines from aqueous solutions thereof, in particular from waste waters obtained in cellulose processing. The aqueous amine solutions are contacted with a cation exchanger whose anchor groups consist of carboxyl groups, in order to charge the cation exchanger with the amines. The charged cation exchanger is treated with an aqueous solution of a weak acid having a pK.sub.a larger than 3.0 in order to elute the amines. The eluate is processed by way of distillation, wherein a portion of the weak acid is separated from the amines and reclaimed, if desired.The method according to the invention offers a simple and cheap way of disposing amine-containing waste waters.

Abstract: A process to purify t-butylstyrene from product containing substantial amounts of t-butylethylbenzene and small amounts of alkenyl-substituted styrene impurities by a combination of vacuum fractionation and vacuum evaporation in the presence a polymerization inhibitor, and treatment with a carbonaceous adsorbent. Such a product to be purified can be prepared by catalytically, oxidatively dehydrogenating over an alkaline pyrophosphate in the vapor phase t-butylethylbenzene containing about 95 wt. % or more of the p-isomer which can be made by alkylating ethylbenzene with isobutylene in a controlled manner in the presence of cooled concentrated sulfuric acid.

Abstract: An aftercooker device for reducing the solvent content of drycleaning solid residues is disclosed as is its application in dry cleaning processes. The aftercooker is adapted for use with fouled disposable filters as well as with the solids which result from the flashing of soil-containing filter backwash. The aftercooker and its use are characterized by the use of ambient to moderately elevated temperatures and low velocity flows of air to remove solvent from residues and to the use of a vent scrubber to recover the solvent so removed.

Abstract: An adsorption-desorption process for separation of a component from a feed mixture of components wherein at least two components of the feed mixture are adsorbed by an adsorbent material during the adsorption step of the adsorption-desorption process and the adsorbent material has a greater affinity for a first one of said adsorbed components than for a second one of the adsorbed components, the process comprising charging the feed mixture to an inlet end of a bed of the adsorbent material, passing the feed mixture through the bed under such conditions that the adsorbent material adsorbs said first and second components of the feed mixture, withdrawing an effluent from an outlet end of the bed, the effluent consisting essentially of feed mixture decreased in content of the materials adsorbed by the bed, after the adsorbent material is substantially saturated, desorbing the first and second components from the adsorbent material in at least two steps at substantially the same pressure but at different temperat

Abstract: A process for the recovery of silicone oil and chlorobenzenes from a mixture containing silicone oil, chlorobenzenes, and polychlorinated biphenyls comprising:(a) introducing the mixture into a distillation zone at a temperature and a pressure which will cause the chlorobenzenes to flash overhead and the mixture of silicone oil and polychlorinated biphenyls to pass to the bottom of the zone; and(b) removing the bottoms from step (a), cooling same, and passing the bottoms through at least one bed of activated carbon, which is an adsorbent for polychlorinated biphenyls.

Abstract: The improved method and apparatus treats the stack gases from a commercial bakery oven to remove and recover pollutants, specifically ethyl alcohol. The method includes the steps of cooling the stack gases and passing the cooled gases through a packed column to condense the water and ethyl alcohol and if the ethyl alcohol is to be recovered drying the ethyl alcohol by distillation and by absorption of the water therefrom by a molecular sieve. The apparatus includes blowers and controls to maintain the normal flow of gases from the oven so that the removal and recovery of the ethyl alcohol from the stack gases does not interfere or change the baking conditions of the oven. This may be accomplished by a system of dampers or by controlling the discharge rate of the blowers used.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing water from a liquid mixture of water and ethanol contacts it with liquid carbon dioxide so that the ethanol is preferentially transferred into solution, dries the solution using an adsorbent, and then recovers dry ethanol by distilling off the carbon dioxide. This process is particularly energy efficient especially when it includes a fermentation process to generate the ethanol and uses the carbon dioxide generated during the fermentation as the source of liquid carbon dioxide. In this case the method and apparatus provide an additional product of dry carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A method, liquid and apparatus is disclosed that is capable of effectively removing contaminated liquids from nonabsorbent articles. Articles wet with such liquids are immersed in azeotropic mixtures. Liquid film is displaced by the azeotrope which, in turn, is purified through a still and recycled. Articles moved through a vapor phase are clean and dry. In a typical operation, articles to be cleansed and dried are introduced into the solvent then rinsed and then elevated into a vapor zone. Suitable heating coils maintain the desired temperatures in the various compartments. In the vapor zone, all liquid film is changed to vapor while the article temperature is raised above ambient to prevent moisture condensation on the surface of the article upon removal from the system. In the solvent treating or reprocessing compartment, solvent with any accumulated moisture contained is processed through a molecular sieve (solvent dessicant) and filtered and the solvent collected and recirculated.

Abstract: A combination of pollution control technologies are employed in the treatment of effluent from photographic processing. The technologies employed are evaporation, oxidation by photolysis and catalyzed ozone, condensation, treatment by activated carbon and electrolysis. The method includes the steps of filtering the liquid wastes, electrolytically treating the filtered liquid, evaporating the wastes to create steam and vapors, oxidizing the steam and vapors by photolysis and photolytic catalyzed ozone, and condensing the vapors and passing them through a column of activated carbon. The carbon is regenerated by oxidizing the carbon sites with ozone.

Abstract: A method for separating volatilizable contaminants from soil by introducing the soil into a rotary aggregate dryer through which a working gas indirectly heated to between 750.degree. F. and 1800.degree. F. is drawn to vaporize the contaminants, and for recovering the contaminants for environmentally sound disposal or recycling by downstream treatment of the effluent drawn off from the dryer. The downstream treatment includes cooling the effluent to condense and precipitate out a substantial portion of the contaminants and passing the effluent through activated carbon.

Abstract: The present invention involves a process for removing water from mixtures of alcohols and water by contacting such a mixture with an ion exchange resin of either the cation or anion type. Prior to use for alcohol dehydration, the ion exchange resin itself is dehydrated if necessary or desired by contacting it with methanol, propanol, isopropanol, acetone or other like low molecular weight hydrophilic solvents. After use for alcohol dehydration, the ion exchange resin is regenerated by contacting it with these regenerating agents.

Abstract: An aqueous saline vapor is passed through a porous mass having a temperature no less than that of the vapor and subsequently condensed to provide substantially salt-free water.

Abstract: An electrostatic filtration apparatus is used to significantly reduce contaminants in N.sub.2 O.sub.4 vapor and liquid at ambient temperatures. The apparatus uses an electret vapor filter having therein a stack of layers of electret material through which the N.sub.2 O.sub.4 must pass. A flow blocking filter is added to the electret liquid filter to insure a sufficient time for removal of contaminants by said electret material. The filter is constructed of chemically inert materials to prevent additional contaminants.

Abstract: The apparatus uses a combination of technologies for treatment of hazardous and nonhazardous liquid wastes. The first treatment step is an evaporation stage where the liquid wastes are heated. The resulting steam and vapors are then oxidized by photolysis and photolytic catalyzed ozone before they are condensed. The steam and vapors are then condensed and the condensate is passed through a column of activated carbon. The activated carbon absorbs any unoxidized Chemical Oxygen Demanding (COD) species and aids in the control of any odors which may be emitted in the evaporation stage.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide is recovered from gas mixtures containing it in a concentration not greater than the equilibrium concentration at the freezing temperature of the mixture, by subjecting the gas mixture to membrane separation and recovering from the membrane separation a permeate having a carbon dioxide concentration between the equilibrium concentration and 98% (by volume), distilling said permeate at subambient temperature above the freezing temperature of the permeate and recovering substantially pure carbon dioxide as a liquid bottoms product of the distillation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating at least one component of a mixture from another without the aid of gravity comprises, in one embodiment, a heat pipe structure having an inlet and spaced outlets, a wick element disposed within the heat pipe for inducing a capillary flow of condensed phase mixture in liquid form therealong and spaced heating and cooling elements for creating zones of higher and lower temperature, respectively, within the heat pipe structure. In an alternate embodiment, a sorbent column is provided having an inlet and spaced outlets, a sorbent material disposed along the inner wall of the column for inducing a flow of adsorbed mixture therealong and spaced heating and cooling elements for creating zones of higher and lower temperature.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for dewatering an ethanol-water solution is disclosed wherein a carrier gas is used to vaporize the solution and transport the vapors to a sorbent where water is sorbed in preference to ethanol. The invention is particularly suited for small-scale production of fuel-grade ethanol for blending with gasoline.

Abstract: MTBE is recovered from an ether containing effluent by fractionation. When driers are not used on the hydrocarbon feed to MTBE manufacture, a separate water-methanol phase occurs in the fractionation overhead which is separately processed in a methanol fractionator and the water recovered is used to water wash the separated hydrocarbon phase from the overhead while methanol is recycled to MTBE and when driers are used on the hydrocarbon feed a separate methanol phase occurs in the fractionation overhead which can be recycled to MTBE manufacture and the hydrocarbon phase is directly passed to a drier preceding alkylation.

Abstract: In a fixed-bed vapor phase adsorption cycle for bulk separations wherein the heat front generated by the exothermic heat of adsorption is maintained in the bed either in or behind the mass transfer zone, and is subsequently utilized in the purge desorption/regeneration of the bed, improved efficiency and enhanced versatility with respect to the degree of product purity is obtained by treating the regeneration purge gas with a portion of the purified product.

Abstract: A water treatment cartridge and method for producing ultrapure water is described. The cartridge comprises a container having therein a particulate admixture of activated carbon and mixed bed ion exchange resins. A source of water, preferably pretreated, is passed through the container, preferably following treatment by one or more cartridges containing mixed bed ion exchange resins. The carbon in the admixed cartridge removes residual organic contamination from the water and the resins remove ionic contamination from the carbon, without re-introducing organic material to the water.

Abstract: A molecular sieve material for removing water from a liquid, such as distilled alcohol produced from grain, is placed in a series of concentric cylindrical spaces of narrow but equal width and separated by concentric cylindrical passages of lesser width, through which a heated gas, such as air containing the gaseous product of combustion of a fuel, is passed for heating the material for regeneration. After heating, the material is cooled by a gas, such as air, through the same passages. The cylindrical sleeves forming the spaces and passages are relatively thin and the spaces are closed at opposite ends by annular rings to which the sleeves are attached, as by welding, with spacing blocks at spaced points in the passages. Additional rings, of slightly less width than the spaces, are spot welded just inside the end rings to permit flow of liquid but retain the sieve material.

Abstract: A method is provided for removing sufficient water from H.sub.2 O ethanol at least 160 proof to produce ethanol having a proof of 195 or more comprising the steps of heating the ethanol water mixture until it is a vapor with sufficient superheat to maintain the vapor phase and prevent substantial capillary adsorption as the mixture passes through a dessicant bed of molecular sieves, passing the superheated ethanol water mixture through the bed to remove sufficient water to increase the proof of the ethanol of at least 195, passing a portion of the dehydratedethanol through a second dessicant bed of molecular sieves at less than atmospheric pressure to desorb the water and ethanol on the dessicant from a previous dehydration cycle, and reversing the flow through the two beds after the temperature of the first bed increases no more than about 14.degree. C. (25.degree. F.).

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing a substantially sulphur-free, butene-1 rich stream from a butene-containing C.sub.4 hydrocarbon feed stream by passage through a desulphurization zone, e.g. successive beds of active alumina and zinc oxide, and then distilling it. The desulphurization zone adsorbs, absorbs or converts to higher boiling sulphurous compounds low boiling sulphurous impurities such as H.sub.2 S, COS and CH.sub.3 SH. A sulphur-free butene-1 rich stream is recovered overhead from the distillation zone, while a butene-2 rich stream containing higher boiling sulphurous impurities originally present or produced in the desulphurization zone is recovered as a bottom product. A dechlorination zone (containing, for example, a charge of copper impregnated active carbon) can be provided upstream or downstream from the desulphurization zone but upstream from the distillation zone or can be provided in the path of the butene-1 rich stream from the distillation zone.

Abstract: Liquid mixtures containing aliphatic alcohols are separated, by distillation, into a higher-boiling alcohol-containing fraction and a lower-boiling fraction containing the other liquids, by carrying out the fractionation in the presence of water and of an alkanal and, over about 3/4 of the column height, in the presence of a non-volatile or only slightly volatile acid.

Abstract: An efficient fixed-bed vapor-phase adsorption cycle for bulk separations wherein the heat front generated by the exothermic heat of adsorption is maintained in the bed either in or behind the mass transfer zone, and is subsequently used in the desorption/regeneration step. The cycle is especially useful in drying mixtures of water and compounds which form azeotropes with water as well as the azeotropes themselves, such as 190-proof ethanol.

Abstract: Butenes are added to the methanol-containing methyl-tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) reactor effluent fractionation to effect recovery of substantially methanol-free MTBE bottoms product. Methanol analysis taken below the fractionator feed locus manipulates control of butenes addition. In an embodiment, the methanol-butenes-containing overhead stream from the fractionation is treated over activated alumina to adsorb methanol, yielding a methanol-free butenes feed for HF alkylation of isobutane. The used adsorbent can be regenerated using hot butenes product and/or MTBE reactor feed vapor with the recovered methanol being recycled to the MTBE reaction.

Abstract: In a process for the continuous preparation of adipic acid by hydrolysis of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl adipates with water at an elevated temperature in the presence of a strongly acidic ion exchanger, the improvement that the esters and excess water are fed to the middle section of a column, reaction mixture is taken off at a plurality of trays of the column below the feed point, passed over a strongly acidic ion exchanger and recycled, alkanols or alkanol/water mixtures are taken off at the top of the column and an aqueous solution of adipic acid is taken off at the bottom of the column.

Abstract: A method for dehydration and/or enrichment of aqueous alcohol mixtures wherein the mixtures in the vapor state are contacted with a dehydration agent which is composed of cellulose, caboxymethylcellulose, cornmeal, cracked corn, corn cobs, wheat straw, bagasse, starch, hemicellulose, wood chips, other grains, other agricultural residues or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A urine-water recovery system is described which provides efficient potable water recovery from waste liquids. The design allows use over extended durations such as encountered in space flights. The system has advantages such as low power consumption, compactness, and gravity insensitive operation. The system comprises a vacuum distillation system combining a hollow fiber polysulfone membrane evaporator with a thermoelectric heat pump and condenser. With the system of the present invention, water purified from urine can be produced at a rate of more than 0.5 kg/hr at a total system energy of less than 400 w-hr/kg.