Abstract: A multi-layer plasma separation card comprising (a) a first layer including a sample receiving member comprising (i) a top planar surface for applying or receiving a blood sample, said sample receiving portion being adapted to permit contact of said blood sample with a separating member; and (ii) a bottom planar surface being adapted to contact said separating member, (b) a second layer including at least three separating members, each separating member being adapted to permit the passage of plasma to an absorptive member and comprising (i) a top planar surface for receiving said blood sample; and (ii) a bottom planar shield-shaped surface being adapted to contact said absorptive member, and (c) a third layer including at least two absorptive members for absorbing plasma from the bottom planar surface of each corresponding separating member and a backing member arranged in a manner to support said absorptive members, each absorptive member comprising a removable absorptive element having a top planar surface

Abstract: A filter medium is provided. The filter medium according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a second support body and a nanofiber web layer which are sequentially stacked on each of both surfaces of a first support body, and is a filter medium having a flow path through which a filtrate filtrated in the nanofiber web flows in the direction of the first support body, wherein the nanofiber web has a basis weight of 30 g/m2 or less, the first support body has a basis weight of 250 g/m2 or more, and a thickness of 90% or more of the total thickness of the filter media. Accordingly, even in a backwash process performed at high pressure, as the shape, structural deformation, and damage of the filter medium can be minimized, the use period can be extended.

Abstract: A catalytic composite is formed of a catalytic layered assembly including a porous catalytic fluoropolymer film and one or more felt batts connected with the porous catalytic fluoropolymer film. At least one felt batt is positioned adjacent the upstream side of the porous catalytic fluoropolymer film to form the catalytic composite. The fluoropolymer film is perforated to allow for enhanced airflow therethrough while retaining the capability of catalyzing the reduction or removal of chemical species in fluid flowing through the catalytic composite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for amplifying at least one target RNA in a fixed and, optionally, expanded biological sample. In an embodiment of the invention, the method comprises incubating the fixed biological sample with a pair of polynucleotides complementary to non-overlapping and proximal sequences of a target RNA, wherein the polynucleotide pair hybridizes to the target RNA; ligating the polynucleotide pair using a ligase; and amplifying the ligation product. The invention further provides methods for detecting and optionally quantifying and/or sequencing the amplification product. As the method comprises hybridizing polynucleotide pairs to a target RNA in a fixed biological sample, the target RNA can be hybridized in situ.

Abstract: Blood separation media include a fibrous web formed by 50 to 99 parts by weight of glass microfibers, and 1 to 50 parts by weight of fibrillated fibers; a polymeric, hydrophilic binder; a wetting agent; and a salt. The binder covers at least a part of the glass microfibers, and the web is further impregnated with a wetting agent and it contains a salt which is capable of crenating red blood cells. The pore size of the media is smaller than the average pore size of red blood cells. Compared to conventional separation media, the invention will improve efficiency of the separation of the red blood cells from the plasma and increase the speed and volume of the separated material. The present invention also provides for a decrease in lysing of the red blood cells during the filtration process which gives improved purity of the material.

Abstract: A filter screen includes a plate body with an upstream surface, an opposed downstream surface, and an array of apertures extending between the upstream surface and the downstream surface. A polytetrafluoroethylene-based layer overlays the upstream surface between apertures of the aperture array, the polytetrafluorethylene-based layer being conformally disposed over the upstream surface of the plate body and spanning the upstream surface between the apertures of the aperture array to slow deposition of carbonaceous deposits on the filter screen.

Abstract: The invention enables in situ genomic and transcriptomic assessment of nucleic acids to be conducted in biological specimens that have been physically expanded. The invention leverages the techniques for expansion microscopy (ExM) to provide new methods for in situ genomic and transcriptomic assessment of nucleic in a new process referred to herein as “expansion fluorescent in situ hybridization” (ExFISH).

Abstract: A coated granular filtration medium is formed by the deposition of an electrolyte layer onto core particles. The electrolyte layer comprises a cationic polyelectrolyte. The coated granular filtration medium provides a synergistic combination of filtration and in situ coagulation that enables efficient, effective, and economical decontamination of industrial and other wastewaters.

Abstract: A system and method for backwashing a sand filter in a wastewater treatment system. In one aspect, the invention can be a system for backwashing a sand filter comprising: a sand filter configured to remove solids from an untreated wastewater; a container storing chlorine fluidly coupled to the sand filter by a chlorine supply manifold; a flow control mechanism positioned on the chlorine supply manifold between the container and the sand filter, the flow control mechanism alterable between a first position whereby chlorine cannot flow from the container to the sand filter and a second position whereby chlorine flows from the container to the sand filter, the flow control mechanism being biased into the first position; and a processor operably coupled to the flow control mechanism and configured to automatically actuate the flow control mechanism into the second position upon detecting that the sand filter is being backwashed.

Abstract: There is provided a pleated cartridge filter for high-purity chemicals that minimizes elution of metal from polyethylene into high-purity chemicals and is suitable mainly for a resist manufacturing process. A cylindrical pleated cartridge filter including a cylindrical core, a pleated filter material wound on the core, and caps sealing both ends of the core, wherein the pleated filter material is composed of a filtration membrane and a spacer laminated together, and the spacer is a nonwoven fabric made of polyethylene fibers having a metal element content of less than 40 ppm.

Abstract: The invention provides in situ nucleic acid sequencing to be conducted in biological specimens that have been physically expanded. The invention leverages the techniques for expansion microscopy (ExM) to provide new methods for in situ sequencing of nucleic acids as well as new methods for fluorescent in situ sequencing (FISSEQ) in a new process referred to herein as “expansion sequencing” (ExSEQ).

Abstract: The invention provides a nonwoven electret web comprising fibers made from a thermoplastic polymer material which comprises a polymer, a first additive (a) and a second additive (b), wherein the first additive (a) comprises a hindered amine and the second additive (b) comprises a metal salt of a carboxylic acid and/or an organic amide derived from a carboxylic acid and an amine. The invention further provides a process for making the nonwoven electret web, a fiber, a process for making the fiber, a multi-layer sheet, and the use of the nonwoven electret web, the fiber or the multilayered sheet as a filter material or as a dust-removing fabric for cleaning purposes.

Abstract: A reinforcing fiber and reinforced material, which includes a fiber having a first radical wave therein, wherein said first radical wave includes an amplitude of between about 0.5 to 1 cm and a wave run width of about 0.05 to about 0.3 cm, and a leading run and trailing run of at least about 0.75.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices having superhydrophilic bi-porous interfaces are provided, along with their methods of formation. The device can include a substrate defining a microchannel formed between a pair of side walls and a bottom surface and a plurality of nanowires extending from each of the side walls and the bottom surface. For example, the nanowires can be silicon nanowires (e.g., pure silicon, silicon oxide, silicon carbide, etc., or mixtures thereof).

Abstract: A domestic appliance filter for use in a laundry treatment device includes a basic filter material with a hydrophobic coating for filtering out matter from a process water duct or a process air duct. The basic filter material includes a material which is resistant to temperatures of 160° C. or more and the hydrophobic coating on the basic filter material effects a surface energy of less than 35 mN/m.

Abstract: An industrial absorbent and methods of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, the industrial absorbent includes a first scrim made from at least one thermoplastic material; a second scrim made from at least one thermoplastic material; and a middle layer positioned between the first and second scrims. The middle layer includes a dry-laid web of fire-retardant treated cellulose and opened, individuated staple bicomponent fiber. At least some of the bicomponent fiber in the middle layer is thermally bonded to at least some of the cellulose in the middle layer, and the first and second scrims are thermally bonded to the middle layer.

Abstract: Filter media, including those suitable for hydraulic applications, and related components, systems, and methods associated therewith are provided. The filter media described herein may include two or more layers, at least one of the layers having a relatively high percentage of microglass fibers. Additionally, the filter media may be designed such that the ratio of average fiber diameters between two layers is relatively small, which can lead to a relatively low resistance ratio between the layers. In some embodiments, at least one layer of the filter media comprises synthetic polymer fibers. Certain filter media described herein may have desirable properties including high dirt holding capacity and a low resistance to fluid flow. The media may be incorporated into a variety of filter element products including hydraulic filters.

Abstract: Filter media, including those suitable for hydraulic applications, and related components, systems, and methods associated therewith are provided. The filter media described herein may include two or more layers, at least one of the layers having a relatively high percentage of microglass fibers. Additionally, the filter media may be designed such that the ratio of average fiber diameters between two layers is relatively small, which can lead to a relatively low resistance ratio between the layers. The filter media has desirable properties including high dirt holding capacity with low basis weight and a low resistance to fluid flow. The media may be incorporated into a variety of filter element products including hydraulic filters.

Abstract: A multi-layer, fluid transmissive structure is provided that comprises first and second fiber layers each comprising a plurality of polymeric fibers bonded to each other at spaced apart contact points. The polymeric fibers of these fiber layers have diameters greater than one micron and collectively define interconnected interstitial spaces providing tortuous fluid flow paths through the first and second fiber layers. The structure also comprises a plurality of nanofibers disposed intermediate at least a portion of the first fiber layer and at least a portion of the second fiber layer.

Abstract: An aggregate-removing filter material efficiently removes aggregates that are contained in a blood product for transfusion and may cause transfusion reactions without clogging, and exhibits excellent quality stability, and a blood product filtration method uses a filter apparatus that includes the aggregate-removing filter material and a leukocyte-removing filter material. The aggregate-removing filter material includes short fibers having a fineness of 0.7 to 4.0 dtex and a fiber length of 1 to 80 mm, and a ground fabric that includes long fibers, a fiber axis of the long fibers being oriented in a planar direction of the ground fabric, the short fibers being entangled with the ground fabric so that the aggregate-removing filter material has a total weight per unit area of 10 to 80 g/m2, and a layer of the short fibers forming a three-dimensional structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of stabilizing spent filter material that comprises mixing the filter media with a dry media to produce a composition having a moisture content that is sufficiently low to retard microbial growth. The composition comprises spent filter media and a dry material, and preferably comprises diatomaceous earth. Soil is treated by adding the composition as a top dressing, soil amendment, or the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nanopolymetallic reducing agent filler comprising 20%-70% iron powder, 10%-30% tourmaline power, 2%-15% copper power, 3%-10% bamboo charcoal powder, 2%-15% kaoline, 2%-15% magnesite powder, 2%-15% pyrolusite powder, and 10%-30% zeolite powder. All percentages described above are by weight. A process of forming the nanopolymetallic reducing agent filler is also provided, including grinding and ball milling raw materials of each component respectively into powder particles of 10 nm-100 ?m, which are then mixed uniformly by weight percentage and granulated to form a granular mixture, and sintering the granular mixture at high temperature or cold pressing it into a granular filler.

Abstract: A device and method for purifying waste water and stormwater flows by passage through a filter, which can be manufactured in various configurations. The filter has a broad range of thickness ranging from 1 mm to 20 meters. The filter is comprised of fibers from a melt of composition of 50% silicon dioxide, 15% aluminum oxide, 15% calcium oxide, 10% magnesium oxide, and other various oxides at lower percentages. At least the majority of fibers having a mean diameter of 4 microns and a mean length of 3 mm. The fiber solids of content of the material are at most 35% of the volume at a flow rate greater than 1 inch per hour to remove various pollutants from the water flow.

Abstract: An immiscible lipophilic or hydrophilic liquid phase is separated respectively from a continuous hydrophilic or a lipophilic phase liquid. Fibers having hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties are formed into a filter. The separation mechanism involves coalescence of the small droplets into larger droplets as the immiscible liquid flows through the fiber filter, and release of the large immiscible droplets from the filter. With respect to separation of a hydrophilic immiscible fluid in a lipophilic continuous fluid, the hydrophobic fibers cause small water droplets to migrate towards the hydrophilic fibers whereby large droplets are formed on hydrophilic surface. The large droplets coalescence until they are so large that they are released and drained off of the filter. The filter media can be designed by mixing hydrophilic and hydrophobic fibers in various proportions to achieve an optimum wettability range for separation of the immiscible liquid from the continuous phase liquid.

Abstract: A bottled water filtration system for use with a water bottle, the system having a bottle cap, a nozzle formed in a first side of the bottle cap, a porous filter housing formed on a second side of the bottle cap, and a filter material located inside the porous filter housing, wherein the cap, nozzle and filter housing are formed as an integrated unit, which can be attached and removed from a water bottle as a unit. The system is preferably used with a disposable plastic water bottle. Additionally, the system may include a rotatable counter for keeping track of the number of effective uses remaining in the filter system. Also, a one-way air valve may be included to prevent “backwash.

Abstract: A cartridge having at least one layer containing sodium zirconium phosphate and at least one layer containing a combination of acid zirconium phosphate and alkaline hydrous zirconium oxide is described. Methods of using the cartridge for water purification are also described.

Abstract: Provided are nonwoven polymeric fiber webs using an improved curable composition. Such curable composition comprises an aldehyde or ketone and an amine salt of an inorganic acid. The composition when applied to polymeric fibers is cured to form a water-insoluble polymer binder which exhibits good adhesion and thermodimensional stability.

Abstract: Provided are spunbond polyester mats using an improved curable composition. The curable composition comprises a reaction product of an amine and a reactant in the form of an amino-amide intermediate. To the amino-amide is added an aldehyde or ketone to form the curable binder composition. The composition when used as a binder in the mat is cured to form a water-insoluble binder which exhibits good adhesion and thermodimensional stability.

Abstract: Product, method of making product, and technique for using product to separate oil from water via a filter, such as cotton, polyester, or leather, coated with a chemical that blocks oil while allowing water to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A porous web for filtering fluids has a plurality of adjacent layers of fiber material having anisotropic properties. The anisotropic directions of a given vectorial property of at least two adjacent layers differ one from the other by an angle greater than 0°, and preferably of at least 8°. The porous web is particularly useful as a filter element for the filtration of biological fluids, such as blood and blood components.

Abstract: A carbon membrane structure includes: a cylindrical porous support body provided with a plurality of cells extending from one end face to the other end face and functioning as fluid passages, and a carbon membrane disposed on the surface side of the cells formed in the porous support body. The plurality of cells are formed so that a distance from one cell to another cell adjacent to the one cell in a cross section perpendicular to a cell extension direction of the porous support body 1 is 0.60 mm or more. The carbon membrane structure shows very excellent separation performance by the carbon membrane.

Abstract: Filter media are provided having improved conductivity to enhance filtration efficiency and/or dissipate static charge, and methods for making the same. In one exemplary embodiment, the filter media can include a filtration substrate, and at least one conductive coating disposed on at least a portion of the filtration substrate. In use, the conductive coating is coupled to an energy source and it is effective to emit ions when energy is delivered thereto to increase the efficiency of the filtration substrate and/or to dissipate or eliminate static charge generated during filtration.

Abstract: A filter medium for liquid filtration of fine texture exhibiting high strength when wetted with water, which filter medium is comprised of a wet-laid nonwoven fabric. There is provided a filter medium for liquid filtration comprised of a wet-laid nonwoven fabric, characterized in that through blending of 0.5 to 40 wt. % of unbeaten natural fibers, it exhibits a very fine texture, a lowering ratio, calculated from bursting strength in ordinary state and bursting strength when wetted with water, of 30% or below, and a bursting strength, had when wetted with water, of 300 kPa or greater.

Abstract: Provided are nonwoven polymeric fiber webs using an improved curable composition. Such curable composition comprises a reaction product of an amine and a reactant in the form of an amino-amide intermediate. To the amino-amide is added an aldehyde or ketone to form the curable binder composition. The composition when applied to the polymeric fibers is cured to form a water-insoluble polymer binder which exhibits good adhesion and thermo-dimensional stability.

Abstract: The present invention provides a combined scale inhibitor and scale inhibiting device. The combined scale inhibitor contains organophosphorus filter materials, ceramic filter materials and polyphosphate filter materials. The organophosphorus filter materials are the granular filter materials of liquid organophosphorus scale and corrosion inhibitor while the said ceramic filter materials are the granular filter materials containing oxide ceramic powder. The said scale inhibiting device is comprised of a tank, a water inlet, a water outlet, an organophosphorus filter material layer, a ceramic filter material layer and a polyphosphate filter material layer in the said tank. The said organophosphorus filter material layer contains organophosphorus filter materials, which are the granular filter materials of liquid organophosphorus scale and corrosion inhibitor. The said ceramic filter material layer contains ceramic filter materials, which are the granular filter materials containing oxide ceramic powder.

Abstract: A combination of acid zirconium phosphate and alkaline hydrous zirconium oxide are utilized as ion-exchange materials, for example, in sorbent dialysis. The combination provides for dialysate regeneration while maintaining constant and controlled levels of Na+, HCO3?, and pH.

Abstract: Zirconium phosphate particles are synthesized by providing a solution of zirconium oxychloride in an aqueous solvent, adding at least one low molecular weight, oxygen containing, monofunctional, organic additive to the solution, and combining this solution with heated phosphoric acid or a phosphoric acid salt to obtain zirconium phosphate particles by sol gel precipitation.

Abstract: A method of forming a nanotube grid includes placing a plurality of catalyst nanoparticles on a grid framework, contacting the catalyst nanoparticles with a gas mixture that includes hydrogen and a carbon source in a reaction chamber, forming an activated gas from the gas mixture, heating the grid framework and activated gas, and controlling a growth time to generate a single-wall carbon nanotube array radially about the grid framework. A filter membrane may be produced by this method.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to solution electrospinning processes for fabricating fibers, to the fibers prepared thereby, and to non-woven webs, fabrics, porous composite filter media, and articles comprising the fibers.

Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent which can remove cells present in blood including activated leukocytes such as granulocytes and monocytes, and cancer cells as well as can remove cytokines which facilitate the activation of the remaining cells, and further has no concern for pressure loss and has high configuration stability. That is, the present invention provides an absorbent which absorbs the granulocytes and the monocytes in blood, an absorbent for cancer therapy which absorbs an immunosuppressive protein and an absorbent having a bilayer structure of a net and a nonwoven fabric, having a zeta potential of ?20 mV or more, as well as a blood circulation column containing any of the absorbents filled therein.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon sequestering product, a method to obtain the product, and a method and a facility to sequester hydrocarbons, wherein the product comprises an oleophilic filamentous material that gets in contact with a medium contaminated by one or more hydrocarbons with the purpose of sequestrating the hydrocarbon(s) present in the medium to free it from said hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A low concentration wastewater treatment system is provided that includes a high flux adsorbent material treatment system integrated with a low flux adsorbent material biological regeneration reactor. The high flux adsorbent material treatment system includes one or more unit operations for mixing low concentration wastewater with adsorbent material that is fresh, recycled, or a combination of both, and for decanting a liquid effluent having a reduced level of contaminants. The adsorbent material with adsorbed contaminants is regenerated in a low flux adsorbent material biological regeneration reactor in which a biological reaction occurs, such as biological oxidation, wherein organic contaminants in the wastewater are metabolized generally into carbon dioxide and water. Excess biomass is removed from the adsorbent material, and the thus-regenerated adsorbent material is recycled to the high flux adsorbent material treatment system.

Abstract: The web of the invention can comprise a super absorbent layer that can act as an moisture sensitive fuel shut-off valve, absorbent, adsorbant or reactant. The web of the invention can comprise a super absorbent fabric or layer made of a superabsorbent particle or fiber. Fluid, gas or liquid, that flows through or by the assemblies of the invention can have any gas, liquid or solid material dispersed or dissolved in the fluid interact with the super absorbent particulate. The structures of the invention can act simply as flow-by reactive, absorptive, or adsorptive layers with no filtration properties, or the structures of the invention can be assembled into filters.

Abstract: Solid phase extraction (SPE) disks may be manufactured by providing a suspension comprising glass microfibers and a suspension comprising one or more sorbents and forming a disk by combining the suspensions or by layering the suspensions. This may be followed by a drying procedure to create the finished disk. A disk mold including a collar and plug may be used to establish the size and shape of the disk. Examples of various constructions and processes for forming the disks are provided.

Abstract: A flexible blood filter allowing smooth flow of a liquid and being excellent in separation resistance, pressure resistance and centrifugation resistance. The blood processing filter, comprising a first filter element for removing aggregates from blood, a second filter element for removing leukocytes provided in the downstream of the first filter element, and the third filter element having gas permeability of 3 to 40 cc/cm2/sec per thickness of 1 cm provided between the second filter element and the outlet port side container.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a spiral wound type filter cartridge and more specifically, a spiral wound type filter cartridge in which activated carbon fiber is provided. The inside of spiral wound type filter cartridge is capable of serving as a carbon filter in a water purifier, thus eliminating the necessity of the use of any carbon filter for pre- or post-treatment in the process of purifying raw water, reducing an overall size of the water purifier and considerably reducing costs associated therewith.

Abstract: The present invention provides a macroporous copolymer having large pores, typically in the range of 5,000-200,000 ? and a typical breaking weight of at least 175 g/bead. The macroporous copolymers can be made using an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) techniques. These macroporous copolymers may also form macroporous resins. The present invention also provides methods of using the macroporous copolymers and resins.

Abstract: There are disclosed a ceramic porous membrane formed with less membrane formation times and having less defects, a small and uniform thickness and a high flux, and a ceramic filter. A silica membrane is formed on a titania UF membrane as an ultrafiltration membrane (a UF membrane) formed on a porous base member which is a microfiltration membrane (also referred to as an MF membrane) and having an average pore diameter smaller than that of the porous base member, and the silica membrane has an average pore diameter smaller than that of the titania UF membrane, and does not substantially permeates the titania UF membrane.

Abstract: A grafted nonwoven substrate is disclosed having average fiber sizes of 0.7 to 15 microns, and a void volume of 50 to 95%, and a polymer comprising cationic aminoalkyl(meth)acryloyl monomer units grafted to the surface of the nonwoven substrate. The article may be used as a filter element to purify or separate target materials, such as oligonucleotides or monoclonal antibodies (MAb), from a fluid mixture.

Abstract: Provided are an anti-microbial matrix and filtration systems containing the same. The matrix comprises a surface-modified inorganic component and a polymeric binder comprising particles having an irregular, convoluted surface. The surface-modified inorganic component comprises a reaction product of an anti-microbial component and an inorganic component. The anti-microbial component comprises a quaternary ammonium salt containing an epoxide group. A covalent bond is, for example, between the quaternary ammonium cation and a hydroxyl group of the inorganic component. The quaternary ammonium salt can be poly(methyldiallylamine epichlorohydrin). Further, the quaternary ammonium salt can have the formula according to I: (Formula I), wherein n is in the range of 5 to 24. The inorganic component can be diatomaceous earth. The polymeric binder can comprise ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW PE). Methods of making and using the same are also provided.