Abstract: A process is disclosed for maintaining the temperature and humidity of a closed chamber within preferred ranges when contributions in water vapor and energy additions to the chamber from plants and humans vary over time. Enough water is evaporated into the air of the chamber such that when added to the water vapor added by transpiration a constant maximum rate of water vapor addition is maintained, thereby increasing air humidity and decreasing air temperature. A portion of warm moist air from the chamber is circulated to a water recovery heat exchanger module to remove additional sensible heat and to recover the amount of water evaporated in the chamber; cool dry air is returned to the chamber.

Abstract: Various hydrogen production and hydrogen sulfide decomposition processes are disclosed that utilize composite metal membranes that contain an intermetallic diffusion barrier separating a hydrogen-permeable base metal and a hydrogen-permeable coating metal. The barrier is a thermally stable inorganic proton conductor.

Abstract: A method for the enantiomeric enrichment of 3-quinuclidinol is disclosed, comprising acid anhydride esterification of the alcohol, followed by preferential enzymatic hydrolysis with a subtilisin protease.

Abstract: A novel gas recycling valve for use with a hollow fiber gas dehydration module is disclosed, which allows a predetermined portion of the dried product gas to be returned as a sweep gas at a steady state, and automatically responsive to the feed gas flow rate through the module.

Abstract: Composite metal membranes are disclosed that contain an intermetallic diffusion barrier separating a hydrogen-permeable base metal and a hydrogen-permeable coating metal. The barrier is a thermally stable inorganic proton conductor.

Abstract: Sensors responsive to small changes in the concentration of chemical species are disclosed, comprising a mechanicochemically responsive polymeric film capable of expansion or contraction in response to a change in its chemical environment, either operatively coupled to a transducer capable of directly converting the expansion or contraction to a measurable electrical or optical response, or adhered to a second inert polymeric strip, or doped with a conductive material.

Abstract: A gas dehydration method and apparatus are disclosed which utilize lumen-side feed, hydrophilic polymer-inside-coated, thin-film composite hollow fiber membranes, the support fiber of which is highly permeable, such composite membranes being used in a module wherein the permeate flows countercurrent to the flow of the feed, and in which dried raffinate gas is mixed with water-containing permeate at a point opposite the feed end of the module.

Abstract: Semipermeable membrane-enclosed solid core adsorbent devices for the selective removal of volatile chemical species from an aqueous environment are disclosed.

Abstract: A supported-fluid membrane process for the removal of inhibitory ammonia formed during the culturing of mammalian cells is disclosed.

Abstract: An improvement to processes for the selective extractation of organic solutes from organic solvents by water-based extractants is disclosed, the improvement comprising coupling various membrane separation processes with the organic extraction process, the membrane separation process being utilized to continuously recycle the water-based extractant and at the same time selectively remove or concentrate organic solute from the water-based extractant.

Abstract: Sensors responsive to small changes in the concentration of chemical species are disclosed, comprising (a) a mechanochemically responsive polymeric film capable of expansion or contraction in response to a change in its chemical environment, operatively coupled to (b) a transducer capable of directly converting said expansion or contraction to a measurable electrical response.

Abstract: A gas dehydration method and apparatus are disclosed which utilize lumen-side feed, thin-film which is highly permeable, such composite membranes being used in a module wherein the permeate flows countercurrent to the flow of the feed.

Abstract: Composite RO membranes having good resistance to halogen attack and high fluxes are disclosed, the composite membranes comprising a microporous polymeric support with an interfacially polymerized salt-rejecting layer thereon comprising an aromatic aliphatic diamide/diimide.

Abstract: Interfacially-polymerized ultrathin films containing physicochemically functional groups are disclosed, both with and without supports. Various applications are disclsoed, including membrane electrodes, selective membranes and sorbents, biocompatible materials, targeted drug delivery, and narrow band optical absorbers.

Abstract: There are disclosed method and apparatus for recovering chromium from chromium-containing wastes, using an electrolytic oxidation cell divided by an anion exchange membrane and a coupled transport module containing a membrane containing a chromium(VI) complexing agent.

Abstract: Hybrid membrane-based separation systems are disclosed that are useful in separating solvents and solutes. The hybrid systems combine any of the solvent removal processes reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, membrane distillation and pervaporation with any one of more of the solute removal processes utilizing pervaporation membranes, supported-liquid membranes, coupled transport membranes, and membrane contactors, the solvent and solute removal processes forming part of a recycle stream that utilizes membrane separation retentates as feeds and as recycle feed stream make-up.

Abstract: The preparation of a novel class of thin film membranes by interfacial polymerization is disclosed, said membranes incorporating as part of their polymeric structure the functionality of monomeric or oligomeric precursors. Specific embodiments include porphyrin and phthalocyanine derivatives that are photochemically or electrochemically active, as well as chemically asymmetric membranes.

Abstract: A process for improving both the internal burst strengths and gas and water permeabilities of certain microporous polymeric hollow fibers useful in RO applications comprises a wet annealing process for certain such fibers.

Abstract: Improved semipermeable asymmetric fluid separation membranes useful in gas, vapor and liquid separations are disclosed. The membranes are prepared by substantially filling the pores of asymmetric cellulosic semipermeable membranes having a finely porous layer on one side thereof with a water immiscible organic liquid, followed by contacting the finely porous layer with water.

Abstract: Process for the separation and purification of oxygen and nitrogen is disclosed which utilizes solutions of oxygen carriers to selectively absorb oxygen from a gaseous stream, leaving nitrogen as a byproduct. In the process, an oxygen carrier capable of reversibly binding molecular oxygen is dissolved in a solvent solution, which absorbs oxygen from an oxygen-containing gaseous feed stream such as atmospheric air and desorbs oxygen to a gaseous product stream. The feed stream is maintained at a sufficiently high oxygen pressure to keep the oxygen carrier in its oxygenated form during absorption, while the product stream is maintained at a sufficiently low oxygen pressure to keep the carrier in its deoxygenated form during desorption.