Abstract: Apparatus is provided for withdrawing a stream of relatively static bed material from an operating fluidized bed reactor and gravity feeding it through a conduit to an exterior classifying chamber into which a downward flow of air is introduced. The airflow is turned in the classifier to move in an upward direction countercurrent to the flow of bed material. The velocity of the air is such that coarse bed material passes downwardly through the airflow and accumulates in the classifying chamber, while the fines are entrained in the upwardly moving airflow and both air and fines are introduced into the fluidized bed reactor.

Abstract: An electrically augmented vacuum filtration apparatus for dewatering a suspension of solids wherein the transport of ions into the cake product is controlled by provision of a suitable anionic solid polymeric electrolyte arranged to isolate at least one electrode from the suspension of solids.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for dewatering a suspension of solids in a carrier liquid by means of an electrically augmented vacuum filter having an anodic electrode structure comprising an anode and a liquid impervious wall, wherein the wall is a non ion selective membrane which is permeable to both cations and anions. The non ion selective membrane being impervious to the suspension solids, carrier liquid, electrolyte and gaseous electrode reaction products. This non ion selective membrane comprises a substrate and a solid polymeric film, wherein the substrate is a cloth support and the solid polymeric film comprises a cation exchange resin, an anion exchange resin and a binder. The charge transfer numbers of the non ion selective membrane t.sup.+ is in the range of 0.20 to 0.80 and t.sup.- in the range of 0.80 to 0.20, respectively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling biomass growth in a fluidized bed reactor during anaerobic or aerobic treating of a waste feed. In particular, means is provided for concentrating a portion of bioparticles, the bioparticles being media with biomass adhered thereto and the concentrating means being integral to the fluid bed reactor, so that bioparticles delivered to a separator means for separating the biomass from the media are of high concentration requiring little downstream processing of the biomass separated thereby.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the unsteady sedimentation potential of particle in a suspension comprising: inserting at least a portion of the suspension of particles in a cell, the cell having a first electrode and a second electrode; vibrating the cell to accelerate the particles in suspension; and measuring the unsteady sedimentation potential of the particles across the first and second electrodes. The cell is vibrated at a frequency in the range between 0.0001-50 khz.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for use in dewatering a suspension of solids in which an electric field augments an applied vacuum includes a chamber having walls comprising an ion exchange membrane on which a cake of solids is deposited and an electrode element with the chamber immersed in an electrolyte.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for dewatering a suspension of solids in a carrier liquid by means of an electrically augmented vacuum filter (EAVF). The EAVF including an anodic structure comprising an anode, anolyte and a filter membrane for depositing solids from the suspension of solids thereon; and a cathodic structure comprising a cathode, catholyte, a catholyte chamber and a filtrate chamber for filtering the filtrate of the bath of the suspension of solids. The catholyte chamber having a membrane wall which is liquid impervious and either an anion exchange membrane or a non ion selective membrane. Filtrate being removed at the filtrate chamber.

Abstract: A method for making a precision wound tubular shaped filter cartridge wherein a filter medium comprising a roving is wound about a central foraminous core to provide a base inner and an outer helical winds of roving each provided with pluralities of both axial and circumferential flow passages wherein the circumferential flow passages of the inner and outer wind are radially aligned at the interface of the winds to provide unrestricted flow paths between the inner and outer wind.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel apparatus for culturing mammalian cells, whereby a plastic housing encasing a double membrane bag or bags supplies nutrients and oxygen to mammalian cells for propagation thereof. The double membrane bag contains a first bag formed of a microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane disposed within a second membrane bag formed of a liquid impermeable, gas permeable membrane. This apparatus has a first chamber containing oxygen, a second chamber containing cells and a third chamber containing nutrients.

Abstract: A horizontal vacuum tray filter having a plurality of U-shaped trays interconnected to a conveyor for movement past a filtration zone in the horizontal plane of movement wherein an endless filter cloth is disposed over the bottom walls of the trays in said horizontal plane with the adjacent open ends of said trays in detachable sealing engagement to provide a continuous filtration surface over the filtration zone.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for rapidly and efficiently dewatering or separating particles by electrofiltration in which the suspension of solids is first demineralized.The suspension of solids may be demineralized by electrodialysis, dialysis, filtration, diafiltration or washing on a rotating-drum continuous-suction filter.

Abstract: An electrofiltering process for dewatering or separating particles from a liquid or a colloidal suspension, which comprises the use of an electrofilter with separated, submerged electrodes, consisting of a cathode assembly and an anode assembly, wherein the filtrate is recirculated from the cathode assembly of the electrofilter into the anode assembly where it is utilized as anolyte. An initial electrolytic solution containing a soluble compound of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, such as NaOH or NaHCO.sub.3, is added to the anode assembly as anolyte. A direct current is applied to the electrofilter, so that negatively charged particles in the suspension will migrate towards the anode assembly and form a caked deposit or slurry layer on the outside of the assembly. Simultaneouslly, the electrode reactions at the cathode will split water into hydrogen gas and hydroxide. This hydroxide is diluted with filtrate passing into the cathode assembly.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for dewatering a suspension of solids in a carrier liquid by means of an electrically augmented vacuum filter having an anodic electrode structure comprising an anode and a liquid impervious wall, wherein the wall is a non ion selective membrane which is permeable to both cations and anions. The non ion selective membrane being impervious to the suspension solids, carrier liquid, electrolyte and gaseous electrode reaction products. This non ion selective membrane comprises a substrate and a solid polymeric film, wherein the substrate is a cloth support and the solid polymeric film comprises a cation exchange resin, an anion exchange resin and a binder. The charge transfer numbers of the non ion selective membrane t.sup.30 is in the range of 0.20 to 0.80 and t.sup.- in the range of 0.80 to 0.20, respectively.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing the sulfur concentration of wastewater which is to be disposed of through anaerobic treatment. Wastewater high in sulfur content is fed to a reactor having a pH level less than 6, such that the sulfate and/or sulfite compounds in the wastewater are converted by sulfate reducing bacteria into sulfide gas, thereafter exhausting the sulfide gas from the reactor. It is preferred that two anaerobic reactors be connected in series, such that the first reactor contains sulfate reduce bacteria and/or acid-forming bacteria, and the second reactor contains methane-forming bacteria and/or acid-forming bacteria.

Abstract: An electrically augmented crossflow filter device in which a feed stream containing solid particulate matter is flowed between opposed walls while a pressure differential is imposed across a first of said walls comprising a filter medium to produce a flow of filtrate therethrough in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow of the feed stream. At the same time, an electric field is imposed on the feed stream in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the flow of the feed stream, causing the solid particulate matter in the feed stream to tend to move toward the second of said walls which comprises an ion-pervious member. Cake formation on the latter ion-pervious wall is limited or precluded by the velocity of the feed stream while the feed stream thickens in passing between the walls to form the product stream. The electrode which is located behind the second, or ion-pervious, wall is immersed during operation in a protective stream of a selected electrolyte.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the zeta potential of particles in a suspension comprising: a cell containing at least a portion of the suspension of particles; a first electrode and a second electrode disposed in a cell; means for producing an electric field between the first and second electrodes, the electric field causing the particles to accelerate; means for converting a force, the force being generated by the acceleration of the particles, into electrical energy; and means for measuring the electrical energy.

Abstract: A removable baffle insert for positioning in a filtrate compartment of a rotary drum vacuum filter comprising an elongated C-shaped member positioned between a pair of compartment walls and having one arm thereof providing the ceiling of the compartment to prevent filtrate run-back during the filtration cycle.

Abstract: A system and method for dewatering or separating particles from a liquid or a colloidal suspension which comprises the use of an electrofilter with separated, submerged electrodes wherein the electrode used for collecting the solid particles comprises an assembly of an ion-selective membrane shell, coated with or having bonded on its interior, a conductive metal composite catalyst layer, and a conductive structural material core such as graphite within the shell. The electrode assembly does not require the use of an electrolytic solution within the shell, but may be operated with one. A direct current is applied to the electrofilter so that the particles in the suspension will migrate towards the electrode assembly and form a caked deposit or slurry layer on the outside of the membrane. In one embodiment, the electrode assembly can be removed from the electrofilter cell so that the dewatered or separated solids may be removed from the outside surfaces of the membrane.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a colloidal potential are described using pulses of ultrasonic energy that are directed along a path within a liquid suspension of colloidal particles. A vibration potential is measured at at least a pair of positions along the path. The positions are known relative to the source of ultrasonic pulses. The vibration potential measurements are then used to derive a colloidal potential which is independent of its attenuation encountered by the ultrasonic energy inside the suspension. In one embodiment several potential measuring probes are used and in another embodiment one probe is moved between predetermined positions.

Abstract: A drum structure for a rotary drum vacuum filter wherein the drum comprises a pair of conical shaped support members having concentrically arranged interconnected peripheral base portions with the apexes of the support members carried by spaced cylindrical end plates which form the end walls of the drum. Filtrate compartments are formed beneath the outer filtration surface of the drum by adjacent pairs of a plurality of spaced panels having edge portions fixed to both the support members and the end plates.