Abstract: In an arrangement for removing water vapor from pressurized gases or gas mixtures, particularly from air, a membrane separating apparatus is provided wherein the gas-vapor stream is separated into a vapor-enriched permeate stream and a vapor-depleted retentate stream and the vapor enriched permeate stream is conducted to a vacuum pumping device for generating at the permeate side of the membrane separating apparatus a vacuum providing for a predetermined trans-membrane pressure ratio.

Abstract: In a process of producing nanocrystalline metal hydrides, an elemental metal hydride of a first kind is subjected to a mechanical milling process with at least one elemental metal or at least one additional metal hydride to produce an alloy hydride.

Abstract: In a composite membrane for the separation of water vapors from gases, the membrane comprising a microporous support membrane, a non-porous separation layer based on an originally water soluble cellulose derivative which was made water insoluble is disposed on the support membrane by immersing the support membrane in a water containing bath including a cellulose derivative and the separation layer is then cross-linked with a dialdehyde to render it water insoluble.

Abstract: In a device for filtering and separating fluids, a plurality of disc-like spaced flow guide elements are disposed in a stack in spaced relationship with filter elements disposed in the spaces between the flow guide elements to which fluid can be supplied through inlet openings to flow over the surfaces of the filter elements. Each flow guide element defines at one end a flow opening for the passage of fluid and at least one channel formed in the flow guide element so as to extend adjacent the opening in a direction transverse to the flow of the fluid from the opening into the space between the flow guide elements to promote fluid flow distribution over the width of the flow path through the device.

Abstract: In a method of decontaminating soils, sediments and mud including at least a sand fraction and a fine particle fraction which contains a particle-like silt component to which particularly contaminants comprising heavy metals and organic compounds adhere, and wherein the contaminated silt component is separated from the mineral silt component, the fine particle fraction including the contaminants is subjected essentially at the same time to a cavitation and an oxidation treatment before the contaminated silt component is separated from the mineral silt component.

Abstract: A process for separating and/or recovering gases from gas and/or gas vapor mixtures includes a membrane separating device to which a gas and/or gas vapor mixture is supplied, the latter being separated in the membrane separating device into a permeate, which is enriched with gas, and a retentate, which is depleted of gas. A first membrane separating device and a downstream second membrane separating device are provided, to which is supplied (at its inlet end) the retentate from the first membrane separating device, the first membrane separating device having a membrane which is selective for higher hydrocarbons in the gas and/or gas vapor mixture to be separated and in that the second membrane separating device has a membrane which is selected for gases of small molecular diameter.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for measuring the concentration of dissolved gases in a liquid [(39)], especially of CO2 in beverages, in which the liquid [(39)] is passed across the retentate side [(140)] of a membrane [(14)] that is at least partially permeable to the dissolved gas, and [in which] the volumetric flow of the permeated gas on permeate side [(16)] of the membrane [(14)] is determined, the temperature of the liquid [(39)] is measured, and the concentration of the dissolved gas in the liquid [(39)] is calculated from these values. In this, the thickness of the membrane [(14)] can be pre-selected as a function of the flow rate of the liquid [(39)] flowing along the retentate side [(140)].

Abstract: A process for the separation/recovery of gases is described where the desired component to be separated from the gaseous mixture is present in low/very low molar amount and/or low/moderate pressure, the process comprising contacting the gaseous mixture with a separation membrane unit containing high permeability/medium selectivity membranes which separate the feed stream into a permeate stream, enriched in the desired component and at a lower pressure and a retentate stream lean in the desired component and at a higher pressure. The retentate stream is made to convey its pressure to the permeate stream which then is directed to an adsorption PSA unit for further purification of the permeate stream so that the effluent stream from the PSA unit which contains the purified component has a purity of up to 99.90%.

Abstract: In a method of making solvent and acid resistant membrane on the basis of polyacrylnitrile (PAN) and a comonomer copolymerized therewith wherein the membrane is formed from a solution by phase inversion, glycidylmethacrylate is used as the comonomer and the membrane formed thereby is then subjected to ammonia.

Abstract: In a process for decontaminating suspensions containing silt, pollutants and water, particularly mercury and hydrocarbon pollutants, the suspensions are heated under pressure to boiling temperature, then passed through a throttling device wherein the pressure is reduced so that, by flashing, a three-phase mixture comprising steam, residual water and solids is formed which mixture is then superheated in a pipe reactor whereby the pollutants are enriched in the steam phase, the solids are then separated out of the mixture and the steam phase is condensed for collection of the pollutants with the condensate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for separating a vapor-gas mixture formed above a liquid in a tank and which mixture is exhausted from the tank through an exhaust line in order to relieve overpressure in the tank. The mixture is passed from the tank through a membrane unit having a separating membrane and underpressure is generated at least intermittently, on a permeate side of the membrane unit, by a pump. This produces on the permeate side of the membrane permeate enriched with vapor and on the retentate side of the membrane retentate deleted in vapor. The permeate is returned to the tank and the retentate is exhausted to the atmosphere via the exhaust line.

Abstract: In a method of producing hollow fiber membranes, wherein a molten polymer charged with a gas under pressure is provided in an extrusion apparatus, the polymer melt including the gas under pressure is extruded from the extrusion apparatus through a hollow fiber-forming extrusion nozzle with a predetermined pressure drop which provides for a concurrent expansion of the gas contained in the polymer melt thereby forming a porous hollow fiber membrane.

Abstract: An apparatus designed to separate mixtures of materials by use of a stack of spaced membrane elements (11) in the form of membrane cells having bore (112) through which the permeate (130) is discharged. The device (10) includes a feed inlet (14) for the mixture plus discharge outlets (16) for the retentate (17) and permeate (13), and the mixture flowing over the surfaces (110, 11, 180, 181) of the membrane elements (11) in chambers (150) between element (18). Fitted between each pair of membrane elements (11) or between the membrane (11) and deflection (18) elements is an annular support element (19) which surrounds the bore (112) through the membrane element (11) or deflection element (18), the seal between the support element (19) and the membrane (11) or deflection (18) element being formed by a sealing element (191) fitted round the outer circumference (190) of the support element (19).

Abstract: An electric welding device using welding or filler material supplied to a welding site located in a wet environment. The device provides for the supply of the welding material to the welding site in a water-free environment that extends up to the welding site.

Abstract: A membrane comprised of a graft copolymer includes a base component and a copolymer component. The base component includes a first polymer with a repeating unit: ##STR1## wherein m=0.1-0.9, n=0.9-0.1, p=0.03-0.04, R.sub.1 can be a linear, branched or cyclic C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 hydrocarbon radical, R.sub.2 can be a linear, branched or cyclic C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 hydrocarbon radical, and at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical with a terminal C.dbd.C double bond. The base component can include a second polymer with C.dbd.C double bonds located in the main chain and/or a side chain. The second polymer has a repeating unit: ##STR2## wherein m=n; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are identical or different; and 10 to 100% of R.sup.1 and/or R.sup.2 have a C.dbd.C double bond.

Abstract: In a method for separating a gas mixture above a liquid a separating device with a gas separation membrane having retentate side and a permeate side is employed. A vacuum at the retentate side of the gas separation membrane and a vacuum at the permeate side of the gas separation membrane are provided. The gas mixture, resulting from transferring a liquid from one storage container to another container upon contact with the surroundings, is fed to the retentate side of the gas separation membrane by the vacuum present at the retentate side and the permeate side. The flow volume per time unit of the gas mixture fed to the separating device is greater than a flow volume per time unit of the liquid being transferred. On the retentate side of the gas separation membrane a gas-diminished retentate is generated and on the permeate side of the gas separation membrane a gas-enriched permeate is produced.

Abstract: A multiphase, high-temperature material contains an intermetallic base alloy of the Ti.sub.3 Al type, which is intended especially for use in heat engines such as internal combustion engines, gas turbines and aircraft engines. The material contains from 44 to 73 atom % titanium, from 19 to 35 atom % aluminum, from 2 to 6 atom % silicon, and from 5 to 15 atom % niobium. The desired microstructure is attained by heat treating the alloy at between 800.degree. and 1100.degree. C.

Abstract: The auxiliary or working liquid is cleaned by being urged through a pervaporation membrane module (3), then the permeate stream from the membrane module is led through a condenser (4), where the impurities concentrated in the permeate stream precipitate. The stream of retentate and the stream of permeate from the membrane module are then fed back to a compressor (1). The differential pressure of the compressor belonging to the compressor system is used to operate this circuit.

Abstract: A conductive surface layer, for example to form an electrode. For piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and ferroelectric components, as well as for piezoceramic components, the layer is formed of at least one electrically conductive hard product of at least one of the metals of at least the groups III to VIII of the periodic table of the elements.

Abstract: A membrane for the separation of liquid mixtures by pervaporation has two surfaces, a first one representing a feed side and a second one representing a permeate side. The membrane is comprised of a swellable elastomeric polymer material and a reinforcing support embedded essentially parallel to the membrane surfaces in the polymer material. The reinforcing support is a woven mesh arranged asymmetrically so that the reinforcing support is adjacent to the permeate side.