Abstract: A novel method for purifying, by means of an essentially closed circuit water purification system, an aqueous flow from a processing unit includes the steps of: (a) supplying to a bioreactor, and combining therein, the aqueous flow, as well as a discharge flow from a membrane filtration unit; (b) allowing microbiological conversion of biodegradable constituents to take place therein, thereby, generating an effluent flow; (c) supplying the bioreactor effluent flow to an ultrafiltration unit, thereby, separating the effluent flow into permeate and concentrate flows; (d) supplying at least some of the permeate flow to a membrane filtration unit, thereby, generating a product flow and the discharge flow; and (e) supplying the discharge flow to the bioreactor, as noted in step (a), and supplying at least a portion of the product flow to the processing unit. Apparatus related thereto are also disclosed.

Abstract: A membrane filtration for removing floating substances and salts from a liquid, uses vertically positioned capillary or tube membranes which are suitable for performing nano or hyper-filtration. Repeatedly and consecutively the following steps are performed: a) a permeate is produced without discharge of concentrate for a predetermined period of time; b) then a gas, for example air, is guided along side the membrane, at least almost without discharge of permeate and without discharge of concentrate; c) and finally a concentrate is discharged without discharge of permeate. During step a) and step c) use can be made of a combined supply of liquid and gas. An apparatus for performing this method is described as well.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for decoloring liquids, in particular ground water, by means of a membrane filtration unit, wherein the following steps are carried out: i) subjecting the ground water to a biological treatment in a bioreactor; ii) feeding the effluent from the bioreactor of step i) to the membrane filtration unit, in which membrane filtration unit a separation between biomass and decolored ground water takes place; followed by iii) feeding back the biomass from step ii) to the bioreactor. The invention also relates to decolored ground water and to a device for decoloring liquids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coupling unit for coupling two tubular membrane elements of the kind used in membrane filter technology, forming extensions of one another. The coupling unit comprises a jacket piece which is provided at both its ends with sealing surfaces intended to engage the facing ends of the membrane elements to be coupled thereto. The sealing surfaces may be formed on the interior peripheral wall of the jacket piece to engage the exterior peripheral wall of the ends of the membrane elements. However, the sealing surfaces may also be formed on the cross-cut end surfaces of the jacket piece, and engage the cross cut end walls of the membrane elements. The interior of the jacket piece may comprise an axially extending conduit portion to communicate with corresponding flow conduits in the membrane elements.