Abstract: A ceramic fired composite filter media having a uniform pore size, the media consisting essentially of a porous cordierite substrate having a surface having pores of non-uniform diameter, the diameter ranging from <1 to 200 .mu.m; and a layer of porous ceramic oxide having pores having a uniform diameter bonded to the surface of the cordierite substrate, the layer of ceramic oxide comprised of ceramic oxide particles having a particle size sufficiently large to avoid substantial penetration of the pores in the surface of the cordierite.

Abstract: A heater assembly for supporting and energizing a plurality of heating lamps which includes a socket assembly which supports each of the lamps at a base portion thereof, provides power to effect energization of the lamps, and provides a directional flow of cooling fluid which is forced into close proximity to the base portions of the lamps to effect cooling of the base portions of each of the lamps. The cooling fluid is directed into a manifold disposed in the socket assembly in which each of the base portions of the lamps are disposed and is forced from the manifold through exit passageways disposed contiguous to the base portions of the lamps to force the cooling fluid into close proximity with the base portions of the lamps to efficiently cool the base portion of the lamp and assure long lamp life.

Abstract: A method for removing solid wastes from an organic extractant-based SX/EW copper processing system. A lixivant is initially applied to copper ore, followed by mixing of the copper-containing lixivant product with an organic extractant. The organic extractant (which contains extracted copper ions) is then contacted with an electrolyte solution. At least part of the remaining organic fraction after electrolyte contact is passed through a filtration membrane (either an ultrafiltration or microfiltration membrane) to remove solid wastes. The filtered organic fraction is then reused within the system, followed by electrowinning of the copper-containing electrolyte to recover purified copper. Alternatively, the organic extractant may be membrane-filtered after initial contact with the copper-containing lixivant product to remove solid wastes from the organic extractant.

Abstract: A method of forming a sidewall for a reactor for oxidizing volatile or semi-volatile organic compounds, the sidewall being reactive with gaseous oxidation products produced by the oxidation of the volatile or semi-volatile organic compounds, includes, i) providing a dry mixture of material comprising by weight: from about 23% to 35% cement; from about 30% to 45% added CaO; from about 6% to 20% added Ca(OH).sub.2 ; and from about 10% to 25% added CaSO.sub.4 ; ii) combining the dry mixture of material with water and forming a slurry therefrom; iii) forming the slurry into a desired reactor sidewall shape; and iv) hardening the shaped slurry into a hardened cement reactor sidewall. An apparatus for photochemically oxidizing gaseous volatile or semi-volatile organic compounds includes a reactor vessel comprising sidewalls having at least one baffle.

Abstract: A high temperature ceramic membrane device for separation of fluids at high temperature, the device comprises: (a) a housing having: (i) an entrance for introducing fluids to the housing to be separated, (ii) an exit for removing fluids after being subjected to separation; (b) a plate mounted in one end of the housing, the plate having openings therein; (c) ceramic membrane comprised of porous ceramic tubes having a closed end and an open end, the tubes permeable by a fraction of the fluid to be removed from the fluid as filtrate and impermeable to a second fraction, the open end designed to remove the filtrate from the tube, the tubes mounted in the openings in the plate so that the closed end is projected into the housing and the open end is extended outside the housing for removing the filtrate; (d) a seal for sealing the plate in the housing; (e) insulation provided in the housing, the insulation means located adjacent the plate and surrounding the tubes projecting therethrough, the insulation adapted to

Abstract: An apparatus for photochemically oxidizing gaseous volatile or semi-volatile organic compounds includes: a) a reactor vessel having a plurality of reaction chambers provided therein, the reaction chambers having respective chamber lining sidewalls; b) a source of ultraviolet light provided within and along the reaction chambers to oxidize gaseous volatile or semi-volatile organic compounds fed to the reaction chambers into gaseous oxidation products; c) the sidewalls of the reaction chambers comprising a dry porous cementitious and chemically sorbent material, the sorbent material being chemically reactive with the gaseous oxidation products to produce solid reaction products incorporated in the reaction chamber sidewalls; and e) the sidewalls of the reaction chambers comprising a series of baffles mounted relative to the reactor vessel, the baffles defining a serpentine gas flow path within the reactor vessel between a gas inlet and a gas outlet.

Abstract: A high efficiency, non-contaminating fluid heater, including inner and outer helical passageways formed from an electrically non-conductive material and through which ultra pure fluid, such as ultra pure water, passes as it is heated. A coiled resistance heater is disposed about the helical outer surface of the inner helical passageway to heat by radiation, conduction and convection the ultra pure fluid which flows through the inner passageway. The outer passageway substantially surrounds the inner passageway and, at least in part, supports the outer passageway. The outer helical passageway is disposed to enable ultra pure fluid flowing therethrough to absorb radiated and convected heat from the coiled resistance heater to increase the efficiency of the fluid heater.

Abstract: A method for scanning and sorting documents which employs data not found on the document to make the sorting decision. Provision is also made for correcting misread information with the most probable correct data so that the scanning and sorting process may continue uninterrupted. In one form, the method comprises the steps of: (a) reading first data from a document by optical character recognition; (b) accessing second data which contains a list of valid first data; (c) determining if said data contains an error based on said second data; (d) accessing third data if said first data contains an error, said third data containing a probable correction of said first data; (e) changing said first data to equate with said third data; (f) retrieving fourth data from a data file based upon said first; (g) sorting said document based upon said fourth data.

Abstract: A novel membrane preparation process via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) deposits a film on a microporous ceramic support at a low temperature (300.degree. to 550.degree. C.) with organic metallic compounds as precursors and then converts the film into porous oxide at a higher temperature (350.degree. C. to 800.degree. C., preferably 450.degree. C. to 600.degree. C.) to increase its permeability and stability at a given process application temperature. The novel membrane is used for gas separations at an elevated temperature (300.degree. C. to 800.degree. C.). The novel membrane can be used as a catalytic membrane reactor which selectively removes one of the reaction products, thereby enhancing the conversion of the reaction. The ultrafiltration membrane provides gaseous mixtures separation media having high permeance and superior hydrogen selectivity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of photochemically oxidizing gaseous organic compounds, an apparatus for photochemically oxidizing gaseous organic compounds, a lining insert for an apparatus for photochemically oxidizing gaseous organic compounds, and a method for producing such a lining. The principal method comprises: a) exposing gaseous organic compounds to ultraviolet light to oxidize the gaseous organic compounds into gaseous oxidation products; and b) reacting the gaseous oxidation products with an internal surface of a reaction chamber, the internal surface comprising a dry porous cementitious and chemically sorbent material which is chemically reactive with the gaseous oxidation products, with the gaseous oxidation products being reacted with the dry porous cementitious material to produce solid reaction products incorporated in sidewalls of the chamber.

Abstract: A tubular high efficiency, non-contaminating fluid heater includes an elongate tubular member having a coil-like configuration and a sidewall which defines an elongate tubular chamber formed from an inert material through which fluid is adapted to flow. The tubular member includes an inlet and an outlet and a plurality of elongate electrical resistance heaters sheathed with the same inert material are disposed in said tubular chamber for heating the fluid as it flows through the tubular chamber.

Abstract: A method for sensing the temperature of a remote object within a chamber that is heated from outside the chamber, includes sensing radiation from the object within the chamber through a window in the wall of the chamber that exhibits different transmissivity than the wall of the chamber to radiation in a selected waveband relative to the waveband of the radiation supplied through the wall of the chamber to heat the object within the chamber.

Abstract: A technique for doping silicon material or other semiconductors uses gas phase dopant sources under reduced pressure in a radiantly heated, cold-wall reactor. The technique is applied to the automated integrated circuit manufacturing techniques being adopted in modern fabrication facilities. The method includes placing a substrate comprising semiconductor material on a thermally isolated support structure in a reduced pressure, cold-wall reaction chamber; radiantly heating the substrate within the reaction chamber to a controlled temperature; flowing a gas phase source of dopant at controlled pressure and concentration in contact with the substrate so that the dopant is absorbed by the substrate, and annealing the substrate. The substrate may be first coated with a layer of polycrystalline semiconductor, and then gas phase doping as described above may be applied to the polycrystalline layer.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved process for the recovery of ethylene glycol from spent glycol generated in the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate. The spent glycol typically consists of metal oxide catalyst residues, low molecular weight terephthalate oligomers, diethylene glycol and other trace impurities. The improved process of the present invention is based on the principle that elevating the temperature of the spent glycol increases the solubility of the low molecular weight oligomers so that the low molecular weight oligomers can be dissolved in the ethylene glycol and further that the spent glycol at an elevated temperature may be passed through an ion exchange bed to remove metal oxide catalysts, color forming impurities and other trace impurities.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for forming a butt splice between an expiring web and a new web in which both webs are concomitantly cut at a location upstream of a lap splice formed between the webs and a length of splicing tape is applied at the location to form the butt splice. After the butt splice is formed, the new web leading portion which is severed during the cutting operation is stripped from the expiring web. Preferably a stiffener strip is adhered to the expiring web with a breakaway adhesive and to the new web with a firm adhesive during the formation of the lap splice to facilitate the subsequent stripping operation.

Abstract: A method of treating untreated water containing hydrogen sulfide by adjusting the pH of the untreated water to a pH level of no greater than 6.0 and thereafter converting the hydrogen sulfide in the pH treated water to sulfuric acid while adjusting the pH of the water to a level sufficient to prevent the formation of elemental sulfur.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of photochemically oxidizing gaseous halogenated organic compounds, an apparatus for photochemically oxidizing gaseous halogenated organic compounds, a lining insert for an apparatus for photochemically oxidizing gaseous halogenated organic compounds, and a method for producing such a lining. The principal method comprises: a) exposing gaseous halogenated organic compounds to ultraviolet light to oxidize the gaseous halogenated organic compounds into gaseous oxidation products; and b) reacting the gaseous oxidation products with an internal surface of a reaction chamber, the internal surface comprising a dry porous cementitious and chemically sorbent material which is chemically reactive with the gaseous oxidation products, with the gaseous oxidation products being reacted with the dry porous cementitious material to produce solid reaction products incorporated in sidewalls of the chamber.

Abstract: Dual pyrometric detectors and method measure the temperature of a remote heated object in the presence of ambient radiation. One detector measures emitted radiation from both the remote object and from the environment, and the other detector measures radiation predominantly from the environment alone. The output signals from the two detectors are processed electronically to yield the detected radiation from the remote object alone. The result can then be electronically processed to display the pyrometrically-measured temperature of the remote object.

Abstract: Apparatus for optically determining the temperature of an object in an environment at elevated temperature provides enhanced measurement accuracy by sensing radiation from the object in two or more different wavebands of radiation. The information derived therefrom is cyclically sampled and processed to provide corrected emissivity of the object. The temperature of the object is accurately determined from the corrected emissivity and sensed radiation therefrom. The apparatus includes a radiation detector for receiving radiation during an interval, an optical filter structure with a plurality of optical filters of different radiation transmissive characteristics, and sampling circuits for receiving the radiation signal from the detector during a selected period within the interval during which radiation is supplied to the detector; wherein the selected period is shorter than the interval, is determined in response to the cyclic operation of the filter structure, and contains the least amlitude gradient.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of assembling a panel heater for use in a corrosive environment includes a planar heating element, a planar non-conductive carrier for supporting a conductive ground plane thereon, a planar heat sink supporting the heating element, and a fluoropolymer envelope enclosing the heating element, the carrier, the ground plane and the heat sink to protect same from corrosive environments. The heat sink and carrier have a coefficient of expansion which is substantially equal to minimize the effects of unequal expansion and contraction of the heater.