Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating and removing volatiles from a fluid such as air. The apparatus includes a container for containing a liquid (16) including volatiles therein. The volatiles are vaporized from the liquid (16) in the container (14) into the gaseous atmospheric space (18) adjacent thereto. The mixture of volatiles and air are conducted to a separating module (40) including membranes (48) where the air is imbibed into the membranes (48) of the module while the volatiles are condensed on the membrane and collected in a condensate collection chamber (34).

Abstract: A method of disinfecting water includes the steps of passing a flow of fluid containing water and/or water soluble substances and microbes therein in contact with a nonporous water and water soluble substance permeating membrane and imbibing water and/or water soluble substances through the membrane while preventing passage of microbes and water insoluble hydrocarbons and hologenated hydrocarbons through the membrane.

Abstract: A method for separating and removing volatiles from a fluid such as air. The method includes the steps of vaporizing volatiles from a liquid (16) into the gaseous atmospheric space (18) adjacent the liquid (16); conducting the gaseous atmosphere containing the volatiles from the space (28); separating through a membrane (49) a volatile free gaseous atmospheric permeate from the volatile retenate; and containing the volatile retentate (70).

Abstract: A process for removing trace amounts of water soluble organic and inorganic substances dissolved in a water supply from the water supply includes the steps of flowing water from the water supply including trace amounts of the water soluble substances dissolved therein adjacent to and in contact with one side of a semipermeable barrier within a chamber, inducing evaporation of the trace amounts of the water soluble substances from the flowing water and permeating the evaporated water into the barrier. The water soluble organic and inorganic substances are removed from the barrier and chamber thereby further inducing evaporation and removal of the water soluble substances from the flowing water. The flowing water free of trace amounts of the water soluble organic and inorganic substances are also removed from the chamber.

Abstract: A reaction vessel (10) includes a housing (12) having an interior cavity (14). Water insoluble reaction substances (16,16') are contained within the cavity (14) for producing a water soluble product from reacting with a water soluble precursor. A composite membrane defines at least a portion of the housing (12) for selectively imbibing the water soluble precursor therethrough into the housing (12) for reaction with the reaction substances (16,16'), imbibing of the product therethrough out of the housing (12) and being impermeable to the reaction substances (16,16') for maintaining the reaction substances (16,16') within the cavity.

Abstract: A supported composite membrane (10) includes a porous support membrane (12) forming a first layer for structurally supporting a second membrane thereon. The porous support membrane (12) includes two sides (14,16) and a plurality of pores (18) extending therethrough providing fluid communication between the two sides (14,16). A nonporous water and water soluble substance permeating membrane (20) is disposed over each of the pores (18) for selectively permeating only water and water soluble substances through each of the pores (18). A method of making the membrane (10) includes the steps of forming a porous support material (12) into a first layer, and adhering a nonporous water and water soluble substance permeating membrane (20) over each of the pores (18) for selectively permeating only water and water soluble substances through each of the pores (18).

Abstract: A semipermeable hollow fiber membrane (10) consists of a first layer (12) for selectively permeating only water and water soluble substances therethrough and excluding the permeation of hydrocarbon fluids and a second layer (14) covalently bonded to the first layer (12), the second layer (14) being selective permeable only to water soluble substances and excluding water permeation therethrough. The membrane can be used for selectively separating a water soluble substance from water and transferring the water soluble substance to a hydrocarbon fluid.

Abstract: A portable water purification system (10) includes a portable reservoir (12) for containing a contaminated water supply (14) and a separator module (48) for separating water and water soluble substance permeate from a contaminated water retentate. A permeate outlet (52) is operatively connected to the separator module (48) for releasing water and water soluble substances from the system (10). A return conduit (34) is operatively connected between the separator module (48) and the reservoir (12) for returning contaminated water retentate back to the reservoir (12). A plunger (54) is operatively connected to the reservoir (12) and includes an inlet chamber (32). The plunger draws contaminated water from the reservoir (12) and forces the contaminated water (32) through the separator module (48) so that the permeate flows out the permeate outlet (52) and the retentate flows out the return conduit (36).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for drying a wet stream of hydrocarbon gas includes a plurality of hollow fiber membranes (40) for osmotically imbibing water from a wet gas stream flowing on one side (48) of the membranes and forming a dried retentate stream and diffusing a water permeate to the second side (46) thereof and preventing imbibing and diffusion of hydrocarbon and halogenated hydrocarbons therethrough. The water permeate is removed from the cores (44) of the membranes (40) and the dried hydrocarbon and halogenated hydrocarbon retentate stream is removed from the second side (48) of the membranes (40). A portion of the dried retentate stream is recirculated as the sweep stream through cores (44) of the membranes in a closed fluid flow circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for continually separating water and water souble substances and hydrocarbons and/or halogenated hydrocarbons from contaminated water includes first and second separator modules (12,14) for separating a water and water soluble substance permeate and pure hydrocarbon and halogenated hydrocarbon permeate from a contaminated water retentate. A fluid conducting circuit: (a) conducts water contaminated with hydrocarbons and/or halogenated hydrocarbons to the first separator module (12), (b) conducts a portion of the first contaminated retentate and a portion of a second contaminated retentate back to the first separator module (12) (c) and conducts another portion of the first contaminated retentate and another portion of the second contaminated retentate to the second separator module (14). The invention provides a method of utilizing the apparatus for continuously separating water and hydrocarbons and/or halogenated hydrocarbons from contaminated water.

Abstract: A semipermeable hollow fiber membrane (10) consists of a first layer (12) for selectively permeating only water and water soluble substances therethrough and excluding the permeation of hydrocarbon fluids and a second layer (14) covalently bonded to the first layer (12), the second layer (14) being selective permeable only to water soluble substances and excluding water permeation therethrough. The membrane can be used for selectively separating a water soluble substance from water and transferring the water soluble substance to a hydrocarbon fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating water from a water and hydrocarbon mixture and water from a water and halogenated hydrocarbon mixture includes membranes consisting essentially of nonporous self-supported hollow fibers of cuproammonium cellulose, the membranes including inner and outer surfaces, and a conduit for conducting a stream of the mixture of hydrocarbon and water into contact with one of the membranes. The membranes imbibe water from the stream to diffuse to the other side of the membranes. The water is then removed from the other side of the membrane.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for removing corrossive contaminants from a halogenated hydrocarbon or a hydrocarbon hydraulic fluid including the steps of mixing water with a halogenated hydrocarbon or a hydrocarbon fluid contaminated with corrossive ions into a mixture and conducting the flow of the mixture tangentially relative to a surface of a plurality of microporous hydrophobic hollow fiber membranes and separating a permeate flow of decontaminated halogenated hydrocarbon or hydraulic fluid from retentate mixture.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for removing corrosive contaminants from a hydrocarbon including the steps of mixing water with a hydrocarbon contaminated with corrosive ions into a mixture and conducting the flow of the mixture tangentially relative to a surface of a plurality of microporous hydrophobic hollow fiber membranes and separating a permeate flow of decontaminated hydrocarbon from retentate mixture. An apparatus (10) is provided for this separation process which includes a mechanism for removing resistance to flow through the hollow fiber membrane (16) aiding in increased uniform tangential flow through the membrane (16).

Abstract: A fuel delivery system (10) includes a fuel tank (12) for storing a supply of fuel (16) and conduits (18) for conducting the fuel (16) from the fuel tank (12) to an engine (20). A separator module (22) in fluid communication with the conduits (18) separates by cross-flow separation a substantially water and particle free fuel permeate flow from a fuel retentate flow. The conduit (18) includes a first passageway (24) conducting the fuel permeate flow to the engine (20) and a second passageway (30) conducting the fuel retentate flow back to the fuel tank (12).

Abstract: An apparatus and process for removing corrossive contaminants from a hydrocarbon including the steps of mixing water with a hydrocarbon contaminated with corrossive ions into a mixture and conducting the flow of the mixture tangentially relative to a surface of a plurality of microporous hydrophobic hollow fiber membranes and separating a permeate flow of decontaminated hydrocarbon from retentate mixture. An apparatus (10) is provided for this separation process which includes a mechanism for removing resistance to flow through the hollow fiber membrane (16) aiding in increased uniform tangential flow through the membrane (16).