Abstract: A power recovery system is used for reducing the total energy consumption in a process such as an industrial treating process or a fluid refining process including the delivery of a fluid under a high pressure. The power recovery system includes a high-pressure pump for pressuring raw water, a reverse osmosis membrane cartridge for treating high-pressure water discharged from the high-pressure pump with a reverse osmosis membrane to produce treated water, a positive-displacement piston pump for pressuring raw water under the pressure of concentrated water which is discharged from the reverse osmosis membrane cartridge without being treated by the reverse osmosis membrane, and a power recovery pump turbine for boosting the pressurized raw water discharged from the positive-displacement piston pump and adding the boosted water to the high-pressure water discharged from the high-pressure pump. The power recovery pump turbine is actuated by pressurized water generated in the power recovery system.

Abstract: To provide a crystalline polymer microporous film including: a laminate consisting of two or more crystalline polymer layers formed of crystalline polymers; and multiple pores penetrating through the laminate in the thickness direction thereof, wherein an average pore size of each of the crystalline polymer layer changes along the thickness thereof.

Abstract: A composite membrane includes a filtration membrane with a surface; and a layer on the surface of the filtration membrane. The layer includes a polymer including a poly(ethylene glycol) moiety cross-linked with an ammonium salt or a precursor of an ammonium salt.

Abstract: An energy efficient desalination process that does not produce waste products involves the extraction of water from a first solution, such as seawater, by using a second concentrated solution to draw the water from the first solution across a semi-permeable membrane. By manipulating the equilibrium of the soluble and insoluble species of solute within the second solution in favor of the soluble species of the solute, a saturated second solution can be used to generate osmotic pressure on the first solution. Also, by adjusting the equilibrium in favor of the less soluble species after the water has been drawn from the first solution, a portion of the solute can easily be precipitated out. Heating the second solution decomposes the solute into its constituent gasses. The constituent gasses and precipitated solute may be recycled through the process to affect the changes in equilibrium and eliminate waste products.

Abstract: A liquid filter with a composite medium that has a nanoweb adjacent to and optionally bonded to a microporous membrane. The membrane is characterized by an LRV value of 3.7 at a rated particle size, and the nanoweb has a fractional filtration efficiency of greater than 0.1 at the rated particle size of the membrane. The nanoweb also has a thickness efficiency ratio of greater than 0.0002 at that efficiency. The nanoweb acts to provide depth filtration to the membrane, prefilters particles and extends the lifetime of the membrane.

Abstract: A method of improving the water permeability and/or cleaning a porous polymeric microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane, preferably a hydrophobic/hydrophilic blended membrane, eg P VdF/PVP comprising the step of contacting the porous polymeric membrane with a source of monopersulfate, preferably an aqueous solution of 2KHSO5.KHSO4.K2SO4.

Abstract: A cartridge apparatus for water treatment includes a header having a permeate cavity, a plurality of support elements spaced apart from the header, and a plurality of subgroups of hollow fiber membranes, the membranes in each subgroup having first ends potted in the header, and second ends potted in a respective one of the plurality of support elements.

Abstract: A method for making a polysulfone having zwitterionic functionality comprising reacting a piperazine amine functionalized polysulfone with sultone is described as are blends with other polymers. Membranes containing polysulfones having zwitterionic functionality are also provided. Membranes thus formed are used in hemodialysis, hemofiltration, and water purification.

Abstract: A continuous method for production of a porous hollow fibre membrane having regioselective affinity for compounds in blood or other biologically active fluids to be removed during purification of blood or said fluids is disclosed, as well as a porous hollow fibre membrane produced by said method, an adsorption device containing such a porous hollow fibre membrane, and use of such a porous hollow fibre membrane.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method to facilitate fluid flow across a filter. The apparatus includes a filtration layer coupled to a support layer to form a composite filter. The support layer includes a hydroentangled cellulosic material forming a plurality of apertures. The apertures form channels to facilitate fluid flow across the filter while the support layer provides structural support to the filtration layer to enable lateral flow while preventing pleat deformation and collapse.

Abstract: This end-piece is of the type including two filtering membranes and support portions for supporting the membranes and channelling the fluid through the membranes. According to one aspect of the invention, it includes a connection portion which is moulded over the support portions in order to fix them together and the support portions include an upper support portion, a lower support portion and an intermediate support portion which is arranged between the upper support portion and the lower support portion, a membrane is retained between the upper support portion and the intermediate support portion and a membrane is retained between the intermediate support portion and the lower support portion and the membranes are overmoulded by the connection portion.

Abstract: Versions of the invention include compositions and methods for making them that include a polymeric porous membrane with one or more atmospheric pressure microwave plasma modified surfaces. The modified porous membrane is stable, non-dewetting, and retains its mechanical strength.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for water filtration comprising contacting a water stream with a membrane comprising a polysulfone having structural units of Formula I wherein X is OH, NR1R2, or OR3; R1 and R2 are independently at each occurrence hydrogen, a C1-C5000 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical, a polypeptide, a combination thereof, or R1 and R2 taken together form a 5- or 6-membered aliphatic ring or a 5-membered aromatic ring; R3 is a C1-C20 aliphatic radical, C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, C3-C12 aromatic radical, or a combination thereof; B? and C? are independently at each occurrence a nitro group, C1-C20 aliphatic radical, C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, C3-C12 aromatic radical, or a combination thereof; and q and r are independently at each occurrence 0 to 4.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for filtering a protein in a liquid mixture in a manner that does not substantially damage or otherwise limit the recovery of the protein in the filtration filtrate. The method generally includes passing a liquid mixture containing a protein (e.g., an aqueous vWF mixture) through a filter while applying a counter pressure to the liquid mixture filtrate to accurately reduce and control the pressure differential across the filter. The disclosed method has the advantage that relatively high filtration flow rates can be achieved at relatively low pressure differentials, in contrast to high pressure differentials, which actually reduce the filtration flow rate of protein liquid mixtures. Further, the method can recover substantially all of the protein that is initially present in the liquid mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to flexible ceramic membranes which, depending on embodiment, are useful as separators for batteries, especially lithium batteries, and also a process for their production. Ceramic or hybridic membranes have the disadvantage that, whatever the level of flexibility already achieved, they tend to crumble off the ceramic coating on bending. This is prevented by the present membranes, which comprise, on and in a polymeric nonwoven, a solidified ceramic coating which is constructed from two fractions of metal oxide particles of different size and which adheres to the polymeric nonwoven through a network constructed by two different adhesion promoters.

Abstract: An energy-efficient process for dewatering an aqueous organic solution includes using freely available solar energy to concentrate a draw solution within a reservoir. The draw solution is used in conjunction with a membrane to remove water from the organic solution in a forward osmosis process. The draw solution is diluted by the osmosis process, and returned to the reservoir to be re-concentrated and reused in the osmosis process.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for producing a diesel fuel of enhanced cetane value from low cetane distillate and diesel boiling range fractions from poor crudes such as naphthenic crudes.

Abstract: An apparatus for purifying water according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a feed line fluidically connected to a reverse osmosis module containing a semipermeable membrane. The semipermeable membrane produces purified water and a concentrate. A drain line is also connected to the reverse osmosis module configured to transport concentrate. A product line is connected to the reverse osmosis module for transporting purified water. Operatively associated with the product line and drain line is a shut-off mechanism containing a pressure sensor operatively associated with an appliance configured to activate the shut-off mechanism.

Abstract: A method of making a porous membrane includes, in an exemplary embodiment, mixing together a first fine powder PTFE resin and a second fine powder PTFE resin to form a PTFE resin mixture. The first PTFE resin having a characteristic of forming more and longer fibrils than fibrils formed from the second PTFE resin. The second PTFE resin having a characteristic of forming thicker nodes than nodes formed from the first PTFE resin. The method also includes forming a preform from the PTFE resin mixture, extruding the preform into a tape, passing the tape through a plurality of opposing calender rolls to form a calendered tape having a thickness of about 380 ?m to about 1200 ?m, and stretching the calendered tape in the transverse direction to form a porous membrane having a plurality of nodes and fibrils and having a thickness of at least about 100 ?m.

Abstract: A gas-scrubbed vertical cylindrical skein of “fibers” has their opposed terminal portions held in headers unconfined in a modular shell, and aerated with a cleansing gas supplied by a gas-distribution means which produces a mass of bubbles serving the function of a scrub-brush for the outer surfaces of the fibers. The skein is surprisingly effective with relatively little cleansing gas, the specific flux through the membranes reaching an essentially constant relatively high value because the vertical deployment of fibers allows bubbles to rise upwards along the outer surfaces of the fibers. The effectiveness is critically dependent upon the length of each fiber in the skein. That length is in the range from at least 0.1% more than the fixed distance between opposed faces of the skein's headers, but less than 5% greater than the fixed distance.