Abstract: A laser ablation and filtration process and apparatus wherein liquid containing hydrocarbons or other contaminates is purified. The liquid is exposed to laser energy at one or more selected wavelengths wherein the laser energy travels through the liquid and reaches the hydrocarbons or other contaminates and vaporizes, denatures, breaks down, neutralizes, renders inert and/or separates the hydrocarbons or contaminates from the liquid. A laser source is positioned in or on a vessel based on pre-set parameters to maximize exposure of the liquid to the laser energy, including sizing parameters, angle and inclination of the laser, retention time for the laser process to be applied and geometry of the containment for proper inclination. One or more collection chambers, which may include perforated membranes may be included to collect gases, separated hydrocarbons or contaminates and other by-products of the process. The vessel utilized may be submergible in water to pull or flow contaminated water therethough.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polyvinylidene fluoride/ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene blend microporous membrane and preparation method thereof, which belongs to the field of microporous membrane. The blend microporous membrane has good hydrophobicity, mechanical properties and permeability. The preparation method includes: preparing a suspension by polyvinylidene fluoride, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, antioxidant and diluent; then feeding the obtained suspension into a twin-screw extruder, and the cast membrane gel extruded from the outlet is directly injected into a metal mold for injection molding; the mold temperature and the outlet temperature of the extruder are the same, and the cavity surface of the mold has micro-prism array structure; then cooling the mold in aqueous medium to obtain a nascent gel membrane; drying the obtained nascent gel membrane in a freeze dryer after removal of the diluents by extraction.

Abstract: A hydrocyclone separator and a system that includes a plurality of such hydrocyclone separators are presented. The hydrocyclone separator includes a head portion having an inlet conduit and an overflow discharge tube arranged in the head portion. The hydrocyclone separator further has an apex discharge port and a tapered separation portion arranged between the head portion and the apex discharge port. The tapered separation portion is tapering distally away from the head portion. Moreover, the head portion further includes an emptying port arranged in the head portion separately from the overflow discharge tube. Hereby, a hydrocyclone separator capable of achieving improved operational efficiency with reduced risk of coarse fraction being misplaced and left in the head portion is presented. This effectively reduces maintenance needs and prolongs the lifespan of the hydrocyclone.

Abstract: A submerged membrane unit has air diffusers located outside of the membrane area in plan view. The diffusers may be mounted in or below a diffuser case. The diffuser case may have walls to direct bubbles towards the membranes. The diffusers may be drop diffusers, for example as in a single drop diffuser assembly. The membrane unit may have polymeric or ceramic membranes, for example ceramic flat plate membranes. In an example, a rectangular shrouded membrane unit has a diffuser case below it that is rectangular in plan view but trapezoidal in side view, with drop diffusers located in the corners of the diffuser case. In a process of treating high strength wastewater, for example thickening or digesting waste sludge, a membrane unit optionally with ceramic plate membranes is immersed in the wastewater. The membranes are sparged with bubbles produced below but beside the membrane unit in a diffuser case.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrochemical advanced oxidation process combined with a membrane in which electrode reactions and membrane filtration occur simultaneously, a water treatment device based on the electrochemical advanced oxidation process, and a water treatment system using the water treatment device. The electrochemical advanced oxidation process includes: providing a membrane electro-oxidation tank where electrodes are combined with a membrane; accommodating wastewater containing pollutants in the membrane electro-oxidation tank; and supplying power to the electrodes to decompose the pollutants and simultaneously separating particles through the membrane (water treatment). The electrodes are arranged downstream of the membrane. Gases released from the electrodes induce a vertical flow of the fluid to improve the contact efficiency between a reactive solution and the electrodes and remove the pollutants attached to the surface of the membrane.

Abstract: The invention relates to sewage treatment, and more particularly to a system for treating reverse-osmosis concentrated water with permanent hardness. The system includes a first crystallization unit, a first reverse osmosis unit, a second crystallization unit, a lime softening unit and a second reverse osmosis unit, which are connected in sequence. The system of the invention is able to eliminate the permanent hardness and the temporary hardness of the concentrated brine, and the hardness can be reduced to equal to or less than 50 mg/L.

Abstract: A method of processing a liquid by an alternating electromagnetic field includes: generating DC pulses by a pulse generator; and applying the DC pulses to a parallel oscillating circuit connected in parallel to the pulse generator. The parallel oscillating circuit includes an inductor connected in parallel to a capacitor. In response to the DC pulses, self-oscillations arise in the parallel oscillating circuit, the self-oscillations producing an alternating current in the inductor; and the inductor generates the alternating electromagnetic field for processing the liquid.

Abstract: A screen basket for centrifuges having a wedge wire with a broad end and an opposite narrow end. The wedge wire narrows in width from the broad end to the narrow end and the wedge wire increases in depth from the broad end to the narrow end.

Abstract: The invention provides polymer-grafted and functionalized nonwoven membranes adapted for use in bioseparation processes, the membranes including a nonwoven web of polyester fibers having an average fiber diameter of less than about 1.5 microns, each of the plurality of polyester fibers having grafted thereon a plurality of polymer segments constructed of a methacrylate polymer, each polymer segment carrying a functional group adapted for binding to a target molecule. The invention also provides a method of bioseparation comprising passing a solution comprising the target molecule, such as a protein, through the nonwoven membrane of the invention such that at least a portion of the target molecule in the solution binds to the nonwoven membrane. A method for preparing a polymer-grafted and functionalized nonwoven membrane adapted for use in bioseparation processes is also provided.

Abstract: Peroxyformic acid compositions for treatment and removal of biofilm growth and mineral deposits on membranes for energy services applications are disclosed. In particular, peroxyformic acid compositions are generated in situ or on site generation for the reduction and prevention, of biofilms and the mitigation of mineral buildup on the membranes. The compositions according to the invention are compatible with the membranes under application of use conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein methods for combating biofouling in a liquid, e.g. an aqueous medium by providing a surface coated with at least one laser-induced graphene (LIG) layer in said liquid medium. Particularly disclosed herein method and devices for treating water comprising passing a water stream through a membrane module equipped with at least one spacer coated with at least one layer of LIG, and optionally by applying an electric potential to the at least one LIG layer to achieve a bactericidal effect in the water stream. Specifically, disclosed herein a polymeric mesh suitable for use as a spacer in a membrane module in water treatment application, said mesh being at least partially coated with LIG.

Abstract: In embodiments a metal or metal alloy nanowires are assembled into a nanoporous membrane that can be used in methods for catalyzing various reactions under low pressures and achieving high flow rate of the reactions. In embodiments, the membranes of the disclosure can catalyze CuAAC reactions with high efficiency and minimum leaching of active Cu species.

Abstract: A membrane filtration system with reverse osmosis (RO) or nanofiltration (NF) elements is adapted to provide high recovery from difficult wastewater. The system has a plurality of stages. The system is configured to provide concentrate staging. The last stage also has concentrate recirculation. The valves and pumps of the system are arranged such that the order of flow and a recirculation pump may be switched between the first stage and the last stage at some times.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to hollow fiber tangential flow filters, including hollow fiber tangential flow depth filters, for various applications, including bioprocessing and pharmaceutical applications, systems employing such filters, and methods of filtration using the same.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for treating waste generated from manufacturing operations including at least one of Printed Circuit Boards Fabrication (PCB FAB), General Metal Finishing (GMF), semiconductors manufacturing, chemical milling, and Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD). The method and system are used to create zero liquid discharge recycling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for removing a first fluid from a blood filter for the blood treatment of a patient and/or for removing blood from the blood filter after completing the blood treatment session. It further relates to a medical treatment apparatus having a control device with which a method for removing a first fluid from a blood filter is executable, a digital storage medium, and a computer program product.

Abstract: It is described an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus (1) with a user interface (12) device capable configuring and allowing execution of one or more isolated ultrafiltration tasks during the course of a dialysis treatment. The extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus (1) is controlled in a normal mode, where dialysis fluid is fed to the blood treatment unit (2), and in an isolated ultrafiltration mode, where fresh dialysis fluid is no longer fed to the blood treatment unit (2).

Abstract: The present invention provides a hollow fiber membrane including a cellulose acetate-based polymer, in which when an inner surface of the hollow fiber membrane is observed under an atomic force microscope, a plurality of groove-like recesses oriented in a lengthwise direction of the hollow fiber membrane are observed, an average length of the recesses is greater than or equal to 200 nm and less than or equal to 500 nm, an average width of the recesses is greater than or equal to 15 nm and less than or equal to 50 nm, and an aspect ratio defined as a ratio of the average length to the average width of each of the recesses is greater than or equal to 6 and less than or equal to 22.

Abstract: A control valve for a reverse osmosis water purifying system provides a feed water port, a squeeze water port, a drain port, and a product water connection, each of which open into a bore. A first, second, and third O-rings are located in the bore successively between the feed water port, the squeeze water port, the drain port, and the product water connection. A control piston is moveably located in the bore of the housing. The control piston includes a vent/drain well in which a side is chamfered. The vent/drain well provides a fluid passage between the squeeze water port and the drain port when the vent/drain well passes over the second O-ring. The fluid passage includes an opening formed between the second O-ring and the chamfered side of the vent/drain well, where the size of the opening is responsive to the position of the control piston.

Abstract: A method of treatment of liquid in a liquid treatment system comprising: at least one liquid treatment module including at least one membrane and having a feed liquid inlet at a feed side of said at least one membrane, a permeate outlet at a permeate side of said at least one membrane, and a concentrate outlet at a brine side of said at least one membrane; a high pressure pump operative for pressurizing feed liquid to be received at said feed liquid inlet; and a system controller for controlling operation of the system including providing instructions to operate said high pressure pump in one of at least two operation modes including: a first mode in which the high pressure pump maintains a fixed flow rate of the feed liquid at said feed liquid inlet or of a permeate liquid at said permeate outlet, while energy consumption of said high pressure pump being a function of variations of a first operational parameter measured in the system and indicative of salinity of liquid within said at least one liquid treatm