Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to provide a membrane filter for liquids which is used in microfiltration or ultrafiltration of liquids such as chemicals, water, and the like and to provide a filtering device using the membrane. The membrane is a membrane filter for liquids which has been rendered hydrophilic, in which the decrease of the pure water permeation flux of the membrane filter after being subjected to wetting treatment with a liquid having a low surface tension, subjected to replacement with pure water, and then exposed to an atmosphere of 25.degree. C. and 60% for 8 hours, to the pure water permeation flux of the membrane filter before the exposure is 20% or less. Such a membrane filter which has been rendered hydrophilic can be obtained by, for example, rendering the surface of a PTFE porous membrane hydrophilic by treating the surface with a low temperature plasma under conditions that a product of high frequency output density and treatment time is from 0.5 to 50 W.multidot.sec/cm.sup.

Abstract: The present invention is a bore-fed hollow fiber membrane device which possesses improved shellside countercurrent flow distribution. More specifically, the hollow fiber membrane bundle has a radial Peclet number of about 30 or lower which results in improved fluid recovery and productivity.

Abstract: Membrane separation process is improved by use, as a support membrane, of (i) a polyacrylonitrile membrane on which at least a portion of the surface --CN groups have been hydrolyzed to --COOH groups or (ii) a membrane formed of polyacrylonitrile and polyacrylic acid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for filtering pulp fibers from a pulp slurry, using a combination of vacuum, hydrodynamic and hydrostatic forces in order to achieve a more effective deposition of pulp fibers onto the filter surface and enhanced flow of filtrate through the cylinder. The apparatus is in the form of an improved vacuum filtration system, in which the filtrate outlet tube is disposed along the axis of rotation of the rotary cylinder and the filtrate inlet and outlet ports of each filtrate conduct are radially offset from one another in the direction of intended rotation of the cylinder. During various phases of filter operation, vacuum forces generated by the vacuum source cooperate with either hydrodynamically or hydrostatically generated forces, which together act upon columns of filtrate in the filtrate conduits as the cylinder rotates.

Abstract: A process for the removal of hydrocarbons from contaminated oily solids performed under atmospheric conditions by utilizing a single processing zone wherein multiple processing steps are carried out to remove contaminants. The steps include loading contaminated oily solids into a zone where the solids are reduced in size, dewatering or deoiling the oily solids, drying the resulting solids to remove moisture and volatile organics, extracting the resulting dried solid with organic solvent and further drying the extracted resulting dried solid to remove residual moisture, volatile organics and residual solvent, and fixing the metals.

Abstract: A fluid conditioning device having a housing containing a fluid inlet and outlet and a removable fluid conditioner through which fluid passes from the inlet to the outlet and which removes matter from and/or adds matter to the fluid, and an improved seal between the housing and fluid conditioner for blocking passage of unconditioned fluid from the inlet to the outlet. The housing is constructed and arranged to receive different types of fluid conditioners, such as a porous cartridge which may serve to filter solids from and/or add a substance to the fluid, a filter bag and basket combination, and a reversible osmosis cartridge for removing molecular constituent form a fluid solution, such as the saline constituent from sea water.

Abstract: A liquid clarifier in the form of an enclosure in which a conical filter membrane is mounted. An inlet is mounted to the enclosure below the conical filter membrane and an outlet is mounted to the enclosure above the membrane so than an upflow of liquid is created during filtering. The upflow causes the liquid to sweep across the conical filter membrane to prevent accumulation of particulate matter on the membrane. A conical baffle is coupled to the inlet to reduce turbulence of the liquid at a lower end of the enclosure to promote separation by gravity of the particles from the liquid.

Abstract: A screening arrangement is disclosed for protecting the pump compartment of a tank from the entrance of debris including a holder frame mounted in the tank, slidably receiving therein a pair of screens aligned with each other. The outside screen is removed for cleaning, replaced behind the other screen after cleaning to provide constant protection. A debris collecting trough is provided at the bottom of each screen. A ramp located at the bottom of the holder frame assists in indexing of the other screen as the cleaned screen is removed.

Abstract: A liquid-vapor separator for two-phase fluids in general and specifically a steam-water separator in a steam drum of a steam generator includes axial or radial spinner blades to create a centrifugal motion which causes liquid to be forced outward against the outer wall and the vapor to be concentrated in the center. Conical extraction skimmers systematically extract and discharge the liquid outwardly and downwardly through the side walls such that it impinges on an oval discharge screen surrounding the skimmers. The vapor flows out the top through a central opening and enters a secondary separator packed with crimped wire mesh encased in a perforated enclosure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flat separation membrane leaf, which is characterized by consisting of a flat membrane support comprising an inner layer having a coarse structure and surface layers comprising a nonwoven fabrics having a dense structure, wherein the surface layers are integrated with the inner layer interposed between them, and semipermeable membranes covering both sides of the support in such a manner that the semipermeable membranes penetrates into the openings of the nonwoven fabrics of the surfaces of the support to combine the semipermeable membranes with the surfaces of the support. The invention provides also a flat separation membrane element which comprises, as the essential component, the above-described flat separation membrane leaf.

Abstract: An improved spiral wound element for separations is disclosed wherein the improvement comprises using as the feed/retentate space one or more layers of a material having an open cross-sectional area in the range 30 to 70% and as the permeate spacer material at least three layers of material two of which are fine and have an open cross-sectional area of about 10 to 50% surrounding a coarse layer having an open cross-sectional area of about 50 to 90%.

Abstract: A method and the apparatus for the dissolving gas in liquid, in particular, dissolving oxygen and elimination of variable flow rates in wastewater collection and transmission systems that provides the means to stop the generation of toxic chemicals, allows existing pipeline capacities to be doubled, provides twice the capacity from existing wastewater treatment plants and improves the quality of the discharge of the wastewater treatment plant.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of refinery oily sludges to produce an oily fraction that is reprocessed in the refinery into (i) salable products and (ii) a solid residue meeting environmental regulatory agency requirements for disposal in non-hazardous solid waste landfills. The process includes mixing the refinery oily sludge with a particulate filter aid and preferably a single solvent selected from refinery intermediate and product streams and contacting this mixture with plate filters in a closed filter vessel. A cake residue forms on the filter plates and a filtrate mixture of oil, water and solvent is produced. The filtrate is separated into an oily fraction and a water fraction. The oily fraction is rerouted to refinery operating units for processing into salable products. The water fraction is routed to a refinery water treatment system. When filter cake residue has built to a predetermined level, charge to the filter vessel is discontinued.

Abstract: To collect analyte in a supercritical fluid extraction process, the extractant flows to a collection container under pressure. In one embodiment, the collection container contains collection solvent through which the extractant flows to partition analyte. The extractant adds to the liquid and when the collection solvent-extractant mixture rises to a heating zone, the extractant vaporizes selecively since its vapor pressure is higher than the vapor pressure of the collection solvent. When its pressure exceeds a preset valve pressure it is vented so that extractant continually leaves the collection container. After the extraction is complete, the analyte is concentrated in the collection solvent. In another embodiment, the collection vessel includes a solid material on which the analyte collects. It is removed under pressure by a solvent that is concentrated under pressure.

Abstract: To supply supercritical fluid to an automatic supercritical fluid extractor and collect extract from the extractor, sample holding cartridges are lifted one by one in series by an elevator plug into a pressure chamber. An inlet at the top of the cartridge engages a pressure vessel inlet for the extractant so that extractant flows into the cartridge and into the space between the cartridge and inner walls of the pressure chamber. The outlets from the cartridge and pressure vessel communicate with the collector and exhaust through passageways in the plug. The plug has cleaning ports for cleaning seals and the outlet from the cartridge flows past the seals. The collector lifts vials into place and can precool the collection solvent, and later as part of the collection procedure, heat and pressurize the collector.

Abstract: To avoid deposits on the restrictor that channels extractant into a collector, a heated capillary tube pressure release restrictor, has a thermally insulated outlet end in a collecting trap substantially colder than the capillary tube. The restrictor is heated between the insulation and the capillary tube by Joulean heating. The solvent in the trap is at a pressure of 5 to 200 psi above atmospheric pressure. The thermal resistance of the insulation is selected to reduce the heat added to the extractant to a minimum and yet cause the temperature of the extractant to be in a range within which it is sufficiently hot so it does not freeze when added to the collection solvent but not so hot as to reduce partitioning of the extract and extractant before the extractant leaves the collection solvent. It has a thermal conductivity no greater than 60 BTU's per hour, per square foot, per inch for a one degree Fahrenheit difference.

Abstract: Methods have been developed to make mixed alumina-silicate and aluminosilicate particulate microporous ceramic membranes. One method involves the making of separate alumina and silica sols which are then mixed. Another method involves the creation of a combined sol with aluminosilicate particles. The resulting combined alumina and silica membranes have high surface area, a very small pore size, and a very good temperature stability.

Abstract: A sandwich of a permeate fabric material within a folded sheet of semipermeable membrane is spirally wound together with a sheet of porous feed pathway material about a mandrel which, upon its removal, provides a central hollow region in the wound element. A single band of adhesive seals the outer end of the envelope, and once wrapping is completed, a thin layer of porous tape holds the winding tight. A porous small diameter tube is inserted into a pocket adjacent the fold in the semipermeable membrane material near the center of the winding and serves as a permeate discharge conduit. Axial ends of the spirally wound subassembly are sequentially potted in resin to complete the basic fabrication of the element. Communication with the feed pathway material is provided by drilling through the resin into the center hollow region.

Abstract: A composite membrane comprises a substrate made from a polymer selected from copolymers and homopolymers of ethylenically unsaturated nitriles, which substrate has preferably first been treated with a pore protector in absence of curing agents and catalysts therefor, prior to applying as the final coating a silicone layer, which is crosslinked. The pore protector, which may be, for example, a hydroxy-terminated polysiloxane, particularly a silanol-terminated polysiloxane, serves the dual purpose of preventing the pores from collapsing, when the support is dried during the curing of the silicone layer, and of preventing passage of the coating material deeply into the pores and thus also preventing an undue reduction of the flux of the finished coated membrane. Such composite membranes include solvent stable membranes which swell to an extent of no more than about 10% when immersed in various organic solvents, and their mixtures with each other and/or water.

Abstract: A process by which organo phosphonate and cupric ions may be removed from an electroplating bath containing contaminants. Excess acetate salt content causes precipitation of a copper/organo phosphonate (HEDP) precipitate which may be removed leaving the contaminants in solution.