Abstract: A process for separating and recovering paraffin sulphonic acids from mixtures with water and sulphuric acid is described, consisting of: bringing such a mixture into contact under extraction conditions with a saturated aliphatic or cycloaliphatic liquid hydrocarbon; separating an aqueous liquid phase containing sulphuric acid from an organic liquid phase consisting of the extraction solvent containing the paraffin sulphonic acids; and recovering the paraffin sulphonic acids from said organic liquid phase. The process is particularly applicable to products obtained from processes involving the sulphoxidation of paraffins with sulphur dioxide and oxygen, catalyzed by U.V. radiation.

Abstract: Charge compositions containing aqueous mixtures of organic nitrogen compounds may be separated by pervaporation through a membrane assembly containing a porous ceramic support bearing as separating layer, polyvinyl alcohol which has been cross-linked as with glutaraldehyde.

Abstract: Filters for filtering molten light metals comprise a reticular foam having a composition comprising graphite, wollastonite, silica and an alkali phosphate glass. The filters have a low hardness and can readily be machined accurately from large pieces of the filter material. In a preferred embodiment the exterior surfaces of the large pieces of filter are coated with a composition comprising graphite and a binder prior to firing and then machined.

Abstract: Hollow fiber membrane separation elements are improved with respect to fluid flow and contacting by dividing the bundle of hollow membrane fibers in the element into discrete sub-bundles by use of baffles in the module.

Abstract: A pervaporation membrane comprises a porous, preferably microporous support which is filled from its exterior to its interior surface with a solid, non-removable organophilic polymer which exhibits permselective properties. A support so filled with the polymer and at least 20 .mu.m thick, preferably 50 .mu.m to about 200 .mu.m thick, referred to as a "thick" film, will preferentially block out water in which a target component is dispersed, yet allow diffusion of the target component. The polymer is forced through the pores of the support, which pores, before they are filled, provided open fluid communication between the opposed interior and exterior surfaces of the support. Preferably, impregnated polymer exudes through and overflows the pores, spreading upon the opposed surfaces of the porous support, and providing opposed coextensive films on either side of the porous support, the films being interconnected by microtendrils of polymer in the pores and channels of the support.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for continuously removing particles from a flowing liquid and recovering them. In particular, the disclosed preferred embodiment is an application of the invention for the purpose of recovering curd particles from whey in the process of making cheese. The device employs a perforated conduit nested within the conduit bearing the flowing liquid. The liquid passes to the interior of the perforated conduit, leaving the particles moving in a slurry along the outer surface of the perforated conduit. The particle laden slurry encounters a barrier which diverts the flow into a particle recovery pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus and a process for recycling used engine coolant employs a reverse osmosis process for separating ethylene glycol from a concentrate coolant solution. The engine coolant concentrate is pre-filtered through a series of filters and pressurized prior to being passed through a semi-permeable membrane. The membrane separates the feed stream into a permeate solution of ethylene glycol and water and concentrate solution. The concentrate solution is returned to a concentrate tank for continuous circulation through the apparatus. A heat exchanger maintains the temperature of the concentrate solution below a pre-established threshold.

Abstract: The process of making a multilayer membrane composed of a carrier layer, a porous supporting layer and a separating layer includes making a modified polyvinyl alcohol by decomposing a polyvinyl ester or ether until the proportion of the vinyl alcohol monomer units in the modified polyvinyl alcohol corresponds to that in a material consisting of 80 to 95% of the polyvinyl ester or ether and 20 to 5% of a polyvinyl alcohol obtained by completely decomposing the polyvinyl ester or ether; preparing a composite material consisting of the carrier layer and the porous supporting layer, preparing a dilute aqueous solution containing 1 to 10% by weight of the modified polyvinyl alcohol; preferably storing the dilute solution at temperatures from -10.degree. to +10.degree. C., preferably from 0.degree. to 5.degree. C.

Abstract: Photographic emulsions, particularly those produced by a silver halide reaction, are concentrated and, optionally, washed in a 2-stage ultrafiltration system. The system includes a spiral wound ultrafiltration module and a plate and frame ultrafiltration module. Serial use of these two ultrafiltration systems permits the viscosity of the resulting emulsion to be increased, at commercial scale production levels, to a level suitable for curtain coating photographic substrates.

Abstract: A hollow fiber module with at least one bundle of hollow fibers made in a U shape, in which each hollow fiber bundle comprises at least two part bundles of different average lengths, the hollow fibers arranged essentially in the form of layers at least in the region of the bend of the U shape, the layers extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the module, the longitudinal axes of the layers and the longitudinal axis of the module approximately coinciding and the layers forming an angle between them when viewed longitudinally. An apparatus and process for making the hollow fiber module are also disclosed.

Abstract: An annular double ended hollow fiber bundle, a fluid separation apparatus comprising the annular double ended hollow fiber bundle having bores open at both ends of the hollow fibers embedded in the two tubesheets enclosed in a shell having multiple ports, a fluid entrance port, a non-permeate exit port and at least one permeate exit port, wherein said double ended hollow fiber bundle is encased in an essentially impermeable film barrier except for entrance regions situated in selected areas between the tubesheets and to processes for separating fluids mixtures.

Abstract: An apparatus for supercritical fluid extraction incorporates a removable extraction cartridge which in operation has insignificant pressure difference between its inside and outside walls. Because of the low pressure difference, the extraction cartridge need not have the strength to withstand significant pressure and can be made out of molded plastic for disposable use as well as stainless steel and/or machined plastic for reusability. The extraction cartridge can be removed and opened for sample access without the use of tools. The outside of the cartridge can be purged after it is installed in a heated high pressure vessel to remove contamination from its exterior. In one embodiment, the extractor includes a fraction collector fr extractants, an automatic sample changer and an automatic cartridge transfer mechanism which provide completely automated extractions.

Abstract: A composite reverse osmosis membrane composed of a microporous support layer and a thin layer supported thereon, characterized in that the thin layer is made of a crosslinked polyamide which comprises a polyamine component having two or more amino groups in the molecule and an acid component containing a linear aliphatic polyacid halide having two or more halogenated carbonyl groups in the molecule.

Abstract: A process is presented for treating and detoxifying mixed wastes, especially those containing volatile chemically oxidizable organics, nonvolatile inorganics and radioactive pollutants. The process combines an efficient extraction system, a filtration step, and evaporation system to concentrate the pollutants originally present in the mixed waste and a catalytic oxidation reaction to convert the volatilized organic and inorganic pollutants. A condensate product is obtained that is recycled internally to provide a closed system that discharges only inert gases and treated solid products.

Abstract: A process is provided for modifying the properties of a hydrophobic microporous membrane which includes the steps of first providing a hydrophobic microporous membrane, treating it with a surfactant to render the membrane hydrophilic, wetting the membrane with an aqueous solution of a polyol such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and divinyl sulfone (DVS) or a precursor thereof, washing the membrane with water to displace the polyol/DVA from the exterior of the membrane while retaining it in the pores of the membrane, and crosslinking the polyol/DVS into an aqueous gel to yield a hydrophilic microporous membrane having pores filled with an aqueous polyol/DVS gel, the exterior of the membrane being unobstructed by gel. The modified membranes produced according to the process are useful in carrying out chromatographic separations.

Abstract: Aqueous solutions of organic oxygenates, typified by concentrated aqueous solutions of ethanol or isopropanol, are dewatered by pervaporation through a polyimine membrane which has been interfacially cross-linked with a polyisocyanate or a poly(carbonyl chloride).

Abstract: Water to be purified and degassed is passed through a reverse osmosis step which a pure water stream and a high pressure waste water stream are produced. The high pressure waste water is passed through an eductor to produce a vacuum. The pure water stream is passed into a first volume of a degassifier and the vacuum is directed to a second volume of the degassifier. The first and second volume of the degassifier are separated by a hydrophobic membrane.

Abstract: A filter aid material and a method for using same in a filtration system for reclaiming and maintaining coolant oil used in aluminum rolling or working processes are disclosed. The filter aid is a fibrous material which is permeated with an acid material and may be provided in either particulate form as a body feed or as a compressed filter pad. As contamined oil flows through the filter aid, the acid acts chemically to remove aluminum fines and oxides as well as the aluminum portion of contaminating soap in the coolant oil. Use of the filter aid with acid greatly reduces the amount of conventional filter aid previously used and produces a relatively small amount of residual filter aid which can be disposed of by incineration.

Abstract: By ultrafiltration of an aqueous solution wherein there have been formerly dissolved alfa-cyclodextrin and a raw lipidic mixture, the latter characterized in that it contains monosialoganglioside (GMl) either as the sole ganglioside or otherwise in a prevailing quantity over the other associated gangliosides, and after the removal of cyclodextrin at the end of the process, it is obtained GMl with a titer of at least 95%. The present invention concerns also the intermediate complex that it is being formed between the hereabove said monosialoganglioside and alfa-cyclodextrin.

Abstract: A method for the purification of a bifidobacteria-proliferating substance is provided which comprises adjusting the temperature of soybean whey to 50.degree. to 100.degree. C. and the pH thereof to 6.5 to 10 either by adding an alkaline substance to the whey and heating it or by heating the whey and adding the alkaline substance, removing the formed precipitate, ultrafiltering the resulting liquid phase part to obtain as the permeate an aqueous solution of a bifidobacteria-proliferating substance, and if necessary subjecting the permeate to further purification steps, i.e. active carbon or adsorbing resin treatment, electrodialysis and ion exchange resin treatment. By the step of the alkali substance treatment and heating in this invention, permeate flux in the succeeding ultrafiltration step is remarkably enhanced. Further, a bifidobacteria-proliferating substance having a high quality can effectively be obtained by the present purification method.