Abstract: A method for recovering an uncrosslinked synthetic resin waste including dissolving the uncrosslinked synthetic resin waste in a solvent containing, as an active ingredient, one or more oxyisobutyric acid esters selected from an alkyl .alpha.-alkoxyisobutyrate, an alkyl .beta.-alkoxyisobutyrate and an alkyl .alpha.-hydroxyisobutyrate. This invention provides a method for recovering a plastic waste by using a highly safe solvent which is free from the problems encountered in the conventional methods with the use of aromatic hydrocarbons or halogenated hydrocarbons, and comprises non-halogen solvents, forms no substance causing environmental problems, has a high ability to dissolve plastic wastes, has neither toxicity nor any offensive odor, is not accumulated in nature because of its high biodegradability, and has a relatively high boiling point.

Abstract: A closed system for reclaiming ink, solvent, and water from waste lithographic ink, or other ink types, without generating hazardous by-products is disclosed. The recycling process is performed under vacuum conditions on standard equipment, such as an agitation station, an evaporator chamber, a grinder, a condensation tank, and a vapor exhaust recovery condenser, readily available in the ink industry. Waste ink containing ink solids, solvent, water, and possibly foreign material such as debris, lint, paper, and dust, is first mixed to create a homogeneous slurry mixture of the ink, solvent, water and foreign materials. Next, water and solvent is evaporated from the slurry mixture and collected so that it may condensate and then settle. The slurry mixture is ground and heated up in order to evaporate any remaining water and solvent from the slurry.

Abstract: The invention relates to an extraction process which comprises adding a primary solvent to a first solution containing a solute dissolved in a native solvent. The primary solvent is added in an amount sufficient to form a single-phase mixture comprising said primary solvent, said native solvent and said solute. Thereafter a modifier is added to the single-phase solution. The modifier is miscible with either the primary solvent or the native solvent and serves to reduce the miscibility of the primary solvent with the native solvent so as to form a two-phase mixture. The two phases are allowed to separate into one phase rich in the native solvent and a second phase rich in the primary solvent and solute. Finally, the solute is separated from the solvent-rich phase. The process is particularly useful for separating products of fermentation from fermentation broths or other systems which are sensitive to high temperatures or which tend to form emulsions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving reverse osmosis, microfiltration, nanofiltration and ultrafiltration, produces Dean vortices against a membrane surface which is advantageously in a form of a wound helical membrane tube.

Abstract: A dead-end filtration unit without a housing comprising at least one filter cassette, each cassette comprising a plurality of laminar sections of porous adsorptive membrane, which have been rendered fluid-impermeable on their peripheries, the cassettes being sealingly compressed between two filter retainers fitted with feed inlet and permeate outlet and wherein the laminar sections are made of the same or different membrane adsorber types.

Abstract: Inorganic membranes such as zeolite membranes or other molecular sieve membranes can be provided by using siliconee, polymer material as starting material. A thin film zeolite membrane or a thin film membrane formed of interlocking zeolite crystals can be provided. Water soluble or water insoluble silicones can be treated in a basic solution under conditions and with an appropriate structure directing template, suitable aluminum content and at a temperature that is appropriate for growing a desired inorganic crystal framework. Heteroatoms can be included in the crystalline framework.

Abstract: Articles having a complex geometric configuration have hydrophilicity imparted to at least a portion of surfaces of the articles while substantially retaining the complex geometric configuration. The hydrophilicity is imparted by an extremely thin, self-interlocking shell of tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) enveloping the surfaces. A tactic poly(vinyl alcohol) precursor applied to surfaces of the supporting structure is reacted in situ on the surfaces with a hydrolysis reagent to prepare the tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) shell. The article having the hydrophilic shell is highly resistant to solvent washout. Hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity can be reversibly provided on regio-specific surfaces of the article. Articles in the form of membranes useful as residue barriers for electroplating devices, and separators for electrochemical cells are also described.

Abstract: A compressed adsorbent filter cake for removing caffeine from liquids. The filter cake is composed of a compressed matrix of fibrous material; and adsorbent particulate material integrated within the compressed matrix of fibrous material, so that passage of a liquid having a caffeine concentration ranging from about 20 to about 100 mg per 100 mL of liquid through the matrix for a contact time of less than about 2 minutes results in at least a 40 percent reduction in the caffeine concentration of the liquid. The compressed matrix of fibrous material may a compressed wet-laid fibrous mat. The adsorbent material may be selected from clay minerals and zeolites. Generally speaking, the filter can be adapted to provide at least a 40 percent reduction in the caffeine concentration for about 1 cup to about 40 cups of a liquid.

Abstract: An extraction column includes: one or several vertically aligned stages; fittings for inletting a phase containing a component that is desired to be extracted; fittings for inletting an extracting phase; and fittings for outletting the two phases after treatment in the column. Each stage includes two volumes, an internal one inside an outer one in fluid communication with each other via an intermediate volume. The internal volume is intended to cause mixing between the phase containing the component that is desired to be extracted, and the extracting phase. The outer volume is intended to cause the reseparation of the two phases, the one from the other after the mixing happens. The two fittings, the one high, the other low, for the two phases after their separation, are arranged in a calm zone. There is also a device for adducing the two phases from the outlet fittings of the reseparation volume to a subsequent treatment stage.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing cellulose membranes in the form of flat films, tubular films, or hollow filaments with improved biocompatibility, cotton fibers, in particular linters, are treated in alkaline liquor in a single-stage process with gaseous molecular oxygen. In addition, the invention relates to cotton fibers prepared in this manner, especially linters, membranes made therefrom, and their use for hemodialysis.

Abstract: There are disclosed a material for medical use comprising two sheets of collagen membrane adhered to each other with an adhesive and having interposed therebetween a mesh-like intermediary material, wherein the mean pore size of the mesh-like intermediary material is between 100 and 2000 .mu.m; and a process for preparing a material for medical use comprising (a) laminating with an adhesive two sheets of a collagen membrane having a mesh-like intermediary material interposed therebetween; (b) maintaining the resulting laminated material under a reduced pressure so that the two sheets of collagen membrane are adhered to each other through the mesh-like intermediary; and (c) cross-linking the laminated material.

Abstract: The invention relates to bis-crown calix[4]arenes, their preparation process and their use for the selective extraction of cesium and actinides. Bis-crown calix[4]arenes are in accordance with the formula: ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 respectively represent X(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 X).sub.m and X(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 X).sub.n with X.dbd.O, NH and/or N(CH.sub.3), m and n=3, 4, 5 or 6, or X (C.sub.2 H.sub.4 X).sub.p/2 XY(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 X).sub.p/2 with p=2 or 4 and Y=cycloalkylene or arylene. These bis-crown calix[4]arenes, whose benzene nuclei are optionally substituted by alkyl groups, can be used as an extracant, e.g. in the form of a liquid membrane, for separating cesium from acid solutions containing sodium in a large quantity compared with the cesium quantity, e.g. effluents of irradiated fuel reprocessing plants.

Abstract: A solid/liquid process for the separation and recovery of TcO.sub.4.sup.-1 ions from an aqueous solution is disclosed. The solid support comprises separation particles having surface-bonded poly(ethylene glycol) groups; whereas the aqueous solution from which the TcO.sub.4.sup.-1 ions are separated contains a poly(ethylene glycol) liquid/liquid biphase-forming amount of a dissolved salt. A solid/liquid phase admixture of separation particles containing bound TcO.sub.4.sup.-1 ions in such an aqueous solution that is free from MoO.sub.4.sup.-2 ions is also contemplated, as is a chromatography apparatus containing that solid/liquid phase admixture.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for improving the color of trimethylolpropane (TMP) by extracting color-causing impurities generated in the reaction to produce TMP. This improved color TMP is characterized by a reduced acid wash color and phthalic anhydride color--color measurement tests commonly used in the industry for assessing product quality and suitability of the TMP for certain color sensitive end-uses.

Abstract: The invention concerns a filter material particularly useful in the manufacture of tea bags, coffee bags, coffee filters and the like. The filter material includes an at least two layer non-woven substrate material wherein the two layers are essentially planar and superimposed, one layer is composed of natural fibers and one layer is composed of synthetic fibers. The synthetic fiber layer includes a plurality of individual plastic fibers which are deposited in a heated state on the natural fiber layer. The plastic fibers fuse with each other and also fuse with the natural fibers of the other layer. The filter material provides the particular advantage, due to the deposition of the individual plastic fibers on the natural fibers, of covering or closing a large number of pores or ducts in the natural fiber layer.

Abstract: A water purification and dispensing apparatus comprises a water inlet for obtaining water from a supply source and a water purification system with filters for removing impurities from the source water to produce purified water. The water purification system is designed to respond to a demand condition for purified water by recirculating purified water in the apparatus to flush the filters of the water purification system. The apparatus also includes a mineralization system and has a dispensing system for dispensing the mineralized purified water into containers.

Abstract: A membrane comprised of a graft copolymer includes a base component and a copolymer component. The base component includes a first polymer with a repeating unit: ##STR1## wherein m=0.1-0.9, n=0.9-0.1, p=0.03-0.04, R.sub.1 can be a linear, branched or cyclic C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 hydrocarbon radical, R.sub.2 can be a linear, branched or cyclic C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 hydrocarbon radical, and at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical with a terminal C.dbd.C double bond. The base component can include a second polymer with C.dbd.C double bonds located in the main chain and/or a side chain. The second polymer has a repeating unit: ##STR2## wherein m=n; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are identical or different; and 10 to 100% of R.sup.1 and/or R.sup.2 have a C.dbd.C double bond.

Abstract: A filter material for removing chlorine from cold water used in preparing a human-consumable beverage having at least one layer of a mat of laid fibers of cellulosic fibers and synthetic textile fibers and mixtures thereof. A synthetic hydrophilic, food-grade latex binder deposited onto the fibers within the mat in an amount sufficient to so bind the fibers together within the mat that during a filtration of cold water through the mat no substantial amount of fibers are displaced therefrom and in an amount insufficient to substantially reduce a gravity flow rate of cold water through the mat to less than about 0.3 liter per minute per 100 square centimeters of the mat. A water-insoluble chlorine adsorbent or absorbent solid powder disposed on the binder such that no more than 65% of the total outside surface area of the powder is substantially contacted by the binder.

Abstract: A process for recovering a halocarbon from a liquid waste slurry containing the halocarbon admixed with one or more contaminants using countercurrent or co-current extraction is described.

Abstract: A cylindrical central high-strength pipe, normally a custom extrusion of PVC, mounts caps, preferrably of high-strength Rhinite.TM. plastic, at both ends so as to create an interior reservoir that is capable of being pressurized to a working pressure of 230 P.S.I. and a burst pressure in excess of 600 P.S.I. Each end cap, permanently affixed to the pipe end by gluing, includes a cylindrical outer sleeve extending beyond the pipe end and presenting in its extension a circular interior groove. A circular plug, again preferably made from Rhinite.TM. plastic, is inserted into the sleeve extension to form a pressure tight seal against a circular gasket, preferably a robust one eight inch (1/8") thickness "O"-ring. A retaining ring, preferably made of Delrin.TM. plastic, that is expandable and contractible in circumference is inserted in the circular interior grove of the sleeve and against the plug, therein to make that the reservoir is capable of being pressurized.