Abstract: A method of treating an animal waste slurry so as to efficiently extract nutrients, and which can be performed in a zero-discharge system, comprises flocculating the slurry, processing, e.g. filtering, the flocculated slurry to separate liquid from solid material, drying the solid material, processing the liquid to extract ammonium, phosphorous and potassium from the slurry, all within 24 hours, and preferably on average within 12 hours, of production of the waste material by animals. Since the urates of potassium and ammonium in the slurry take a few hours to break down, they remain in crystalline form and therefore a larger portion of the total amount of potassium and ammonium in the slurry can be extracted.

Abstract: A method of regenerating an ion exchange resin, comprising the steps of packing a used ion exchange resin in a regeneration tower; and repeating at least twice a step comprising passing an aqueous solution of regenerant through the regeneration tower downward from a top part of the regeneration tower and thereafter passing ultra-pure water through the regeneration tower upward from a bottom of the regeneration tower. This method enables regenerating an ion exchange resin efficiently and homogeneously without mixing of the regenerant into ion exchange resin towers for purification.

Abstract: A sample collection substrate of aerogel and/or xerogel materials bound to a support structure is used as a solid phase microextraction (SPME) device. The xerogels and aerogels may be organic or inorganic and doped with metals or other compounds to target specific chemical analytes. The support structure is typically formed of a glass fiber or a metal wire (stainless steel or kovar). The devices are made by applying gel solution to the support structures and drying the solution to form aerogel or xerogel. Aerogel particles may be attached to the wet layer before drying to increase sample collection surface area. These devices are robust, stable in fields of high radiation, and highly effective at collecting gas and liquid samples while maintaining superior mechanical and thermal stability during routine use. Aerogel SPME devices are advantageous for use in GC/MS analyses due to their lack of interfering background and tolerance of GC thermal cycling.

Abstract: A water filtering device suitable for locally, under atmospheric pressure, purifying contaminated water, and which comprises a container that is provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, which container is provided with at least: a preliminary filtration element for the removal of particles, if present, of a particle size more than 10 micrometers; a filtration element provided with activated charcoal; and an ultrafiltration element.

Abstract: A fluid filtering device includes a plurality of filtering wells and an angling mechanism which adjusts the angle of the membranes within the filtering wells relative to a line of a centrifuge where the line is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of a centrifuge and passes through the center of a major plane of the filtering device. The angling mechanism can include a wedge located between the center of rotation of a centrifuge and a swinging bucket of the centrifuge. The angling mechanism can also be located within each filtering well and can provide individually specified angles for each membrane, relative to the line of the centrifuge.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for treating water is provided including a treatment mode comprising the steps of drawing said water from a pressurized water source through a controlling device to a treating vessel, the water inlet of said treating vessel being substantially at the top of a treating vessel, contacting said water with pressurized air present at the top of said treating vessel to release substantially all hydrogen sulfide and offensive odors present in the water and to dissolve oxygen in the water which reacts with soluble iron in the water to form ferric oxides, flowing the water through a filter bed of calcite mineral to remove substantially all sediment present in the water and to neutralize the ph of the water and to remove substantially all the ferric oxides from the water, the ferric oxides fastening to the calcite minerals and to already fastened ferric oxides, flowing the water to a final media means and to the outlet of the treating vessel.

Abstract: A water purification device that can be inserted into a canteen full of impure water that allows a user to drink purified water directly from the canteen, without the need of a pump. The canteen insert is a multistage purification device that has an inlet section at one end and a canteen insert flange mouthpiece at the other end. After the present purification device has been inserted in the canteen, the user tips the bottom of the canteen upward, holding the flange mouthpiece to their mouth and squeezes gently on the sides of the canteen. This forced gravity action pushes water sequentially through the multiple purification sections of the preferred embodiment and subsequently out of the flange mouthpiece for consumption by the user. The canteen flange mouthpiece can also be replaced by a flute straw mouthpiece that allows the user to withdraw water from the canteen via the straw. The same multiple water purification stages are also used in a straw and an inline purifier embodiment.

Abstract: A continuous Liquid-Solids Circulating Fluidized Bed (LSCFB) preferably for use as an ion exchanger consists of two fluidized bed columns, a fluidized bed adsorber (downer) operating in conventional fluidized bed mode for adsorption of ions of interest and a fluidized bed riser for desorption of ions (operating as a riser fluidized bed) to provide regenerated particles. Ion exchange particles circulate continuously between the riser and the downer i.e. the particles that have adsorbed ions in the absorber pass from the adsorber (downer) to the desorber where they are regenerated and the so regenerated particles are return to the adsorber near the top of the adsorber column. The LSCFB can be used in processes for continuous recovery of the ions of interest.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is a fixed bed ion exchange water purification system. It employs a combination of electronically controlled process steps and specific systems configurations to duplicate the effects of moving resin beds from one operating position to another as is required in moving bed ion exchange water purification systems. The invention combines features of single fixed bed ion exchange systems with those of a moving bed system. The invention applies to the treatment of water having typical industrial and drinking water concentrations of various ions.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a condensate polisher system that comprises a feed water flow that enters one or more deep bed condensate polishers. These deep bed condensate polishers contain ion resin beads that exchange a single ion type, typically cation resin for power generation systems. The feed water passing through the deep bed condensate polishers has a substantial portion, and even all of the cations in solution removed. This produces a semi-purified water flow that is then fed into one or more powdered resin polishers. The powdered resin polishers, which contain mixed powdered ion exchange resins or single type powdered resins depending on the nature of the semi-purified water flow, then finish the purification process on the water, producing a purified water flow.

Abstract: A chelate-forming filter which comprises a filter medium made of natural, regenerated, or synthetic fibers wherein the fiber molecules have, incorporated therein, chelate-forming functional groups represented by general formula (1) [wherein G represents a residue of a chain sugar alcohol or of a polyhydric alcohol; and R represents hydrogen, (lower) alkyl, or -G (wherein G has the same meaning as the above G, and the two G's may be the same or different)] or (3) (wherein R1, R2, and R3 each represents lower alkylene; and n is an integer of 1 to 4).

Abstract: Cost-effective processes and tools used therein are described that decontaminate sludge using remedial water in a closed and environmentally friendly system. Typical contaminants such as toxic metals, microorganisms, and toxic compounds are detoxified or destroyed by one or more remedial water treatments to sludge that is confined to the closed system. The closed system may comprise a covered rail road car, ISO container, or other large space into which the remedial water, and optionally, remedial gas, is applied by injection or other means. In a preferred embodiment, water is electrochemically activated at the site of use and injected through an array of pipes within the container. A large variety of other waters and combinations of water, and even air treatments are particularly useful in combination with the closed system for treating sludge.

Abstract: Process for drying wet F32, which comprises placing a stream of the said F32 in continuous contact with a feed stock of a composition comprising a molecular sieve chosen from a 3A type sieve, at a temperature of between 5 and 78° C. and at a pressure of between 0.5 and 25 atm.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating metal-working fluid comprises: a heating vessel for receiving and holding metal-working fluid for treatment; a heater for heating the metal-working fluid in the heating vessel; an agitator for agitating the metal-working fluid within the heating vessel; an aerator for aerating the metal-working fluid within the heating vessel; and a holding vessel for receiving from the heating vessel and holding treated metal-working fluid. During heating, heated ambient air may be drawn through air inlets and through the fluid agitate and aerate the fluid, thereby ensuring uniform heating and extracting gaseous contaminants. Mist and/or gaseous contaminants may be removed from the airflow prior to its release into the environment. Concentration in the metal-working fluid of at least one metal may be reduced using an using-exchange filter.

Abstract: A water treatment unit for treating water in a reservoir of a coffee maker or a container water treatment system. The water treatment unit has several particulate finely divided water treatment media therein and it includes a housing which has transverse dimensions which are substantially greater than its height to cause the water to flow through the housing and the media therein in a transverse direction. Such transverse flow results in a substantially reduced pressure drop across the media with an increased water flow rate which permits a substantial reduction in size or elimination of one of two water reservoirs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of absorbent materials for separating water from an emulsion comprising water and lipophilic fluid. The methods, systems, and compositions of the present invention expose the emulsion to absorbent materials such that water is absorbed out of the emulsion in order to facilitate the recovery of the lipophilic fluid.

Abstract: A method of coacting a fluid with a media, such as granular particles. The media is moved to an upper portion in an upright media container, and held there during a treatment cycle in which the fluid is coacted with the media. When the media requires regeneration, the media is allowed to fall to a lower portion of the media container where a regeneration fluid is passed through the media.

Abstract: This invention is a liquid separation system using ion exchange resin, adsorbent resin and catalytic resin based on U-tube principle. It is shown that relatively low fluid velocity is sufficient to maintain the resin bed in compacted state during the operation as well as during the regeneration processes so that high quality product, low regenerant consumption, and convenient operation are obtained.

Abstract: Polymeric products which after special cross-linking become macroreticular and acquire the ability to absorb organic solvents and petroleum products which are released in the water, in the amount of 40-80 gram of oily matter/gram of polymer. The macroreticular polymers include polystyrene, trimeric copolymer with styrene, ethylene, butadiene (SEBS) elastomeric SBR with styrene 10%, 20% and 40% fully hydrogenated to saturation, which after special cross-linking in chlorinated solvents with a cross-linking agent forms a thick cross-linked mass which is cut and deodorized. These products are used in a polypropylene net and are swept on the surface of water basins, harbors or the surface of sea to collect the oily matter and the petroleum by endomolecular absorption and by external surface adherence, and the loaded net is washed with petroleum to remove all absorbed oily matter as useful fuel. The net with the absorbing polymers is then ready for reuse.

Abstract: The present invention consists of an apparatus and method for supplying purified water to a faucet or other apparatus for use from a purification loop maintaining water in constant motion. The apparatus allows the user to select and withdraw the amount of water needed in a closely controlled fashion while any unused water remains in the loop where it is continually purified. A control valve with a manually rotatable spool permits the purified water to be adjustably tapped or withdrawn for various end uses.