Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method for reducing the content of organic solvent in an aqueous dispersion of a cellulose-reactive hydrophobing agent, prepared by emulsifying a molten cellulose-reactive hydrophobing agent containing organic solvent in an aqueous solution containing one or more emulsifying agents. The method comprises contacting the aqueous dispersion under agitation with a sorbent, said sorbent having the capacity of absorbing organic molecules, or a gas, whereby the solvent is transferred to the sorbent or the gas.

Abstract: A device for the desalination and conditioning of water, in particular used water from electrical erosion machines, in which two ion exchange columns (2, 3) are connected one behind the other, one of which (2) is filled w cationic exchange resin and the other (3) is filled with anionic exchange resin, the two ion exchange columns (2, 3) being arranged in a common, tightly sealed casing (1), and the connections for the feed line (5) and the discharge line (6) of each column (2, 3) being led out of the casing (1) in a leakproof manner.

Abstract: A self-leveling skimmer attached to a boat is designed to remove a top surface layer of liquid while maintaining a constant position relative to the surface of the liquid layer. While maintaining a constant position relative to the top surface layer of liquid, the device provides for continuous removal of the top surface layer of liquid of a constant thickness regardless of changes in the elevation of the surface of the top liquid layer. The device includes multiple hollow bodies that rotate independently about a shaft. The shaft is situated parallel to the surface of the top liquid layer. Each hollow body has a lengthwise opening. The edge closest to the top surface layer of liquid forms a weir. The weir has a repetitive triangular or V-notch shape. A suction line extends into each hollow body so as to remove the liquid collected therein. Each hollow body is capable of rotating about the shaft.

Abstract: An improved water softening process is provided which also reduces anion content. A first stream of water is passed through an anion-exchange unit to remove undesirable anions and raise the pH. The first stream of water is then provided to reactor/clarifier water softening equipment, where it acts as a source of hydroxyl ions. Preferably a second stream of water which did not pass through an anion-exchange unit is also provided to the water softening equipment. The streams of water are combined and processed through the softening equipment, where hardness ions are precipitated out, yielding softened water with reduced anion content. The anion-exchange system utilized preferably has a counter-current continuous resin train and a counter-current continuous resin regeneration unit.

Abstract: A filtering material for filtering hot water in a shower utilizes ceramic-type calcium sulfite beads, made from a ceramic binder and calcium sulfite, and a copper-zinc media, with the ceramic-type calcium sulfite beads and the copper-zinc media being present in substantially equal volumetric portions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wastewater treatment is provided which can treat persistent surface active agents and coloring substances in wastewater, and which is compact and economical. The wastewater treatment method introduces water to be treated into a charcoal tank 3 packed with charcoal 10 and treats the water therein, the water to be treated having been pretreated in a pretreatment section 2. The water under treatment is introduced from the charcoal tank 3 into an activated carbon tower 6 packed with activated carbon 17 to treat the water therein. Treatment of the water in two stages, namely, treatment by bioactivated charcoal 10 and treatment by bioactivated carbon 17, makes it unnecessary to carry out backwashing of the activated carbon tower 6 and regeneration of activated carbon 17. The service life of the activated carbon can be greatly extended.

Abstract: Incorporation of zirconium, nickel and/or copper into M41S results in selective sorption of bulky organic molecules. Zirconium, nickel and/or copper may be incorporated into M41S by exchange or impregnation.

Abstract: A sterilization mechanism which includes a first conduit extending between a water tank and a sterilization chamber. A heat source operatively coupled with the first conduit converts water from the water tank into steam for sterilizing objects within the chamber. A second conduit extends from the chamber to the tank for recirculating fluids from the chamber back to the water tank.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing and remanufacturing a water treatment device having a media bed includes assembling a housing from a length of open pipe and a pair of end caps. One end cap is secured to each open end of the pipe. At lease two openings are formed at opposite ends of the housing. The housing is charged with media by passing the media through the openings in the housing. A pair of screens are provided in the housing outwardly of the media, and a pair of fittings are provided in the openings outwardly of the screens. The end caps may be permanently secured to the pipe, such as by an adhesive or other known techniques, prior to charging the housing with media. The water treatment device may be charged with media by forming a slurry, made up of the media and a liquid, and passing the slurry through the opening in the pipe. Liquid may then be drawn out of the housing through one of the fittings. At least one of the end caps may include a wall portion which overlaps a portion of the pipe.

Abstract: A method for reducing the toxicity, bioaccumulation and concentration of chemicals in surface water sediments and water using a retrievable organic carbon scavenger is disclosed. The scavenger is comprised of a porous polymeric material, optionally containing an adsorbent such as activated carbon, and may exist in the form of beads, sheets, fibers, netting or other similar forms. The material is placed in contact with the sediment, toxic compounds are absorbed from the sediment, and may be retrieved for regeneration or disposal.

Abstract: In a water purification system for purifying raw water with a first d.c. voltage is applied between a conductive adsorber portion (20) and a primary electrode (27) in the raw water, a second d.c. voltage higher than the first d.c. voltage is applied in place of the first d.c. voltage at intervals between the adsorber portion and the primary electrode to accelerate generation of chlorine from the raw water. The primary electrode is opposite to the adsorber portion with a particular space left therebetween. It is preferable that the adsorber portion is provided with a supplementary electrode (29) which is opposite to the primary electrode so that the particular space is left therebetween.

Abstract: An improvement in a water filter cartridge of the type having a substantially frustoconical vessel member defining a vertical axis and containing a granular purifying agent which is insoluble in water. The vessel member has a screen-like end wall portion at the lower end thereof. A hollow substantially frustoconical cover member is attached to the vessel member and coaxial with the vertical axis thereof. The cover member defines an annular rim portion and a first slanted portion extending upwardly and inwardly from the rim portion, and a substantially flat-topped second portion, the first portion having a multiplicity of vertically oriented water entry flow slots arrayed therearound. The vessel member and the cover member together define a container for receiving and retaining said granular purifying agent therein. A first layer of filtration material is disposed within said vessel member and layered upon said granular purifying agent. The water filter cartridge is for use in a water filtration device.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for treating a photographic effluent with an oxidation catalyst. This catalyst is prepared by forming in situ, in a porous membrane, a cerium derivative. In this way the thiosulfate and organics contents of photographic effluents are reduced.

Abstract: A method for removing arsenic species from an aqueous medium with modified zeolite minerals comprising providing an aqueous medium containing arsenic species in the form of both arsenate and arsenite, contacting the aqueous medium with an iron (II) laden zeolite mineral so that arsenic in the form of at least one of arsenate and arsenite contained in the aqueous medium can be adsorbed onto the iron (II) laden zeolite mineral forming an arsenic adsorbed iron (II) laden zeolite mineral, and separating the arsenic adsorbed iron (II) laden zeolite mineral from the aqueous medium.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for operating a system of two or more fluid treatment units connected in parallel, which fluid treatment units need to be regenerated as they become depleted, whereby a method is provided for determining when to initiate a regeneration and which unit to regenerate as well as an apparatus for implementing the same. The decision when to regenerate is based on the number of fluid treatment units in service and the fractional capacity of each fluid treatment unit in service. The fluid treatment selected for regeneration is the one with the least or nearly the least remaining capacity. The apparatus comprises a plurality of fluid treatment units; control valves to selectively connect each fluid treatment unit to a source of untreated fluid, a destination for treated fluid, and a source of regenerant; and a master controller to automatically implement the method of operation by controlling the valves appropriately.

Abstract: A process is described for using tropical fibers to recover spilled oil, gasoline, kerosene, hydrocarbons, pentachlorophenol, creosote or other hazardous liquids from land or water. The sorbent fiber material is produced from agricultural byproducts from cultivation of banana, plantain, cavendish plant, pineapple, coconut, palm, or other tropical fruit bearing plants. The sorbent fibers are produced by separating the raw plant materials; washing the separated fibers in a solution of 1% alum; pressing the fibers to extract liquids and natural juices; further separating the fibers by beating or agitating; and drying the fibers. The sorbent fibers have a water and natural liquid content of less than 10% by weight and may be applied to the surface or periphery of an oil or chemical spill, whereupon they will sorb the oil or chemical. Once the oil or chemical is sorbed the fibers may be collected and the oil or chemical may be partially recovered by compressing the fibers.

Abstract: An oil retention barrier (1) over which oil cannot splash over when the barrier is hauled in consists of several floating partial cells (8, 15, 16) and several smaller partial cells (7, 21) that are submerged in water, arranged and joined together in such a way that a flow channel (24) is created therebetween. For that purpose, one of the partial cells (15) is positioned in front of the other floating partial cells (8, 16) and joined to the floating partial cell (8) and to the submerged partial cell (9) by spacers (18, 23) that create said flow channel (24). The floating partial cells (8, 15, 16) are filled with waterproofed glass fibers or glass fiber mats, whereas the submerged partial cells (9, 21, 26) are filled with a non waterproofed material, in particular glass fibers. The flow channel (24) prevents banking-up pressure from building up in front of the barrier (1), so that the latter can be hauled in with practically no problems. The oil (4) cannot splash over the barrier nor flow underneath it.

Abstract: Ashes are used when they have the particle size of fly-ash, i.e., when they have just been produced by a combustion process. They can be used, inter alia, for dehydrating and/or stabilizing sewerage plant sludge or sludge from surface treatment plants, for detoxifying liquid, semi-liquid or solid media contaminated by heavy metals and the like, and for removing pollutants from hydrocarbon-containing liquid or semi-liquid media.

Abstract: A method for removing metal contaminates from solution using mercapto-functional silica xerogels. The mercapto-functional silica xerogels are characterized by having a surface area greater than 365 m.sup.2 /g, an average pore diameter of at least 6 nm, and a pore volume of at least 2 cm.sup.3 /g. The mercapto-functional silica xerogels are particularly useful for removing Group VIII metals such as platinum from solutions comprising polyorganosiloxane fluids and resins.

Abstract: For the removal of trace quantities of iodine-containing contaminants from corrosive liquid feed streams, an adsorbent with distinct advantages over prior-art materials is provided. The treatment method involves the use of a metal phthalocyanine compound where the metal selected from the group consisting of silver, mercury, copper, lead, thallium, palladium, or mixtures thereof. Such metals are known to be reactive with the iodine-containing contaminants in the feed stream. Furthermore, the metal phthalocyanine is deposited on a carrier material selected from the group consisting of an activated carbon, a phenolic polymer, and an inorganic refractory metal oxide. Such adsorbent materials have proven substantially insoluble even in corrosive liquid feed streams associated with the invention. Reactivation and regeneration techniques, which are generally incompatible with prior-art adsorbent materials, are also disclosed.