Abstract: A modular water treatment apparatus is provided for soft drink postmix dispensers. The apparatus includes a basic filter unit and additional modules selected from booster pump, UV treatment, and ion exchange modules as needed to match situs water problems determined water testing. A control module has microcontroller based circuitry which provides apparatus monitoring and control. Disabling and warning alarms are generated for predetermined apparatus conditions on a priority basis. A hand-held controller can be coupled to the control module to provide an operator interface for entry and readout of data on the basis of key entries.

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: An ion exchange system for use in purifying sweetener solutions manufactured in a corn wet milling plant and a method of operating the system. The sweetener solution is passed under pressure through a plurality of ion exchange unit pairs configured to operate in both a parallel and series configuration. This configuration and method of operation has resulted in increased hydraulic capacity, a reduction in system operating pressures, an increased efficiency of impurity adsorption and an increase in the time between regeneration cycles.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for dechlorinating water being discharged from a chlorinated water supply system. The water flows through a housing interior and impacts a container having openings therein. The container contains dechlorinating tablets and the tablets gradually erode under the force of water during discharge to dechlorinate the water.

Abstract: A two-chambered water softener tank with a bi-directional valve for controlling the flow of water between the chamber for use with a water softener is disclosed. The tank includes an outer shell, an upper chamber located within the outer shell containing a redox medium, a lower chamber located within the outer shell and beneath the upper chamber that contains an ion exchange resin, a first port allowing water to flow into the upper chamber, a second port allowing water to flow into the lower chamber, and a third port for allowing water to flow between the upper chamber and lower chamber. The water softener tank also includes a bi-directional valve engageable with the third port for regulating flow of water through the third port from the upper chamber to the lower chamber during service of the water softener and from the lower chamber to the upper chamber during regeneration of the water softener. The bi-directional valve remains open as water flows from the upper chamber to the lower chamber.

Abstract: Adsorptive separation is performed on liquid media by directing the media containing a target substance through an adsorber stage A whereby the target substance is adsorbed; in the last phase of loading stage A and prior to breakthrough of the target substance in the stage A permeate, the stage A permeate is directed to a second adsorber stage B. Upon completion of the stage A loading, the target substance from stage A is eluted with buffer solution, which buffer solution is introduced to stage B, and liquid medium is directed to the preloaded stage A, while stage A is eluted so as both recover the target substance and regenerate the adsorptive capacity of stage A.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a granular carrier and a method for producing the same, and to an apparatus for treating sewage or waste water by using the granular carriers. The granular carrier comprises a tire powder of 100 parts by weight, an EVA or its derivative of 30 to 50 parts by weight, and an activated carbon or inorganic micropowder equivalent thereto of 5 to 15 parts by weight. The granular carriers producing method comprises the steps of: mixing a tire powder of 100 parts by weight and an EVA or resin of 30 to 50 parts by weight, resolving the EVA or its derivative of the mixture at a temperature of 100 to 250° C., bonding an activated carbon to the tire powder, extruding the mixture, cutting the mixture extruded, and attaching the activated carbon powder to the EVA or its derivative dissolved on the surface of the cut part of the mixture. The sewage or waste water treatment apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A water softener and a method of operating the same are provided to allow for the efficient use of either NaCl or KCl as the regenerant salt. A user interface is provided to allow the user to indicate to the computer controlling the water softener whether NaCl or KCl is being used. The computer controller adjusts the fill time and brine time, depending on the type of regenerant salt used and on the temperature of the brine.

Abstract: By regulating separation system's relative parameters, this broad and generalized separation process is disclosed to distinguish the fundament between this invention and chromatography for superior cost-effectiveness. A different mass transfer contacting method and differential set-up between two phases are applied on the disclosed apparatus to achieve purposed efficiency. This continuous separation process can be furnished as the integration of multiple partial fluidized beds or cells; operated under designated pressure level to instantaneous and simultaneous proceeding of determined mass-transfer phenomena. All zones within the process are simultaneously proceeded to isolate one product or multiple products from feed mixtures with other proceeding zones of feeding, impurity stripping, regeneration and washing. The differential mass transfer contact method is disclosed for efficient consumption of both solid phase and mobile phase.

Abstract: A water treatment system including a bottle with a neck, a tube for disposition within the bottle and having water treatment material (such as activated carbon for removing a significant portion of the chlorine in tap water) associated with it, and a cap. The bottle is filled by causing water to flow through the tube, through the water treatment material, into the bottle. When filled, the bottle neck is closed off by screwing the cap into contact with the neck, the cap closing off the tube so that water does not flow through the tube out of the bottle, but rather exteriorly of the tube through openings in a cap first element and between the tube and the neck. A second element of the cap releasably closes off the water flow openings.

Abstract: There are provided a method and an apparatus for removing electrostatic charges from high resistivity liquid. An insulating film is formed on the surface of a conductive element which is in contact with the high resistivity liquid wherein the insulating film has such a thickness that a tunneling current may flow through the insulating film, thereby preventing the highly purified high resistivity liquid from being contaminated, as well as from becoming acid. Thus, objects to be treated with the high resistivity liquid become free of electrostatic charges without any contamination.

Abstract: A process for the removal of ethers and/or PAH's from water, such as contaminated groundwater, is provided that proceeds by initially separating off solid constituents and then adsorbing ethers and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to an adsorber resin, then, as needed, desorbing the adsorbed compounds with steam and regenerating the adsorber resin with an acid, to provide purification of highly polluted groundwater to such a substantial extent that the groundwater can be added to flowing surface waters without problem, and, if desired, used as cooling water or, after further biological purification, as drinking water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing chlorate ions from solutions by means of catalytic treatment in the presence of hydrogen. According to the invention a rhodium and/or platinum catalyst is used. The choice of catalyst carrier depends on the amount of coadsorbents contained in the solution. The carrier material, which may be oxidic or non-oxidic, should also be easily wettable.

Abstract: A method (20) for using a weak acid resin (30) to remove dissolved metal from an aqueous-based stream (36), includes reneutralizing the weak acid resin (30) a plurality of times before regeneration of the weak acid resin (30) to remove the taken-up metal. The present method (20) allows up to 30 times greater volumes of water to be run through the same weak acid resin (30) before regeneration with acid is required, and also inherently adjusts the pH of the effluent (40) to an acceptable level of between about 6 and 9.

Abstract: To bring maximum sterility in a stationary drinking water supply installation with a water tank, the invention provides a method for filling a drinking water installation in which, after filling a tank with fresh water, the water is circulated at least over a filter. The invention also provides an apparatus for drinking water supply from a drinking water tank with a supply pipe connectable to a fresh water source and which has a three-way valve (6) with an inlet (4) connected to the fresh water intake (3), as well as a second inlet (22) and a supply pipe (5) leading to the tank (2). There is also a return pipe (21) leading from the water tank (2) to the second inlet (22) of the three-way valve (6) and a circulating pump (9) in the water circuit formed by the return pipe (21) and supply pipe (5).

Abstract: The present invention discloses a device for removing chlorine from chlorinated potable water. The device contains a chlorine adsorptive material selected from the group consisting of cellulose, activated carbon, or activated carbon with an enhanced adsorptive capacity for chlorine. A method for enhancing the adsorptive affinity of activated carbon for chlorine in potable water is also disclosed. By pretreating ordinary activated carbon with one of several agents, including potassium iodide, ammonium carbonate and ammonium sulfate, the activated carbon, which is minimally active for chlorine reduction, is rendered highly active and able to be applied in much smaller quantities than presently known in the art. Also disclosed is the use of activated carbon in zero-pressure-drop devices instead of filters requiring a pressure differential.

Abstract: The process of the present invention comprises the steps of (a) a step of dissolving a condensed tannin powder in an aqueous alkaline solution, (b) a step of admixing an aqueous aldehyde solution with the aqueous solution obtained in the step (a), (c) a step of adding the aqueous solution obtained by the above step (b) to a hydrophobic solvent containing a polyether type nonionic surfactant under heating and stirring to disperse the aqueous solution in the form of droplets in said hydrophobic solvent and (d) evaporating water components from the above-mentioned droplets to form a spherical and gelled insoluble tannins. Water content of the gel can be widely controlled as 5 to 90% as compared with the conventional adsorbent and the network structure and molecular space are changed depending on the size of the metal ion to be adsorbed so that a gelled insoluble tannin which can increase an adsorption capacity of metals can be obtained.

Abstract: A method and device for removing pollution from polluted water, consisting of a rod on which are mounted an array of spaced magnesium plates and an array of spaced copper plates. The copper plates are in contact with the magnesium plates. Polluted water passing through the plates results in precipitates of the pollutants which can be mechanically removed.

Abstract: A filter media support system that reduces media clogging and head loss in granular filtration systems by providing a layered porous plate. The porous plate can have multiple layers of fine sized and coarse sized pores. The porous plate is positioned between the media and the filter bottom. The filter media support system is securely anchored to the infrastructure of the underdrain system thereby inhibiting media penetration of the filter bottom and avoiding seal failures. The infrastructure can be air lateral piping fitted beneath the underdrain blocks of the support system. The anchors can be secured to pipe clamps circumscribing the air laterals.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated methods for purifying water are provided.