Abstract: A method for removing low levels of heavy metal from chemical/industrial waste streams containing interfering anions which typically form strong complexes with heavy metals such as uranium utilizes an ion exchange resin having amino-phosphonic functional groups which selectively capture the heavy metal from the chemical waste stream in an efficient manner such that the amount of heavy metal in the waste stream is reduced to sub-ppm levels. After capture, the resin is treated with a sequestering agent, such as a solution of ammonium fluoride or ammonium sulfate, which releases the heavy metal from the resin. The resin is then regenerated with a sodium solution and returned to service. Utilizing ion exchange and a resin containing amino-phosphonic functional groups allows removal of heavy metal to a level of less than or equal to 0.1 ppm which is a substantial reduction in view of the presence of significant quantities of complexing anions in the waste stream.

Abstract: A method for removing contaminants from fluids comprises contacting the fluid with an expanded material selected from popped corn, puffed rice and puffed wheat. The preferred expanded material is popped corn. The method is applicable to a wide range of organic and inorganic contaminants. Examples of contaminants include aromatic compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo furans (PCDFs), polychlorinated dibenzo dioxins (PCDDs), carbamates, sulphonamides, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), other compounds such as carbon disulphide, ethylene glycol and pesticides. Other examples include inorganic compounds or organo-metallic compounds, e.g. those containing aluminum, antimony, barium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, lead, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, silver, tin, titanium, vanadium and zinc.

Abstract: Process for the selective removal of metallic ion and/or ion ammonium impurities from water soluble acid compound comprising the steps of preparing an aqueous solution of the acid compound containing the impurities;contacting the aqueous solution with a cation exchange resin and removing selectively the metal-ion and/or ammonium ion impurities from the solution at condition being effective in the exchange of cations; andwithdrawing an aqueous solution of the acid compound being substantially free of the impurities.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating oxides of heavy isotopes of hydrogen (deuterium oxide, oxides of tritium and mixed isotope oxides) from light water (H2O) which is contaminated with these heavy hydrogen isotopes such as that currently being discharged in cooling water from nuclear power plants. A central aspect of this invention includes a plurality or bundle of elongated hollow core fibers which are positioned within an elongated enclosed housing having a feed water inlet, an exit stream outlet, and a permeate outlet. At least a portion of the hollow core fibers are at least partially filled or packed with small beads which are comprised of a porous exchange resin carrying waters of hydration. Porosity is controlled by the degree of cross-linking and bead diameter of the exchange resin which is preferably combined with aluminum sulfate or ammonium hydride to form (RSO.sub.3).sub.3 Al or RSO.sub.3 NH.sub.4.

Abstract: A method to remove heavy metals concentrations in water down to very low levels is described. The method calls for the addition of a soluble sulfide to the water. This is followed adding a soluble iron reagent such as ferrous sulfate or ferrous chloride. The water is aerated. As an alternative to aeration, the pH of the water can be increased. Finally, the solids generated from the above steps are separated from the water. This method has been shown to remove heavy metals, particularly copper and zinc, from actual industrial wastewater to very low concentrations, i.e., below about 100 ppb. Furthermore, the treated water is free of sulfide. The byproduct sludge comprises iron sulfide, iron oxides, iron hydroxides, and the heavy metal sulfides.

Abstract: A composition of matter is provided in which a phosphonic acid or phosphonic acid ester group is linked through a thioether residue to a silicon atom which is further covalently bonded to a solid inorganic support. The compositions can be employed to selectively separate metal ions having high cationic charge from a solution containing lower-charged cations, and also to selectively separate highly charged cations having a relatively high charge density from cations having the same charge, but a lower charge density.

Abstract: A filter assembly for use with a bottle having a circular cross-section neck or open end includes a fine filtration media having a mean pore size of about 1-3 microns and capable of removing contaminants of 3-4 micron size and larger, and an inner filtration media disposed radially inward of the fine filtration media. The inner filtration media includes activated carbon, preferably a porous activated carbon/plastic matrix having a porosity of between about 10-150 microns. The outer housing contains the fine filtration media and the inner filtration media, and is dimensioned to pass through the neck or open end of the bottle. The fine filtration media preferably comprises sheets on opposite faces of a microfiber filter media formed of glass microfibers of varying cross-sectional diameters, with the fine filtration media in a pleated or accordion configuration. A filter assembly may also be provided having a spring pressed straw.

Abstract: Phosphates and chromates are selectively removed from contaminated water by a new class of sorbent, referred to as a Polymeric Ligand Exchanger (PLE). The exchanger bed comprising a styrene-divinylbenzene or polymethacrylate matrix having an electrically neutral chelating functional group with nitrogen or oxygen donor atoms, and a Lewis-acid type metal cation, such as copper, bonded to the chelating functional group in a manner that the positive charges of the metal cation are not neutralized. PLEs are very selective toward phosphates and chromates, chemically stable, and also amenable to efficient regeneration.

Abstract: A filtering device for removing contaminants from fluids, comprising a container having an interior chamber with a volume, at least one inlet, at least one outlet and at least one substantially non-granular material adhering outlet filter and at least one type of granular material occupying about 20 percent to about 67 percent of the volume of the container, the granular materials being agitated by the fluid entering the chamber through the inlet and exiting the chamber through the outlet with the outlet filter preventing the granular media from escaping the container, whereby the contaminants being removed from the fluid by the fluid agitating the granular materials and the contaminants are kept within the outlet screen.

Abstract: A liquid deionizing twin bed apparatus of the type used in conjunction with a pressure vessel having an inlet for receiving untreated ionized liquid and an outlet through which the treated deionized liquid exits the vessel. The apparatus is comprised of at least one liquid permeable container having an anionic exchanger bed containing materials adapted to absorb one type of charged particle from the fluid and also having a cationic exchanger bed containing materials to absorb oppositely charged particles from the liquid flowing therethrough. The anionic and cationic beds are positioned in series in the liquid permeable container relative to fluid flow therethrough and the liquid permeable container is adapted to be removably housed within the vessel for removing spent anionic and cationic materials and replacing spent anionic and cationic materials by inserting a new liquid permeable container having unspent anionic and cationic materials into the vessel.

Abstract: Oil is separated from an aqueous mixture by first feeding the oil-water mixture into a separation tank and allowing the mixture to separate by gravity so that the oil rises to the surface, forming a layer above the aqueous phase; then removing the layer of oil from the surface. The lower aqueous phase, typically containing residual oil in emulsified form, is removed through an outlet near the bottom of the tank and transferred to a second tank, forming a pool therein. The water is removed from the second tank by the action of an air-operated pump through a float-controlled ball valve to an external filter for removal of residual oil.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an absorbent comprising at least one cycloolefin copolymer which contains polymerized units which are derived from at least one cyclic and at least one acyclic olefin.

Abstract: A method for resolving sludge/emulsion formed as a result of acidization of oil and gas wells comprising the steps of adding an iron-control chemical in an amount sufficient to prevent the formation of insoluble iron compounds, and adding a water-dispersible emulsion breaker in an amount sufficient to separate the sludge/emulsion into clean oil and water. Further treatment of the waste water with water clarifiers, settling vessels and passing it through a macroreticular resin results in water that is at least less than 29 mg/L total oil and grease for overboard discharges from offshore facilities.

Abstract: This multi-phase extraction apparatus has at least two chambers 1, 2, which are connected at their upper and lower parts by connection channels 4, which are equipped with dispersing devices 3, and which have nozzles 12, 13, 15, 16 for the feeding and discharge of a first and a second disperse phase. Separation zones 7, which are equipped with coalescence-promoting packings 8, are situated in the region of the mouths of the connection channels 4 leading into the chambers 1, 2. In addition, the connection channels 4 can also be equipped with coalescence-promoting packings 9.

Abstract: A two-chamber fluid control valve for a water softener system is provided. The valve includes a primary chamber having a primary inlet for passage of a primary fluid into the primary chamber and a primary outlet for passage of fluid out of the primary chamber, and a primary valve member disposed for closing the primary outlet. The valve also includes a secondary chamber having a secondary inlet and a secondary outlet fluidly communicating with, and for passing the secondary fluid into, the primary chamber, and a secondary valve member disposed for closing the secondary outlet to prevent the passage of air out of the secondary chamber and into the primary chamber, whereby primary and secondary fluids can be combined in the primary chamber prior to flowing out of the primary outlet of the primary chamber. The valve allows a homogeneous brine/secondary chemical solution to be formed therein and fed to a water softener tank to regenerate and treat the tank and the ion exchange medium therein.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel intermittent slow sand filter and a method of using the intermittent filter. More particularly, this invention pertains to a novel slow sand filter which remains effective, even when intermittently operated, and which can be periodically cleaned without disturbing the action of the intermittent filter.

Abstract: The hydrophilic organic contaminants and hydrogen peroxide present in semiconductor fabrication reclaims are removed by means of adsorption of a pyrolysate of a macroreticular sulphonated vinyl-aromatic polymer having a carbon content of at least 85% by weight and a carbon/hydrogen atomic ratio of from 1.5:1 to 20:1. In spite of their hydrophobic surface, the pyrolysates have a comparatively high adsorptivity for these contaminants and provide for distinctively higher removal rates than customary activated carbons.

Abstract: Conventional regenerative adsorptive methods for the purification of waters of organic constituents are limited in their application, when owing to a low content of organic water constituents the loading of the adsorbers is so low that the condensed water vapor desorbate no longer has a tendency to form two phases, or when the organic components are readily water-soluble and thus, following desorption with water vapor, can be separated only with difficulty out of the condensed desorbate. The process of the invention improves the tendency toward phase separation by cycling back the aqueous phase of the desorbate onto a loaded adsorber prior to its desorption in order to increase the loading and reduce, through additional supply of external heat, the required amount of water vapor for desorption. The present process is particularly useful for purification of industrial process waters or ground water.

Abstract: The invention has compositions of matter and process aspects.The compositions of matter aspects relate to a class of new organic compounds, viz., intermediates which are sulfur and nitrogen containing hydrocarbons covalently bonded to trialkoxysilane and those intermediates covalently bonded to a solid inorganic support such as silica.The process aspect comprises two processes, viz., (1) a process for making the new class of compounds, and (2) the process of removing and/or concentrating certain ions such as noble metal ions and other transition metal ions, from solutions thereof admixed with other ions which may be present in much higher concentrations by forming a complex of the desired ion(s) with a compound as stated, e.g., by flowing the solution through a column packed with the compound, breaking the complex, e.g., by flowing a receiving liquid through the column to remove the desired ion(s) in solution in the receiving liquid and recovering the desired ion(s) from the receiving liquid.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a process for the selective separation of morpholine from an aqueous solution containing morpholine, N-methylmorpholine and N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide, characterized by the following steps:(A) passing said aqueous solution over a cation exchanger capable of adsorbing morpholine in such an amount until it cannot be charged substantially with morpholine any more and an eluate substantially free from morpholine but containing N-methyhnorpholine and N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide is obtained, and(B) regenerating the cation exchanger charged with morpholine and reusing it in step (A).