Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane cartridge wherein a cartridge head and a bottom ring are connected and fixed to each other by means of a plurality of rods or pipes, the hollow portion at the end of each hollow fiber membrane on the cartridge head side is open, the hollow portion at the end of each hollow fiber membrane on the bottom ring side is sealed, and a plurality of through-holes are provided in an adhesion and fixation layer on the bottom ring side and are located in a bundle of the hollow fiber membranes.

Abstract: A method for separating a metal (a) from a metal (2), preferably zirconium from hafnium, which consists in dissolving said metals in an aqueous solution wherein said metals are in a state preventing them from passing through a nanofiltration membrane; treating the aqueous medium with a ligand, for example EDTA, which is complexed with metal (1) and/or metal (2), then in passing the resulting treated medium on a filtering membrane allowing through the ligand-metal complexes, but retaining the metals not complexed with the ligand.

Abstract: A filtering unit, which may be used to filter blood or blood components to remove leukocytes. The filtering unit includes a rigid outer casing connected to a filter medium by an impermeable association means to define two compartments. The association means may be flexible and may be disposed around the filter medium. The filtering unit may additionally include a pre-filter and a post-filter.

Abstract: Pervaporation membranes including poly(acrylamide)-grafted alginate membranes, which may be optimized for the separation of alcohols from water, low viscosity sodium alginate membranes containing PEG and PVA, which may be optimized for the separation of organic acids from water, and copolymeric PAN-grafted PVA membranes, which may be optimized for the separation of DMF from water, and methods of making such membranes. Use of such membranes in pervaporation and pervaporation devices containing such membranes. Use of such membranes alone or in combination with ion-exchange membranes for recovery of organic compounds or for water purification applications such as production of potable water or industrial waste treatment. The membranes of the present invention may be used to remove trace amounts of water from organic compounds.

Abstract: A system for automatically processing blood components is described. The system includes a console, which contains all motors, pumps, sensors, valves and control circuitry, and a unique disposable set that includes a cassette supporting a centrifuge with an improved design, pump interfaces with an improved design, component and solution bags, and tubing. Various processes are implemented using a specific disposable set for each process which allows automatic identification of the process to be performed the console.

Abstract: Cartridges useful in regenerating or purifying dialysis solutions are described as well as methods to regenerate or purify spent dialysis solutions. Dialysis systems using the sorbent cartridges of the present invention are further described.

Abstract: An apparatus is adapted to centrifuge a container for separating a component, such as fibrin monomer, from blood or plasma. The container includes a cylindrical member, and a piston displaceable therein and a tubular piston rod, which extends through a top wall of the cylindrical member. The piston divides the cylindrical member into a first chamber positioned above the piston between the piston and the top wall, and a second chamber positioned below the piston. The apparatus includes a supporting turntable which releasably retains the cylindrical member. The supporting turntable is connected to a first activator for rotating the supporting turntable with the container about the central axis thereof. The apparatus also includes a rotatably journalled piston activating mechanism adapted to activate the piston by a second activator.

Abstract: A plasma- or serum-collecting device with simple structure and easy to handle is provided. The device comprises a vacuum blood drawing tube accommodating a blood-filtering unit, wherein the vacuum tube contains a space above the blood-filtering unit to preserve blood to be filtered and a partition wall under the blood-filtering unit to keep a backspace at reduced pressure, and the blood-filtering unit contains a communicating needle to break the partition wall at the bottom.

Abstract: Novel low pressure reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes and a process for their preparation are disclosed. Polyamide reverse osmosis membranes are contacted with organic sulfonic acid solutions without the need for additional treatment by a rejection enhancing agent. These membranes provide sodium chloride rejections of greater than 20 percent and water fluxes greater than 15 gallons per square foot per day at a test pressure of 75 psi. Optimally treated membranes when tested similarly on 0.2 percent magnesium sulfate provide rejections greater than 95 percent with water fluxes greater than 15 gallons per square foot per day.

Abstract: The present invention includes a membrane construction for selectively transferring a constituent to or from a fluid. The membrane construction includes a multi-layer fluid impermeable support sheet having a plurality of supports on at least one side of the support sheet that form a plurality of flow channels. At least one layer of the multi-layer support sheet is a bonding layer. A fluid permeable layer extends over the flow channels and is bonded to the plurality of the supports by the bonding layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biaxially stretched, laminated, white microporous polyester film, which can be used in a wide range of industrial applications including printing, imaging, advertising and display. The film of the present invention comprises a porous polyester resin layer B containing a thermoplastic resin non-compatible with polyester; a polyester resin-based photic layer A formed on one surface of the resin layer B, the photic layer A having a 60-degree gloss of the surface thereof of more than 100%; and an aphotic layer C formed on the other surface of the resin layer B, the aphotic layer C having a 60-degree gloss of the surface thereof of less than 50%. The total density of the photic layer A and the aphotic layer C is 0.55–1.2 g/cm3. This film has excellent gloss and flexibility so that it is very suitable for use in printing and imaging.

Abstract: In an apparatus for filtering and separating a flow medium by way of membranes disposed in a pressurized housing, which has an inlet for supplying the flow medium to the housing and outlets for discharging the retentate and the permeate from the housing, the membrane structure comprises a central permeate collection and discharge structure to which a plurality of membrane pillows are connected so as to extend therefrom in a spiral pattern and each membrane pillow is in communication with a permeate inlet opening in the permeate collection and discharge structure through which permeate is conducted out of the membrane pillow into the central permeate collection and discharge structure and to the retentate outlet.

Abstract: The invention relates to the area of ceramics and to ceramic multilayer filters, such as used for separating gases. The invention provides ceramic multilayer filters which are more economical to produce. To this end, the inventive ceramic multilayer filters include at least two layers of different particle size, the particle surfaces of all of the ceramic particles being completely or partially perfused with a material and spot and/or surface joints being formed between particles. The invention also provides a method for producing ceramic multilayer filters of this type, according to which slips are produced from at least two ceramic powders of different particle size, the particles of the ceramic powders being perfused with a material or a material in powder form being added to the ceramic slips. One or more layers are formed from the slips and then dried. At least two layers are placed one above the other and/or joined to each other and together are subjected to a temperature increase.

Abstract: A method for membrane filtration of effluent water containing suspended matter reduces membrane clogging and improves filtration capacity of the membrane. The method includes adding a dose of a preselected coagulation reactant to the effluent before the effluent passes over the membrane. The added dose is a fraction of the coagulating reactant dose (X) that would render the zeta potential of the effluent equal to zero. The range of the added dose is X/30-X/80. The suspended matter in the effluent is subjected to the added dose of coagulation reactant for destabilizing the suspended matter.

Abstract: An onboard fuel separation apparatus separates a material fuel (gasoline) into a high-octane fuel having a higher octane value than the material fuel and a low-octane fuel having a lower octane value than the material fuel using a separation membrane which selectively allows high-octane value components (such as aromatic components) permeate through the membrane. The apparatus increases the ratio of the amount of the high-octane value components permeating through the membrane to the amount of the high-octane value components contained in the material fuel by, (A) Controlling the temperature of the material fuel supplied to the membrane (B) Increasing partial pressure of the low-octane value components on the high-octane fuel side of the membrane and removing volatiles from the permeate, and (C) Bypassing volatiles in the material feed around the membrane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a membrane module, comprising a plurality of bar-shaped ceramic filter elements disposed parallel to each other and stretched on the ends of the bay by covers, which extend perpendicular to said bars. Said modules also comprise sealing elements provided in-between the ends of the bars in addition to holes in the covers. The invention is characterized by the following features: initially, the individual sealing element is partially produced by finishing the inner hole thereof intended for surrounding the end of the bar to its final size while the outer surface of the sealing element remains unprocessed so that a sealing blank is formed; the sealing blank is then inserted into a support having outer dimensions in the insertion area corresponding to the mean outer dimensions of all filter elements or a plurality of filter elements.

Abstract: Filters, more particularly to multifunctional filters that are capable of removing as well as adding components to a filtered material are provided by the present invention. In addition to a multifunctional filter, the present invention relates to the use of such a multifunctional filter in an apparatus, to process a filtrate and to the filtrate produced by the process of the present invention.

Abstract: A pre-separator feed well for use with hydrous slurry feed is provided in a hindered-bed separator that includes an elongate body defining an interior space with upper and lower portions. The feed well is elongate and includes a vertically adjustable conical plate adjacent the bottom thereof for control of downward flow of heavy material. The top of the feed well includes an overflow weir including an overflow ring having a plurality of vertical slots through which flows the lighter material onto an overflow weir adjacent an overflow launder and to an outlet pipe. Feed is introduced into the upper portion of the feed well in a tangential manner. A perforated barrier may be mounted below the feed well in some circumstances. Teeter flow is introduced in a lower portion of the separator and flows upwardly. Alternatively, the lower part of the separator can be perforated for heavy/coarse material discharge.

Abstract: A centrifuge system with an externally positioned sensor assembly for detecting the separation of components in a fluid sample, such as platelets in a blood sample. The system includes a centrifuge with a drive portion and a rotor portion with a sample reservoir or centrifuge bag for receiving and containing a fluid sample during rotation of the rotor portion. An external sensor assembly is positioned relative to the centrifuge to direct a radiation beam from a radiation source through the rotor portion and the centrifuge bag and to allow a detector to receive the lower-intensity radiation beams at a location external to the rotor portion. In one embodiment, the rotor portion is fabricated from a transparent material and extends radially outward from the sides of the drive portion to allow the radiation source and detector to be positioned externally on opposing sides of the extending rotor portion.

Abstract: There is disclosed a genetic vaccination device and a process for forming an injection solution therefor, the device comprising a syringe and canula coupled to a membrane adsorber having genetic material adsorbed thereon, and the process comprising eluting the genetic material from the membrane adsorber so as to form an injection solution containing the genetic material.