Abstract: The present technology relates to control systems for use with fluid treatment systems. In one embodiment, for example, a fluid treatment system includes a vessel configured to receive a fluid having one or more constituents and to separate one or more constituents from the fluid. The system can also include a tube extending along at least a portion of the vessel and a sensor. The tube can be in fluid communication with a pressurized air source, and the sensor can be configured to obtain a measurement of an operating parameter. The system can also include a controller in communication with the sensor and pressurized air source. The controller can execute one or more algorithms to determine a filter parameter based on the measurement of the operating parameter, compare the filter parameter to a threshold, and, based on the comparison, activate or deactivate the pressurized air source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of fabricating an organic structure directing agent-free CHA type zeolite membrane and a membrane fabricated thereby, and more particularly to a method of fabricating a continuous CHA type zeolite membrane, which exhibits CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 separation performances comparable with those of conventional membranes, in a cost-effective manner without a calcination process by hydrothermal synthesis using an alkali metal hydroxide without using an organic structure directing agent, and to a membrane fabricated thereby.

Abstract: A desalination system includes a feed pump having an inlet side and an outlet side. In addition, the system includes a first RO stage having an inlet, RO permeate outlet and RO concentrate outlet. Further, the system includes a second RO stage having an inlet, RO permeate outlet and RO concentrate outlet and an NF stage having an inlet, NF permeate outlet and an NF concentrate outlet. The system also includes a set of conduits adapted to connect: (a) the outlet side of the feed pump to the inlet of the first RO stage; (b) the concentrate outlet of the first RO stage to (i) the inlet of the second RO stage and to the inlet of the NF stage; and (c) the permeate outlet of the first RO stage, the permeate outlet of the second RO stage and the permeate outlet of the NF stage either directly or indirectly to a low salinity water injection line.

Abstract: A surface-modified filter membrane for filtering blood, in particular for separating blood plasma and blood serum, and a method for the production thereof, a filter provided therewith and the use thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for filtration and/or dilution of fluids, in particular for the dialysis of blood. The systems comprise a filter device (10) having a fluid chamber (18) and comprising a first lid (20) having arranged thereon a first fluid port (22). The filter device (10) further comprises a second lid (30) having arranged thereon at least a second fluid port (32). The filter device (10) further comprises a plurality of hollow fibers (40) arranged within the housing (12), wherein each of the plurality of hollow fibers (40) comprises a semi-permeable membrane and defines a fluid channel extending longitudinally through an interior of the respective hollow fiber (40). Also, the filter device (10) comprises a fourth fluid port (50) and a fifth fluid port (52) both provided at the fluid chamber (18).

Abstract: Many processes generate wastewater streams rich in sulfate and chloride. These salt components are traditionally not recovered and are discharged to the environment. The invention recovers pure water for recycle/reuse and simultaneously generates valuable pure salts of NaCl and Na2SO4 for beneficial reuse, eliminating the waste stream. Process consists of the sequential crystallization of salt products with an intermediate purification step in which a chemical reactant is added to elevate levels of purity. The process is configured to simultaneously achieve zero liquid discharge.

Abstract: A sample purification system includes a container assembly bounding a sample purification compartment and having an upper end and an opposing lower end, the sample purification compartment comprising mixing zones and settling zones. A plurality of shielding elements are positioned within the sample purification compartment so as to at least partially separate adjacent mixing zones and settling zones or separate adjacent mixing zones, the mixing zones being in fluid communication with the settling zones. A mixing element is disposed within each mixing zone. An acoustic wave settler is aligned with a portion of the container assembly, the acoustic wave settler being configured to emit an acoustic wave through the portion of the container assembly and a mixture disposed therein, the acoustic wave coalescing fluid phase droplets disposed in the mixture to increase the buoyancy or density of the fluid phase droplets.

Abstract: A method for processing a blood sample is provided that can improve the recovery rate of deformable rare cells that would easily pass through a filter and small rare cells while reducing the filtration area of the filter, and that can recover the rare cells alive.

Abstract: A composite liquid filtration platform including a composite filtration medium featuring an electrospun polymeric nanofiber layer collected on a porous membrane. When in use, the porous membrane acts as a prefilter used upstream from the polymeric nanofiber layer to remove particles from a liquid stream flowing through the composite filtration structure. The nanofiber layer, positioned downstream from the porous membrane, is used as the retentive layer for critical filtration to provide biosafety assurance, and is responsible for capturing microorganisms like bacteria, mycoplasma or viruses. The composite liquid filtration platform provided herein exhibits permeability advantages over conventional porous membranes or nanofiber mats spun on coarse non-wovens.

Abstract: Thin film composite membrane with nano-sized bubbles having enhanced membrane permeability, preparation methods and uses thereof are provided. The method of preparation of a thin film composite membrane, comprising: a) an aqueous solution containing at least an amine, and b) an organic solution containing at least a polyfunctional acyl halide, an additive or soluble gas being present in a) and/or b), or a nano-bubble generator or ultrasound are used to generate nano-bubbles in a) and/or b). Interfacial polymerization of a) and b) occurs at or near the surface of a porous support membrane. The advantage of creating nano-sized bubbles in the separating layer of membrane is that it can reduce membrane resistance without sacrificing the mechanical strength and stability of the membrane so as to improve its water permeability, salt rejection and antifouling. In addition, the process is simple to adopt while performance improvement of the membrane is remarkable.

Abstract: The invention relates to separation of disaccharides from tri- or higher oligosaccharides by nanofiltration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a turbulence element for use with a rotor and a rotor featuring turbulence elements. The rotor is used in a screening apparatus of the pulp and paper industry. The turbulence element has a longitudinal centerline (CL); two longitudinal edges, a leading edge and a trailing edge; two opposite ends, a first end and a second end; and two surfaces, a top surface and a bottom surface arranged between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The top surface is divided into a leading surface having its origin at the leading edge, and a trailing surface having its origin at the trailing edge. The leading edge and the leading surface are provided with undulations (U).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a flat-sheet polyamide membrane comprising a first major surface and a second major surface and a separation layer and a porous substructure in the cross section of the membrane between the first major and the second major surface, wherein the average pore size diameter in the separation layer is smaller than the average pore size diameters on the first and second major surfaces, wherein the average pore size diameter on the first major surface is larger than the average pore size diameter on the second major surface, wherein the separation layer is closer to the second major surface than to the first major surface. The present disclosure further provides a method for producing such membranes and a use of the membranes for nanofiltration or ultrafiltration purposes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are graphene quantum dot tagged water source treatment compounds or polymers, and methods of making and using. Also described herein are tagged compositions including an industrial water source treatment compound or polymer combined with a graphene quantum dot tagged water source treatment compound or polymer. The tagged materials are tailored to fluoresce at wavelengths with minimized correspondence to the natural or “background” fluorescence of irradiated materials in industrial water sources, enabling quantification of the concentration of the water source treatment compound or polymer in situ by irradiation and fluorescence measurement of the water source containing the tagged water source treatment compound or polymer. The fluorescence measurement methods are similarly useful to quantify mixtures of tagged and untagged water source treatment compounds or polymers present in an industrial water source.

Abstract: A blood filtering device comprises a casing defining a containment volume and provided with at least a first inlet for the venous blood, at least a second inlet for the intracavitary blood, at least a third inlet for the extra cavitary blood and at least an outlet mouth for the blood; blood filtering means which are housed inside the containment volume and delimiting at least one filtering volume communicating with the blood inlets and at least one collecting volume communicating with the outlet mouth; where filtering means comprise: at least a first filtering element defining a closed profile and delimiting a first filtering volume communicating with the first inlet; at least a second filtering element defining a closed profile and delimiting a second filtering volume communicating with the second inlet; at least a third filtering element defining a closed profile and delimiting a third filtering volume communicating with the third inlet.

Abstract: A method of separating hydrocarbons in an aqueous mixture comprising exposing the aqueous mixture to a cellulose/ionic liquid membrane, wherein the aqueous mixture includes hydrocarbons, and removing the hydrocarbons from the aqueous mixture as the aqueous mixture flows through the cellulose/ionic liquid membrane, wherein the hydrocarbons do not flow through the cellulose/ionic liquid membrane. A filter system, comprising a cellulose/ionic liquid membrane used as the filter to separate hydrocarbons from an aqueous mixture.

Abstract: Described herein is a crosslinked graphene and biopolymer (e.g. lignin) based composite membrane that provides selective resistance for solutes while providing water permeability. The membrane may include optional additional functional additives in a crosslinked material matrix that provides enhanced salt separation from water. Methods for making such membranes, and methods of using the membranes for dehydrating or removing solutes from water are also described.

Abstract: Described are peritoneal dialysis systems and methods that involve the use of crossflow filtration of a used dialysate withdrawn from the peritoneal space of a patient. The filtration forms a retentate containing amounts of an osmotic agent and a permeate containing amounts of water and nitrogen-containing waste products of the patient. The retentate, or a fraction thereof, can be returned to the peritoneal space of the patient to return osmotic agent to the patient. The permeate, or a fraction thereof, can be discarded to discard nitrogen-containing waste products of the patient.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hydrophilic polymer and membrane for oil-water separation. More particularly, this invention relates to a super hydrophilic polymer and membrane with zwitterionic property for oil-water separation, and method of producing the same. The hydrophilic polymer comprises polymer repeat units, each unit having at least one negatively charged carboxylic functional group and at least one positively charged amine functional group; and a monomer having a single aromatic ring and an imide functional group.

Abstract: A water filtration device includes a diffusiophoretic water filter having an inlet and an outlet and for receiving a colloidal suspension at the inlet and flowing the colloidal suspension between the inlet and the outlet in a flow direction; a diffusiophoretic-inducing membrane; a cover, the membrane and the cover defining a plurality of channels extending between the inlet and the outlet; an outlet splitter for the plurality of channels being fixed with respect to the membrane or the cover, the cover and membrane being flexible and configured to permit rolling up of the membrane and the cover. A related method is also provided.