Abstract: A microorganism concentrator includes a water storage part that stores water sample therein and a filter that partitions the water storage part into a supply side and a drain side for the water sample. The microorganism concentrator concentrates microorganisms that are too large to pass through the filter on the supply side by moving the water sample on the supply side to the drain side of the water storage part. In the microorganism concentrator, the filter is arranged in such a way that no vertically downward force is applied to a surface of the filter on the supply side.

Abstract: A chromatography column distribution system includes a set of first bed support ribs extending radially from an inner, first radial position near the center of the plate to an outer radial position nearer to the periphery of the plate and at least one set of intermediate bed support ribs starting at an intermediate radial position and extending to an outer radial position nearer to the periphery of the plate. Channels are formed between adjacent bed support ribs. The desired local effective channel height varies in accordance with a predetermined formula from the first radial position to the outer radial position. The transverse cross-sectional areas of the ribs or the channels are adapted such that the actual local effective channel height is within 15% of the desired local effective channel height over portions of the distribution system situated between the first radial position and the outer radial position.

Abstract: Composite filter media is formed from multiple layers of media material including a nanofiber media layer, where the layers are laminated, bound, or otherwise composited to each other. The composite filter media can comprise at least one nanofiber layer comprising polymeric media material having a geometric mean fiber diameter of about 100 nm to 1 ?m, and fibers configured in a gradient such that ratio of the geometric mean diameter of fibers at the upstream face of the nanofiber layer to the geometric mean diameter of fibers at the downstream face of the nanofiber layer is about 1.1 to 2.8, preferably about 1.2 to 2.4.

Abstract: A subsurface sewage is provided and includes a plurality of leaching members oriented substantially vertically. A first volume defined within each of the plurality of the leaching members forms a void therein and includes a periphery, a top face that defines a first substantially horizontal plane, and a bottom face that defines a second substantially horizontal plane. A permeable enclosure is wrapped substantially around the periphery of each leaching member and a system frame maintains a location and a position of the plurality of the leaching members. A filter media is disposed in a second volume defined between at least two of the plurality of the leaching members. A leaching member balancing pipe is configured to hydraulically connect at least one of the plurality of the leaching members to at least one other of the plurality of the leaching members. A distribution pipe is configured to hydraulically connect at least one of the plurality of the leaching members to a source of an effluent flow.

Abstract: Disclosed is a modified activated sludge-based two-compartment treatment method for processing nitrate-contaminated drinking water. Raw water is firstly sent to a first TiO2-modified denitrifying activated sludge bioreactor (2), wherein organic carbon source is added in a controlled amount, and nitrate is partly reduced with nitrite being accumulated. Then, the effluent from the first bioreactor is sent to a second TiO2-modified denitrifying activated sludge bioreactor (3), wherein organic carbon source and hydrogen gas are supplemented, and remaining nitrate and accumulated nitrite are reduced to nitrogen gas. The denitrified effluent from the second bioreactor is sent to a settling tank (4), and TiO2-containing precipitates collected from the settling tank receive sequential alkaline and acidic treatment before being injected into the first bioreactor (2) for TiO2 recycling.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for wastewater treatment utilizing an anaerobic treatment of primary sludge (PS) in a septic tank (5), and a separate treatment of excess sludge (ÜS). The excess sludge (ÜS) is separated from the primary sludge (PS) before the anaerobic treatment, solubilized in a hydrolysis treatment and liquefied, and subjected to a separate anaerobic treatment independently of the primary sludge (PS).

Abstract: A method of recovering polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from municipal waste sludge includes: (a) measuring a solid content in the municipal waste sludge in terms of a volatile suspended solid in the municipal waste sludge; (b) removing supernatant from the municipal waste sludge; (c) freezing the municipal waste sludge; (d) conducting a pretreatment of the municipal waste sludge that has been frozen; (e) adding a surfactant into the pretreated sludge to obtain a slurry; (f) adding a controlled amount of sodium hypochlorite solution to the municipal waste sludge obtained in step (e), a ratio of a volume of the sodium hypochlorite solution to the solid content of the municipal waste sludge ranging from 0.67 mg/ml to 1.25 mg/ml and being defined as a liquid-solid ratio; and (g) separating PHAs from non-PHAs substances in the municipal waste sludge obtained in the step (f).

Abstract: A filter device includes a filtering member having a rough part, which is comparatively low in a density of flow pores for flowing fluid, and a dense part, which is comparatively high in the density of the flow pores. The filter device further includes a support member that supports the filtering member and has an inflow passage and a discharge passage. The dense part supports the rough part, and is located between the rough part and the discharge passage, and is supported by a mechanical pressure applied by the support members. The filter device is capable of supporting the filtering member easily in a case member and securing a filtering area to enhance the performance of removing a foreign matter.

Abstract: A system for reducing or preventing the growth of organisms in the process water used to coat glass fibers with a formaldehyde-free binder composition. One or more biocides is added to the process water that mitigates the growth of microbes in the water. The biocides are added in an amount sufficient to minimize growth of organisms without adversely affecting the application of the binder composition to the glass fibers.

Abstract: A pre-treatment method for cleaning and maintaining reverse osmosis membrane filters by injecting sulfurous acid into waters with suspended solids in a liquid fraction to be filtered to form sulfurous acid (H2SO3) to acid leach heavy metals into the liquid fraction, reduce alkalinity and mineral scaling, add sufficient SO2 as a biocide to attack bacteria and other micro organisms to prevent membrane fouling, reduce iron to prevent iron deposit build-up, scavenge and remove dissolved oxygen prior to filtration to prevent membrane oxidation, and then sequentially filtering the acidified water through membrane filters to create a metal free permeate and a brine retentate, which can be pH adjusted to remove the heavy metals as metal hydroxide precipitates.

Abstract: A filter cartridge (10), in this case comprising an injection moulded cylindrical plastics body (11) having spaced anti-tracking ribs (12) which are disposed unevenly along the inner surface (13) of the hollow body (11). First and second paper rolls as filter elements (14 and 15) have been pushed under compression into the hollow body (11) and are separated by spacer means (16) located centrally within the hollow body (11). Spacer means (16) is made from two separate spacers (18) which are generally made in the form of a spoked wheel type arrangement. Each spacer (18) comprises an outer ring (19) and an inner ring (20), the inner ring (20) has four apertures or recesses (21) on its top and offset by 45 degrees equally on its opposite side are four more equally spaced apertures (21) making a total of eight, the apertures provide flow through passages (21) through the inner ring (20), plastic connector portions (22) extend radially between the rings (19 and 20).

Abstract: A maple sap reverse osmosis device has a support rack configured and sized to rest atop a tank. The support rack supporting a reverse osmosis device. The reverse osmosis device has a pump line and a dump line both located within the tub. The pump line being located at an upper region of the tank. A pumping means to pump the maple sap from the pump line. The pumping means pushing maple sap through an osmosis membrane. The dump pipe purging concentrate resulting from sap not passing through the osmosis membrane into the deepest region of the tub.

Abstract: A culinary vessel lid in the form of a cover that is adapted for covering the vessel and that includes a transparent covering part, a metal covering part provided with through openings intended for draining foods and a silicone retaining ring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conducting supercritical wet oxidation reactions wherein any precipitated solids do not contact the solid side walls of the containment vessel so as to prevent any of these precipitated solids from adhering to or corrode the vessel walls is provided. To do this, a controlled, continuous flow of clean fluid, preferably under supercritical conditions, is introduced to the process so as to form a film-like, clean fluid surface between the physical containment vessel walls and the supercritical wet oxidation reactants.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the micro-scale, dielectrophoretic separation of particles are provided. Fluid suspensions of particles are sorted and separated by dielectrophoretic separation chambers that have at least two consecutive, electrically coupled planar electrodes separated by a gap in a fluid flow channel. The gap distance as well as applied potential can be used to control the dielectrophoretic forces generated. Using consecutive, electrically coupled electrodes rather than electrically coupled opposing electrodes facilitates higher flow volumes and rates. The methods and apparatus can be used, for example, to sort living, damaged, diseased, and/or dead cells and functionalized or ligand-bound polymer beads for subsequent identification and/or analysis.

Abstract: A novel synthesis method of a triarylpyrazine derivative, in particular, a manufacturing method by which a triarylpyrazine derivative, in specific, a 2,3,5-triarylpyrazine derivative in which an aryl group at a 5-position includes a substituent having an electron-withdrawing property can be synthesized with high yield as compared to a conventional method is provided. By using a synthesis method in which a mixture including a 1-aryl-2-(methylsulfinyl)ethanone derivative, meso-1,2-diarylethylenediamine, and a dehydrogenation agent is irradiated with a microwave to be reacted, the above object is achieved.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the invention includes a cylindrical cathode target assembly for use in sputtering target material onto a substrate that comprises a generally cylindrical target, means for rotating the target about its axis during a sputtering operation, an elongated magnet carried within the target for generation of a plasma-containing magnetic field exterior to but adjacent the target, a framework for supporting the magnet against rotation within the target, and a power train for causing the magnet to oscillate within and axially of the target in a substantially asynchronous manner to promote generally uniform target utilization along its length, as well as its method of use. In some embodiments, the magnet is oscillated in response to rotation of the target.

Abstract: A method and program prevents a user from bypassing a limit placed on a specified operating life of a sensor by disconnecting and reconnecting the sensor. The present invention checks a characteristic of the sensor to see if the sensor is used prior to the connection of the sensor, and rejects the sensor if the sensor is determined to have been used before. The process of checking the characteristic of the sensor involves performing an Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) procedure and calculating an impedance value. The impedance value can be compared to various threshold values for a variety of purposes including the determination of age, condition, hydration, and stabilization of the sensor.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for filtering particulates and volatiles from fluid systems. The apparatuses and methods include particulate filter and evaporator sections. The apparatuses and methods may furthermore include a heater disposed at least in part in the evaporator section having a ridge on a surface of the heater. The apparatuses and methods may furthermore include an evaporation tube positioned around the heater having a conically shaped outer surface and a heater safety sensor. The apparatuses and methods may also include an air inlet and an air outlet in the evaporator section.

Abstract: A system for collecting, treating and disposing of waste fluid includes a station that features transfer, flushing and mixing pumps as well as a bowl that holds the waste fluid. The waste fluid is collected in a container mounted on a cart. The cart container connects to the station so that the waste fluid is transferred from the cart to the station bowl by the transfer pump. The flushing pump has an inlet that communicates with a source of water and a disinfectant dispenser. The flushing pump is used to flush both the cart container and the station bowl, the latter of which communicates with a drain system. The flushing pump also delivers disinfectant to the waste fluid in the station bowl. The inlet and outlet of the mixing pump communicate with the bowl so that it mixes the bowl contents. Buffer is provided to the circulating waste fluid until the pH level drops to a predetermined level.