Abstract: A system whereby freshwater and saltwater aquaria water may be stripped and sterilized to near laboratory quality distilled water standards and injected with appropriate chemicals and compounds necessary to reproduce the conditions indigenous to the native habitat of any particular species in which you have chosen to raise in your aquarium. This system is attached to standard washer and dryer water outlets and is connected to the device with a standard 3/4" garden hose. Tap water is run through a cation resin exchange chamber to pull out negatively charged ions and then passes through an identical chamber containing anion resin exchange media to pull the positively charged ions out of the water coming through. The end result being near zero ppm total dissolved solids.

Abstract: A process for removing dissolved fluorides from an aqueous stream using at least two reactors wherein the dissolved fluoride containing aqueous feed and an unreacted aluminum containing sludge are combined in the first reactor to give a first reactor admixture after which the first reactor effluent stream is directed to the second reactor and therein combined with fresh alum and fresh sodium aluminate to give a second reactor admixture comprising a reduced fluoride aqueous solution and a partially reacted aluminum containing sludge and thereafter recovering the reduced fluoride aqueous solution and recycling at least a portion of the aluminum containing sludge to the first reactor.

Abstract: A composition and a process for substantially reducing or removing sulfide from a sulfide-containing fluid are disclosed. The composition comprises, or is prepared by combining components comprising, a sulfide-containing fluid and a sulfide-scavenging amount of a sulfide scavenger selected from the group consisting of bromates, iodates, and combinations of two or more thereof. The process comprises contacting a sulfide-containing fluid with a sulfide-scavenging amount of a sulfide scavenger under a condition sufficient to substantially reduce the sulfide concentration in the fluid.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of an aqueous media having contaminants therein, comprising adding hydrogen peroxide to the aqueous media; and exposing the aqueous media to a catalytic environment for a time long enough to form usable reactive intermediates and short enough to prevent scavenging of the usable reactive intermediates formed. Also provided is a reactor for achieving the process.

Abstract: A water treatment arrangement is provided in which water is given a reduced pH by a first catalyst and then is caused to flow over a second catalyst that changes nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, salts and other contaminants from reactive to nonreactive form. The first catalyst may be palladium and the second catalyst an alloy containing copper, tin, nickel and zinc. The first catalyst prevents precipitants from coating the second catalyst and also increases the supply of oxygen in the water. Preferably, a third catalyst, also palladium, is included downstream of the second catalyst. The first and third catalysts include longitudinal vanes having louvers to present a large surface area and create turbulence. The second catalyst is a tubular assembly with ribs and grooves also to create turbulence and removal of the stagnant boundary layer from the catalyst's surface. The catalysts are in an end-to-end abutting relationship within a housing of corrosion-resistant material.

Abstract: A method of remediating methyl amine and/or methyl amine derivative odors in aqueous systems by contacting the methyl amine or methyl amine derivative with a compound having amide or imide functionality, such as a hydantoin composition, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The amide/imide composition is preferably a non-halogenated, singe-ring hydantoin that binds methyl amines to the amide or imide functional group of the hydantoin.

Abstract: A water-purifying device has both a strainer and water purification materials, as well as an inlet and outlet. In the preferred embodiment, the water purification materials are contained within a separable purifier housing, and a deflector extending from a support plate into a strainer housing deflects incoming water to the purification materials. The device has particular application to claimed methods of purifying water for swimming pools, spas, cooling towers, fountains and the like. The purifier housing may be an attachment to existing pump inlet strainer basket housings.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to filters for removing impurities from liquids, and more particularly to a replaceable filter cartridge having a barrier for preventing contaminants from draining from a spent cartridge, as it is being replaced. The barrier comprises a layer of filter media closely surrounding an inner perforated conducting conduit.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for treating a organically contaminated inorganic liquid or gas with an electron beam are described. The organically contaminated inorganic liquid or gas is introduced into a reaction chamber that is positioned so that the organically contaminated inorganic liquid or gas will be exposed to the electron beam. In the case of the gas, the reaction chamber includes a liquid medium. The process continues by generating a gaseous phase by exposing the organically contaminated inorganic liquid or the liquid medium including the organically contaminated inorganic gas to an electron beam; and recirculating the gaseous phase into the organically contaminated inorganic liquid or into the liquid medium including the organically contaminated inorganic gas. The treatment of the gas and liquid phase with the electron beam in this manner accomplishes the complete oxidation of the contaminating organic species.

Abstract: A change-over apparatus for use in conjunction with a cooling system of an internal combustion engine having an engine and radiator and having an upper hose between the radiator and the engine which has been cut to form an upper radiator hose section and an upper engine hose section wherein a change-over apparatus comprising at least one tubular body having first and second tube bodies having end openings, with the end opening for connection to said upper radiator hose section, said second end opening for connection to said upper engine hose section, a liquid ingress opening spaced from said first end opening, a liquid egress opening spaced from said second end opening, and, optionally, a flow regulating means placed between said liquid ingress opening and said liquid egress opening.

Abstract: Electric control apparatus generates electric fields in the water suitable for killing marine animals, particularly zebra mussels. These electric fields can be spatially controlled and designed to produce appropriate levels of power density to tetanize or kill zebra mussels while at the same time providing electrical isolation and protection for other marine animals in the surrounding habitat.

Abstract: Calcium sulphate is added to desanded tailings derived from a hot water extraction process for recovering bitumen from oil sand. Enough calcium sulphate (100 to 200 ppm) is added to remove naphthenates and sulfonates from the aqueous phase. As a result, the settling rate of the fines in the tailings is accelerated.

Abstract: A deflector for use in a pool having a skimmer inlet and a recirculating means to set up a peripheral flow of pool water, the deflector comprising an elongated member of a closed cell foam material, a sleeve sized to extend about at least a portion of the elongated member, the sleeve having a generally C shaped body portion and a deflector blade portion extending from an axial marginal edge of the C shaped body portion, a cord for securing the elongated member to the pool adjacent the skimmer outlet so that the elongated member extends outwardly into the pool, the cord maintaining the elongated member an the deflector blade in a position such that the deflector blade extends downwardly into the pool water with a distal end of the deflectlor extending forwardly in a direction of the peripheral flow of the pool water. The arrangement minimizes any currents and subsequent collection of debris rearwardly of the deflector.

Abstract: In a process for UV decomposition of waste water containing organic substances as contaminants, the organic substances can be efficiently decomposed with maintaining a high decomposition rate by controlling addition of an oxidizing agent based on COD value of the waste water; for example, when the oxidizing agent is hydrogen peroxide, its concentration is continuously controlled within the range of 0.5 to 1.0 equivalents to the COD value.

Abstract: The invention is a method for preparing a stabilized aqueous alkali or alkaline earth metal hypobromite solution. The method comprises the steps of:a. Mixing an aqueous solution of alkali or alkaline earth metal hypochlorite having from about 5 percent to about 70 percent available halogen as chlorine with a water soluble bromide ion source;b. Allowing the bromide ion source and the alkali or alkaline earth metal hypochlorite to react to form a 0.5 to 70 percent by weight aqueous solution of unstabilized alkali or alkaline earth metal hypobromite;c. Adding to the unstabilized solution of alkali or alkaline earth metal hypobromite an aqueous solution of an alkali metal sulfamate in a quantity to provide a molar ratio of alkali metal sulfamate to alkali or alkaline earth metal hypobromite is from about 0.5 to about 7; and,d. Recovering a stabilized aqueous alkali or alkaline earth metal hypobromite solution.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of aqueous effluent with a view to its purification, the process including at least one stage consisting of causing the water to pass into the interior of at least one battery of several biological filters with fixed cultures or other devices with fixed cultures operating in parallel, characterized in that it comprises supplying the filters at constant flow and to cause the number of filters supplied and the number of filters not supplied in the battery, to be varied, in accordance with the total flow of aqueous effluent to be treated. Such a process allows the performance of biofilters and other devices with fixed cultures to be improved.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of barium sulphide or strontium sulphide for the removal of heavy metals in industrial acidic solutions.The invention is applicable to the purification of contaminated acids, in particular of spent battery acid, or of industrial solutions of titanyl sulphate.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for treating an aqueous waste material in order to reduce the volume of the material for disposal and/or landfill. In the method, an aqueous waste material containing organic compounds is contacted with calcium carbide under conditions which cause water and calcium carbide to react to produce acetylene and a residue. The acetylene is burned in the presence of the residue to further reduce the volume of material for disposal.

Abstract: A Method for destruction of pathogenic organisms in water is described. When used in conjunction with a rough filtration prior to chemical treatment, the method purifies drinking water for consumption by humans. The method is based on the well-known ability of alkaline solutions to kill micro-organisms. The method uses dry pellets of either sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH). These are added to the water in proper proportion. The resulting alkaline solution is allowed to stand for a short period of time, typically one hour or more. And then the resulting solution is neutralized by the addition of an edible acid, such as citric or tartaric acid. The resulting water has a more or less neutral pH, and does not have an unpleasant taste.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for separating a hydrophobic liquid from a substantially polar medium through the application of expanded graphite particles. Upon contacting the hydrophobic liquid floating agglomerates of expanded graphite and hydrophobic liquid are formed which may easily be removed from the polar liquid by mechanical means. Following the removal of the agglomerates from the polar medium, the hydrophobic liquid may be separated with little effort and recycled. Further, the adsorptive properties of the expanded graphite can be regenerated allowing the material to be used repeatedly. The present invention is particularly useful for removing liquid hydrocarbons from contaminated bodies of water.