Abstract: The invention relates to infusate sleeves for use in dialysis and related systems and methods. The infusate sleeves include a sleeve body, a filter inside of the sleeve body, a rigid disk covering an opening in the top of the sleeve body, a draw tube connected to the rigid disk and extending downwardly into the sleeve body, and a fluid connector fluidly connected to the draw tube for connection to a dialysis system.

Abstract: Methods for increasing hydrophobicity of native water-bearing zones or aquifers comprising the step of permanently embedding non-degradable, solid colloidal materials formed to have a particulate size of less than 10 microns. Exemplary materials include activated carbon, zeolites and hydrophobically treated clays. The particulate colloidal materials are coated with an agent to facilitate their distribution, including anionic polymers, chelating agents or combinations thereof. The materials are applied preferably by low pressure injection and are particularly effective at containing the migration of hydrocarbon contaminants, typically present as a plume, for at least several decades.

Abstract: Methods and systems for chromatography are disclosed that employ a flexible container configured to fit within a support structure and adapted to receive a filtration or absorptive medium, such as a chromatography resin. The flexible container can include at least one inlet, at least one outlet, and a separation barrier peripherally sealed within the container to separate the container into a resin containing portion and a drainage portion. The barrier can be configured to exclude the resin material from the drainage portion during use while allowing fluids to pass therethrough. The disposable chromatography system can further include one or more agitators disposed within the flexible container and adjustably configured to be raised or lowered in the flexible container. When the agitator is in the raised position, the resin packing material can operate in a settled, packed-bed configuration.

Abstract: The Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process creates significant amounts of water. This FT produced water contains significant amounts of organic impurities. The invention provides methods of treating FT produced water. Surprisingly, it was discovered that the FT produced water could be successfully treated in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) according to relatively simple and more efficient steps; for example, by adjusting the pH of the water in the range of 4.2 to 5.8 or treating the FT produced water in a stripper where the distillate product stream and a reflux stream returning to the stripper have the same composition. In a related aspect, water compositions are described.

Abstract: A nonwoven filtration medium that includes a fibrous base media including synthetic and/or natural fibers and micro fibrillated cellulose fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting mineral particles in a slurry or the tailings is disclosed. The apparatus may take the form of a filter, a conveyor belt or an impeller to be used in a processor to collect mineral particles in the slurry, or in a tailings pond to collect mineral particles in the tailings. The filter, conveyor belt or impeller has a collection area made of or coated with a polymer or a polymer-coated material having a functional group, either anionic or cationic to attach to the mineral particles. Alternatively, the synthetic material has hydrophobic molecules to render the collection area hydrophobic. When the mineral particles in the slurry or tailings are combined with collector molecules, the mineral particles also become hydrophobic. The hydrophobic mineral particles are attracted to the hydrophobic collection area. The filter, conveyor belt and impeller may have a plurality of passage ways in order to increase the contacting surfaces.

Abstract: A water purification system (1) includes a composite filter cartridge (100) that includes a pretreatment filter cartridge (110) and a filtration membrane assembly (120), and is provided with a raw water inlet (130), a pretreatment water outlet (140), a pressurizing pretreatment water inlet (150), a pure water outlet (160) and a condensed water outlet (170); a raw water inlet pipe (200) connected with the raw water inlet (130); a pure water outlet pipe (300) connected with the pure water outlet (160); a condensed water outlet pipe (400) connected with the condensed water outlet (170); a pretreatment water outlet pipe (500) connected with the pretreatment water outlet (140); a pressurizing pretreatment water inlet pipe (600) connected with the pressurizing pretreatment water inlet (150) and the pretreatment water outlet pipe (500) respectively; and a booster pump (900) disposed on the pretreatment water outlet pipe (500).

Abstract: A process for treating domestic wastewater may include directing wastewater into a tank containing a membrane filter and mixed liquor. The process may include recirculating wastewater and mixed liquor from a top end of the tank into a bottom end of the tank via a recirculation conduit. The process may include introducing a flow of wastewater and mixed liquor from the recirculation conduit into an aeration device and drawing ambient air into the aeration device using the flow of wastewater and mixed liquor from the recirculation conduit. The process may also include drawing wastewater and mixed liquor proximately surrounding the aeration device into the aeration device using the flow of wastewater and mixed liquor from the recirculation conduit. The process may include aerating a mixture of wastewater and mixed liquor with the ambient air below the membrane filter.

Abstract: A water purification system includes: a composite filter cartridge including a pretreatment filter cartridge and a filter membrane assembly; a raw water inlet pipe; a pure water outlet pipe; a pretreated water pipe; a booster pump; a water quality detecting device disposed to the raw water inlet pipe and/or the pure water outlet pipe and configured to detect water quality in the raw water inlet pipe and the pure water outlet pipe; and a control device connected to the water quality detecting device and configured to determine service life of the composite filter cartridge and/or judge whether the composite filter cartridge has lost efficacy according to information detected by the water quality detecting device.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus including: a filter medium having a slack state and a ballooned state and an elastic support attached to the filter medium to define a contiguous fluid flow path through the filter medium and the support. The elastic support is adapted to displace the filter medium repeatedly between the slack state and the ballooned state; the ballooned state is out-of-plane with respect to the slack state; and the slack state of the filter medium provides for areal strain greater than about 10% of the ballooned state. A method of cleaning a filter medium in a flow path of a fluid containing a suspended component is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system or method for the remediation of wastewater with a treatment media in tandem with an electrocoagulation system. The system and method also include cleaning elements for cleaning distribution lines within the system and for cleaning the electrocoagulation system.

Abstract: In a method for purifying an oil (8)/water (42) mixture (40), the mixture (40) is fed to a container (48) having an ultrafiltration unit (52) with a membrane (30), and a protective material (50) is added to the mixture (40), which protective material, directly or after chemical reaction with the water from the mixture (40), as a film (62) on the membrane (30), keeps free oil (8) away from said membrane. Purified process water for extracting and/or refining of petroleum (8) is thus produced from process water (42) which is contaminated with petroleum (8). A purification device (64) substantially comprises a container (48) having an ultrafiltration unit (52) with a membrane (30), a feed line (28) to the container (48) and an addition device (27) for protective material (50) in the flow path (56) to the membrane (30).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite membrane for nanofiltration of a feed stream solution comprising a solvent and dissolved solutes and showing preferential rejection of the solutes. The composite membrane comprises a thin polymeric film formed by interfacial polymerization on a support membrane. The support membrane is further impregnated with a conditioning agent and is stable in polar aprotic solvents. The composite membrane is optionally treated in a quenching medium, where the interfacial polymerization reaction can be quenched and, in certain embodiments, membrane chemistry can be modified. Finally the composite membrane is treated with an activating solvent prior to nanofiltration.

Abstract: A reactor comprising a plurality of vessels, each having a heat exchange surface for processing a fluid as a thin film flow, the vessels arranged in a concentric manner; a plurality of annular spaces situated between the vessels; and a pathway for directing a heat exchange fluid from one vessel to an adjacent vessel for creating a temperature differential between the heat exchange surfaces and the fluid being processed. A system comprising a fluid source, a reactor, and a vapor outlet and a processed fluid outlet through generated vapor and processed fluid are directed out of the reactor, respectively. A method comprising providing a plurality of concentrically arranged surfaces in spaced relation, distributing a fluid to be processed against the surfaces in a controlled manner to form a substantially uniform thin film flow thereon, and evaporating at least a portion of the fluid being processed along the plurality of surfaces.

Abstract: Disclosed is a filter system having a filter element (10), a filter housing and a sealing device (20) sealing off a housing interior space (120) from a surrounding environment (122). The sealing device (20) has a seal (24) arranged on a seal carrier (22). Also disclosed is a sealing device (20) for the installation in such a filter system (100) and an arrangement comprising a filter element (10) and a sealing device (20).

Abstract: A multilayer composite in which a nonwoven filter media layer is affixed to but separated from a hydrophobic microporous membrane such that the multilayer porous composite provides effective separation of water and particulate with substantial resistance to clogging in new fuels with low interfacial tensions.

Abstract: A multi-component end cap is provided. The multiple components combine to form one or more seal carriers where each seal carrier is formed in part by at least two different ones of the components. Methods of manufacturing an end cap having multiple components are also provided.

Abstract: Improved integrally skinned asymmetric membranes for organic solvent nanofiltration, and their methods of preparation and use are disclosed. Membranes are formed from polybenzimidazoles by phase inversion and are then crosslinked by addition of crosslinking agents. These stabilize the membranes and allow solvent nanofiltration to be maintained even in the solvents from which the membranes were formed by phase inversion, and in strongly acidic and strongly basic solvents.

Abstract: Provided is a method for treating ammoniacal nitrogen in wastewater performed via biologically oxidizing ammoniacal nitrogen, and producing nitrite nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen at a desired rate. In the method, ammoniacal nitrogen is oxidized by bacterial sludges to produce at least either of nitrite nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen. Specifically, the method includes an inactivating treatment step of treating the bacterial sludges with an inactivating operation via sterilizing bacteria or causing bacteriostasis, and a nitrifying treatment step of oxidizing the ammoniacal nitrogen by the bacterial sludges thus treated in the inactivating operation. Production amounts of the nitrite nitrogen and the nitrate nitrogen are controlled by adjusting biomass of the bacterial sludges to be treated in the inactivating operation, and/or a time interval between the inactivating operations each repeatedly performed in combination with the nitrifying treatment step.

Abstract: Filters for use in conjunction with valves of the faucet or spigot type, and to filters for use in devices for withdrawing liquids from containers at relatively low pressures, such as gravity feed jugs or other gravity feed reservoirs. A ¼-turn attachment scheme for connecting a filter cartridge to a gravity feed reservoir, such as within a beverage making/dispensing device.