Abstract: A microfluidic device comprising: (a) a plate comprising a substrate, a plurality of electrodes, and a first layer of hydrophobic material applied over the plurality of electrodes; (b) a processing unit operably programmed to perform a method of pinning an aqueous droplet within the microfluidic device; and (c) a controller operably connected to a power source, the processing unit, and the plurality of electrodes. The method of pinning an aqueous droplet comprises: applying an electric field of a first polarity to an aqueous droplet located on the surface of the layer of hydrophobic material and having a first contact angle, to cause the droplet to maintain a second contact angle in the absence of the electric field, wherein the aqueous droplet contains a surfactant and the second contact angle is less than the first contact angle.

Abstract: A continuous system for gasification of a biomass feedstock comprising: a fuel conditioning zone, a gasification zone and a char cooling area.

Abstract: Frother composition and method of concentrating minerals by flotation. The method comprises providing an aqueous slurry formed by the minerals in finely divided form in water; optionally adding a collector to render the mineral hydrophobic; subjecting the slurry thus obtained to flotation in a flotation cell aerated to form bubbles; and recovering the hydrophobic mineral particles together with the froth to form a concentrate. In the method, an amphiphilic cellulose derivative, is used as such or in combination with a second surfactant as a frother to promote the formation of a stable froth on top of the slurry in the flotation cell. Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose or hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose are combined with at least one non-ionic organic surfactant or polyglycol esters, for providing a frother. The novel cellulose-based frothers can be used in mineral processing plants to allow for processing of larger quantities of minerals without significant modification of existing facilities.

Abstract: A sewage treatment apparatus comprises an external box body, the external box body is internally provided with a screen zone, an anaerobic and anoxic zone, an aerobic zone, a settling zone, an advanced treatment zone and a disinfection and sterilization zone communicating in sequence. The screen zone communicates with a household septic-tank through the pneumatic lifting apparatus, the aerobic zone communicates with the anaerobic and anoxic zone to reflux a part of mixed liquid to an anaerobic zone of the anaerobic and anoxic zone, and the settling zone communicates with the anaerobic and anoxic zone to reflux a part of active sludge to an anoxic zone of the anaerobic and anoxic zone; and the sewage treatment apparatus further comprises an apparatus zone which is arranged independently and separately, and the apparatus zone is merely internally provided with an air compressor for providing a conveying pressure.

Abstract: An immersed membranes uses aeration (air bubbles rising past the membranes) as a means to scour the membrane surface and keep it clean from solids, or foulants, allowing for continuous and effective operation. In a module of flat sheet membranes, fine bubble aeration is used to create and maintain space between the membrane sheets. The bubbles inhibit the sheets from touching and clogging together, thus reducing their surface area and their productivity. The aeration may be used for scouring, to supply oxygen to biomass and as a spacer to maintain the working surface area of immersed flat sheet membranes. The face-to-face spacing between the membrane sheets may be 4 mm or less. The bubbles may be less than twice the face-to-face spacing between the membrane sheets.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus and system for, decontaminating a liquid containing dissolved solids including subjecting liquid containing dissolved solids to Joule heating under conditions effective to cause said dissolved solids to precipitate out of solution.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling bio-organisms in bodies of water. The algae control system includes a power unit and a transducer unit that radiates in multiple directions. The transducer unit includes a variable power driver and a transducer subassembly. The power from the driver varies to maintain a maximum, constant transducer sonic output over its bandwidth. The transducer assembly includes at least one transducer that includes a pair of blocks with at least one piezoelectric element therebetween. One embodiment has a single, disc-shaped element adhesively secured between said blocks. The transducer is excited by applying power to the pair of blocks. Another embodiment has at least one ring-shaped elements compressed between the two blocks by way of a fastener. The transducer is excited by applying power, in one embodiment, between the blocks and a conductor between a pair of ring-shaped elements, or in another embodiment, between the pair of blocks.

Abstract: A filtration device for filtering a fluid includes a first barrier member having a plurality of openings through which the fluid can penetrate the first barrier member, the first barrier member having a plurality of edges including a first edge; and a first ion-dispersing thread in the first barrier member. A portion of the first ion-dispersing thread extends in a direction, the direction is non-parallel to the first edge of the first barrier member, and the direction is non-perpendicular to the first edge of the first barrier member.

Abstract: A modular water filtration system including a filter manifold and a filter cartridge is provided. The filter manifold includes a body, a first arm member, a second arm member, a brace, and a slot positioned on the brace. The filter cartridge includes a cartridge head and a fin member protruding upwardly from the cartridge head, and the fin member is sized to be received within the slot of the filter manifold. The filter cartridge is adapted to engage the filter manifold through a horizontal force when the fin member is aligned with the slot.

Abstract: A modular porous swale. The modular porous swale may comprise a porous concrete block and filtration joint. The porous concrete block may snugly fit within a trench having a lower portion filled with an absorption media. The absorption media may include gravel, activated alumina, bone char, biochar, bone char and activated alumina mixture, and biochar and activated alumina mixture. The porous concrete block may have a top surface inwardly-sloped to a nadir. The filtration joint may be disposed within the porous concrete block and along the nadir. The liner may cover one or more sides of the porous concrete block. The perforated pipe may be located within the absorption media. The filtration joint may substantially align above a portion of the perforated pipe when the modular porous swale is installed within the trench.

Abstract: A control method of a control system for controlling water purification module for processing water on two sides of a reverse osmosis membrane. The control system has a water purification module and a control module. The water purification module has a preliminary filter and a reverse osmosis filter. The control module regularly controls the purification and the drainage of the water purification module, and solves the problem that the TDS value of the water on both sides of the reverse osmosis membrane is too high after the water purifier is on standby for a period of time. The control system regularly drains high concentration water on both sides of the reverse osmosis membrane to improve water purification efficiency.

Abstract: A modular cassette is provided for separating a composite fluid into at least two component parts thereof during centrifugation. The modular cassette includes: a housing defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a chamber for fluid separation; a fluidic channel configured to provide fluid communication between at least two components of the modular cassette; a heat expanding valve including: a flow pathway including undulations configured to facilitate closing of the fluidic channel, wherein the heat expanding valve occludes one or more of the undulations of the flow pathway to close the fluidic channel; and a heating element configured to actuate the heat expanding valve.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to corn dry-milling, and more specifically, to methods for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol and a system therefore. In one embodiment, a method for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct includes, in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol, separating the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a thin stillage portion. The thin stillage portion is separated into a protein portion and a water soluble solids portion. Next, the protein portion is dewatered then dried to define a high protein corn meal that includes at least 40 wt % protein on a dry basis.

Abstract: The presently claimed invention relates to a process for the beneficiation of coal and other hydrophobic materials, wherein a collector composition comprising by-products obtained by hydroformylation of octene isomers as a first component and diesel, kerosene and/or C8-C20 olefins as a second component is used.

Abstract: A filter module for a water dispensing device according to the present disclosure includes a filter housing which has an inflow port and a discharge port, and a plurality of filters which includes a filtration member provided in the filter housing to purify water flowing therein through the inflow port and to supply purified water to the discharge port, and filtering raw water flowing therein from the outside into purified water, and the filter module includes a pre-filter through which raw water passes firstly and in which a first carbon block having a hollow shape is built-in, a hollow fiber membrane (UF membrane) filter through which water passes through the pre-filter passes secondly, a second carbon block having a hollow shape through which water passing through the hollow fiber membrane filter passes thirdly, and an electrostatic adsorption member through which water passing through the second carbon block passes fourthly.

Abstract: A system includes a filter device that has, in serial flow order, an adsorbent bed, a biocide filter, and a particle filter. The adsorbent bed includes adsorbent media that is configured to remove organic compounds from feed water that are capable of forming an adherent layer on a porous surface of a sublimator, and the biocide filter contains a halogen-release material.

Abstract: Methods for clarifying water, reducing turbidity of water, and removing phosphate from water include adding a water treatment composition having an aluminum-containing coagulant, and a natural non-charged polysaccharide, such as guar. The aluminum-containing compound can include polyaluminum chloride, aluminum chlorohydrate, polyaluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum sulfate, sodium aluminate, polyaluminum sulfate, polyaluminum silicate chloride, polyaluminum silicate sulfate, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A movable seal for interfacing between a first surface and a second surface includes a floating portion attached to a non-floating portion by a flexible coupling portion, wherein the non-floating portion is coupled to the first surface by nesting in a groove on the first surface, and wherein the non-floating portion forms a seal between the first and second surfaces when the first surface moves relative to the second surface in a first direction, and wherein the non-floating portion does not form a seal between the first and second surfaces when the first surface moves relative to the second surface in a second opposite direction.

Abstract: A multi-functional sensor assembly includes an electrically non-conductive substrate defining at least a distal region, intermediary region, and proximal region that are each covered with electrically conductive traces. The proximal region is configured to be exposed to a media to be sensed and the distal and intermediary regions are configured to be protected from the media. The electrically conductive traces are connected to one or more electrodes to sense one or more of alkalinity, cyanuric acid concentration, or oxidant concentration of the media.

Abstract: A household water purifier includes a main unit and a filter assembly arranged in the main unit. The filter assembly includes a composite filter core. The composite filter core includes a filter bottle and a filter element located in the filter bottle. The filter element is of a separated structure. In the household water purifier, the filter element is located in the filer bottle; during use, when the filter element needs to be replaced, the filter element can be directly taken out of the filter bottle for replacement; Furthermore, the filter element itself is of a split structure There is no need to replace the filter element as a whole, just some failed components of the filter element need to be replaced, which further improves convenience of replacement and maintenance of the filter core of the water purifier, and saves maintenance and use costs of the water purifier.