Abstract: Methods and apparatus of embodiments of the invention relate to treating water including contacting a liquid stream with a source comprising inorganic and/or divalent ions and separating the stream into an effluent and a fluid comprising less sulfate than the stream, wherein the effluent comprises more sulfate and more inorganic and/or divalent ions than the stream. Methods and apparatus relate to treating water including a reaction unit comprising an inlet for feed fluid and an inlet for inorganic and/or divalent ions and a separator unit comprising an inlet for output from the reaction unit, an outlet for effluent, and an outlet for fluid comprising less sulfate than the feed fluid. Some embodiments include introducing the fluid comprising less sulfate than the stream into a subterranean formation.

Abstract: A method and system for processing fluoride-containing wastewater includes treating the wastewater with brine (waste) created by the regeneration process implemented by in ion exchanging water softener. The brine, which is typically disposed of, contains both calcium and magnesium salts, in varying concentrations and ratios. The regeneration process brine is added to the fluoride-containing wastewater within a reaction tank, and the fluoride ion concentration is monitored. When the fluoride ion concentration falls below a predetermined level (e.g., 15 ppm), the flow of regeneration process brine is stopped. A pH controller monitors the pH within the reaction tank, and adds a basic agent to ensure that the pH remains above a predetermined level (e.g., pH>9). The pH control results in a clear effluent, and a sludge having a high settling rate and a high dewater ability.

Abstract: A filter cartridge has a shell defining an upper portion with an upper interior volume and a lower portion with a lower interior volume. The cartridge is for use in gravity-fed water treatment systems having an upper untreated supply and a lower filtered container. A hydrophilic porous particulate carbon powder block filter in a polymeric binder is disposed in the cartridge. The filter has a central opening and is open on both ends. The top end of the block is fitted with an air vent tube. The lower end of the block is fitted into a rubber gasket to direct water flow into the lower container. As water flows through the filter cartridge, air is vented through the block filter central opening and out through the vent tube.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a first valve metal flow field plate. The first valve metal flow field plate has a first cooling channel adapted to receive an aqueous coolant and to contact the aqueous coolant at a position that inhibits the formation of shunt currents when the fuel cell is incorporated in a fuel cell stack. A field assembly includes a first metal flow field plate having a first cooling channel adapted to receive an aqueous coolant is also provided. A valve metal plate is disposed over the first metal flow field plate in the flow field assembly. Fuel cell stacks using the valve metal-containing flow field plates are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods useful in waste processing. Disclosed is the use of a regenerative thermal oxidation (RTO) unit for production of industrially useable steam. Disclosed are systems including a stripping unit associated with a regenerative thermal oxidation (RTO) unit so that the stripping unit provides fuel for the RTO unit and the RTO unit provides a stripping gas for the stripping unit. Disclosed are systems including an RTO unit providing steam to operate a vapor condensation (VC) unit.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described for processes, compositions and systems for waste sludge dewatering. In an example, the process may include receiving a waste sludge including a water component and an initial content of suspended particulates. The process may include treating the waste sludge with a combination of flocculant produced by Proteus mirabilis and a flocculant including chloride. The combination may be sufficient to flocculate at least some of the suspended particulates in the water component of the waste sludge and sufficient to produce treated waste sludge. The treated waste sludge may have a water component with a reduced content of suspended particulates. The process may include separating at least some of the water component with a reduced content of suspended particulates from the treated waste sludge to produce dewatered waste sludge.

Abstract: A method cleans a plurality of filters in parallel, each filter having an inlet side and an outlet side separated by a filter barrier. In an operational phase, water is filtered using a plurality of the filters, by passing the water through the filter. In a cleaning phase, at least one of the filters is cleaned while the other filters are filtering water in the operational phase. Each filter is cleaned by supplying sodium hypochlorite to an inlet side of the filter when the filter is off-line. The inlet side of the filter is allowed to soak in the sodium hypochlorite for at least 30 seconds without the sodium hypochlorite being pressurized through the filter barrier during the soaking process. The filters are cycled through the cleaning phase such that each filter is repeatedly cleaned while other filters are filtering in the operational phase.

Abstract: The present invention provides useful biodegradable and environmentally friendly cost effective methods for oil recovery and reclamation from oil spills and chemical spills. More particularly, methods to recover and reclaim hydrocarbons or hydrophobic substances in an aqueous environment.

Abstract: A filter cartridge 38 includes a first endcap 41 defining a first open aperture and having at least first and second protrusions extending from a wall along the aperture and into the first open aperture. The first protrusion is spaced from the second protrusion in both a vertical direction and a circumferential direction. The filter cartridge also includes filter media 44 and a second endcap 42. The filter cartridge is mountable in a filter bowl 36 having an inner liner assembly, and the bowl and the inner liner assembly is connectable to a filter head to form a filter system.

Abstract: The present specification discloses a dialysis system having a reservoir module with a reservoir housing defining an internal space, a surface located within the internal space for supporting a container that contains dialysate, and a conductivity sensor located within the internal space, where the conductivity sensor has a coil, a capacitor in electrical communication with the coil, and an energy source in electrical communication with the circuit.

Abstract: Provided are a mineralizing removal method and apparatus for highly concentrated iodine in radioactive wastewater. According to the present invention, since only a small amount of sludge is discharged as compared to the previous treatment methods, a generation amount of the radioactive waste may be significantly decreased, such that wastewater containing highly or ultra-highly concentrated iodine may also be effectively treated. Further, only iodine may be selectively removed regardless of the presence of competitive anions in the wastewater. Treatment may be performed under a neutral or weak alkaline condition rather than an acidic condition, such that a volatilization of radioactive iodine was fundamentally blocked, and at the time of discharging the wastewater, a neutralization treatment process is not required.

Abstract: A very highly concentrated solution is obtained in a single cycle of operation. In the solution separating apparatus, the solution is atomized into the mists to be mixed with the carrier gas, the carrier gas containing such atomized mists is transferred to the collection unit 3, and the collection unit 3 is so constructed and arranged that a specific target substance is separated and collected from the atomized mist component. The solution separating apparatus allows the mist component, by means of the carrier gas, to be in contact with the molecular sieving adsorbent 4 having a molecularly sieving capability of adsorbing the adsorbable component contained in the mist component so as to be separated from the mist component. The non-adsorbable component which is not adsorbed into the molecular sieving adsorbent 4 is separated from the mist component contained in the carrier gas in which the adsorbable component is separated, so that the target substance is separated from the carrier gas.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method of inhibiting corrosion and calcium sulfate and calcium carbonate scaling in thermal and membrane desalination processes. The method includes adding a composition having an acrylic acid 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropyl sulfonic acid copolymer, combined with a synergistically effective amount of oligomeric phosphinosuccinic acid to seawater or recirculation brine in a desalting process to produce water for drinking and industrial applications. The method also includes adding a composition including mono, bis, and oligomeric phosphinosuccinic acid adducts to the desalting process.

Abstract: A method of and a device for separating oil from water, or a lighter fluid floating on a heavier fluid or denser fluid. The device includes floating arms in V-shape formation that gather the fluids into a collecting channel which device thickens the layer of the lighter fluid to separate the lighter fluid using a drain where a self-adjusting float sits above the heavier fluid and below the lighter fluid. The lighter fluid is gravity discharged through a conduit into container to be later pumped out from the container or directly pumped from the drain.

Abstract: A filter medium for use in filtering a mobile fluid made from at least a bicomponent fiber. Other fibers, particles, or other materials can also be entrained in the filter medium. The filter medium has a substantial thickness compared to filters of the prior art. The fiber length and diameter dimensions are selected to obtain desired filter characteristics including thickness, basis weight, pore size, filtration efficiency, pressure drop, burst strength, and manufacturing efficiency. Further, a multilayer filter medium can be provided with ease. Each layer can have a different composition, pore size, basis weight, and so forth, thus providing the ability to build multiple functionality into the filter media of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for removing phosphorus and nitrogen contained in sewage or wastewater using iron ore wastewater. According to the method of the present invention, in which the phosphorus and nitrogen contained in sewage or wastewater are crystallized in the form of struvite using iron ore wastewater containing a large amount of Mg2+ produced in a process of upgrading low-grade iron ore and removed, it is possible to reduce the cost of Mg2+ and the cost of iron ore wastewater treatment, thereby earning economic profits. Moreover, it is possible to prevent water pollution by the removal of the phosphorus and nitrogen contained in sewage or wastewater. Furthermore, it is possible to use struvite crystals obtained as a by-product as a time-release compound fertilizer so as to reduce the amount of fertilizer used and the number of fertilizations, thereby reducing soil contamination.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a warming up status detector, a warming up completion threshold setter, an informing device, an estimator, and a threshold changer. The warming up status detector is configured to detect a warming up status of the fuel cell stack. The informing device is configured to inform of completion of warming up when a value corresponding to a warming up status detected by the warming up status detector is equal to or higher than a threshold value set by the warming up completion threshold setter. The estimator is configured to estimate whether generated water is frozen in the fuel cell stack. The threshold changer is configured to change the threshold value set by the warming up completion threshold setter in accordance with a freezing state of the generated water in the fuel cell stack estimated by the estimator.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for filtering particulate matter from a liquid are provided. The apparatus comprise: a housing defining an internal volume; a liquid inlet port; a liquid outlet port disposed above the liquid inlet port; a filter medium support membrane housed within the housing and disposed between the liquid inlet port and the liquid outlet port; and a particulate filter medium loaded onto the filter medium support membrane. The apparatus are designed such that a flow of liquid introduced into the internal volume of the housing through the liquid inlet port and exiting the internal volume of the housing through the liquid outlet port will pass upward through the filter medium support membrane.

Abstract: A filtration unit intended to allow the selective elimination of target substances from a fluid such as flood or a blood component, has an outer envelope formed from two flexible sheets joined together over their periphery along a bond line so as to define an inner volume, the envelope containing a filtering medium which delimits, on both sides of the bond line, an inlet compartment of the fluid to be filtered and an outlet compartment of the filtrate, each of the compartments being provided with an element—respectively an inlet and outlet element—for bringing the compartment into communication with the outside, the elements being connected between the sheets and comprising a flow channel that passes through the bond line, the unit being characterized in that at least one channel is offset relative to the bond line towards the compartment with which the channel is in communication.

Abstract: A method for bulk separation of single-walled tubular fullerenes (100) based on chirality is provided wherein an array of longitudinally directed channels (32) are formed on a crystalline substrate (30) to form a separation plate (300). At least one of the separation plate (300) and a solution or suspension of the single-walled tubular fullerenes (100) is displaced relative to the other for so exposing at least a portion of the plurality of single-walled tubular fullerenes (100) to the channels (32). Each of the channels (32) exposes portions of the upper surface (38) of the crystalline substrate (30) and the longitudinal direction is selected to be an energetically favored “locking angle” for single-walled tubular fullerenes (100a) of one chiral angle to be adsorbed to the exposed substrate surface (38). The adsorbed angle-walled tubular fullerenes (100a) are subsequently removed from the separation plate (300).