Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for removing calcite deposits by contacting polysuccinimide with water to dissolve the polysuccinimide and supplying the dissolved polysuccinimide to surfaces fouled with the calcite deposits. The pH of the water that dissolves the polysuccinimide can be adjusted based on the amount of calcium in the water. Adjusting the pH will affect the dissolution rate of the polysuccinimide in water and the rate of removal of the calcite deposits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and process for treating a feedwater wherein the system includes at least one RO or nanofiltration unit that receives a feed under high pressure and produces a concentrate that is directed to and held at low pressure in a concentrate accumulator. Generally the permeate or the inlet feedwater is maintained at a constant flow rate. Periodically the system is switched from a mode 1 or normal operating process to a mode 2 where the concentrate is drained from the concentrate accumulator. However, in mode 2, the feedwater is still directed into the system and through the RO or nanofiltration unit which produces the permeate and the concentrate.

Abstract: As pellets grow from seed/sand in a fluidized bed pellent reactor, the weight of the reactor is measured and the density of the contents of the reactor is calculated, and the input flow of untreated water, water treatement chemical, and seed/sand are adjusted to provide improved removal of water hardness while reducing fine particulates in the outflow of softened water from the reactor.

Abstract: A spiral wound assembly including a pressure vessel including an inner chamber, feed inlet, concentrate outlet and permeate outlet and a spiral wound membrane module located within the inner chamber of the pressure vessel; wherein the assembly is characterized by including: i) a flow restrictor comprising: a first and second plate in sealing contact with one another; and a fluid channel located between the first and second plate and including a first end in fluid communication with at least one of the concentrate outlet and the permeate outlet, and a second end adapted for discharging fluid from the spiral wound assembly; and ii) a sensor sheet comprising at least one sensor element located between the first and second plates and in contact with the fluid channel, wherein the sensor sheet is adapted for measuring a property of fluid passing through the fluid channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to membrane modules, in particular membrane pocket modules, which comprise membrane pocket stacks which are disposed in a housing having at least one feed inlet, at least one retentate outlet, and at least one permeate outlet. The invention also relates to the use of the membrane module according to the invention for separating mixtures of liquids and/or gases. The membrane of the previously known type, also referred to as a GS module, comprises a housing which for forming a container interior space by means of finisher discs at two end sides is closed in a pressure-tight manner. The finisher discs comprise at least one feed inlet, at least one retentate outlet, and one permeate outlet, wherein at least one membrane pocket stack which has a plurality of membrane pockets which are lined up beside one another and are mutually separated by seals and which are push-fitted onto a permeate tube is disposed in the container interior space.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a continuous membrane separator bypass system and a continuous filtration separator system and methods of using the systems in the separation of liquid-liquid mixtures and filtration of process liquids. The methods and apparatus are useful for the production of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals, particularly using Integrated Continuous Manufacturing (ICM), but can also be integrated with other manufacturing processes, such as batch and semi-continuous processes.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for producing a concentrated feed stream and a diluted feed stream using a solute stream provided to the low pressure side of the semi-permeable membrane during a reverse osmosis process. The process includes providing a semipermeable membrane having a first side and a second side and introducing a first feed solution stream on the first side of the membrane and a second feed solution stream on the second side, wherein the osmotic pressure of the of the first feed solution stream is greater than or equal to the osmotic pressure of the second feed solution stream. The process further includes exerting hydrostatic pressure on the first side of the membrane such that solvent passes from the first side to the second side thereby producing a concentrated first feed solution stream and a diluted second feed solution stream. Devices and systems for performing the processes are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel method to fabricate magnetic silica nanomembranes using thin polymer cores based on silica deposition and self-wrinkling induced by thermal shrinkage. These micro- and nano-scale structures have vastly enlarged the specific area of silica, thus the magnetic silica nanomembranes can be used for solid phase extraction of nucleic acids. The magnetic silica nanomembranes are suitable for nucleic acid purification and isolation and demonstrated better performance than commercial particles in terms of nucleic acid recovery yield and integrity. In addition, the magnetic silica nanomembranes may have high nucleic acid capacity due to significantly enlarged specific surface area of silica. Methods of use and devices comprising the magnetic silica nanomembranes are also provided herein.

Abstract: A cell processing system includes a processor connectable to a source container filled with a biological fluid, the processor including a separator configured to separate the biological fluid from the source container into at least two streams according to a process including at least one process parameter, and a controller coupled to the processor and an input. The controller is configured to receive the at least one process parameter, to evaluate the process using the at least one process parameter before performing the process, and to carry out one or more actions based on the evaluation, such as providing an output estimate to the operator, preventing the process from being performed according to a comparison between a calculated condition and a control, or providing an error indication to the operator according to the calculated condition and a measured in-process condition.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus is provided comprising a filtration unit (2) connected to a blood circuit (17) and to a dialysate circuit (32), a preparation device (9) for preparing and regulating the composition of the dialysis fluid; a control unit (12) is configured for receiving a desired sodium mass transport at the end of the treatment session and for setting the sodium concentration value for the dialysis fluid in the dialysis supply line (8) at a set point to achieve the desired sodium mass transport at the end of the treatment session.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an integrated system and method for producing purified water, hydrogen, and oxygen from contaminated water. The contaminated water may be derived from regolith-based resources on the moon, Mars, near-Earth asteroids, or other destination in outer space. The integrated system and method utilize a cold trap to receive the contaminated water in a vapor phase and selectively freeze out water from one or more volatiles. A heat source increases temperature in the cold trap to vaporize the frozen contaminated water to produce a gas stream of water vapor and volatiles. A chemical scrubber may remove one or more volatiles. The integrated system and method utilize ionomer membrane technology to separate the water vapor from remaining volatiles. The water vapor is delivered for crew use or delivered to an electrolyzer to produce hydrogen and oxygen.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a device for a mass transfer between two fluids, wherein at least one hollow-fiber mat (9) is wound on an at least partly hollow core assembly (1, 1a, 1b, 2), and the formed coil is inserted into a housing (10). The assembly of the housing (10) and the coil is then sealed (10), in particular potted, with a sealant at the opposing axial ends in the regions between the hollow-fiber ends and the housing. The core assembly (1, 2) is made of at least two axially adjacent core parts (1, 1a, 1b, 2) arranged one behind the other, at least one (1, 1a, 1b) of which has a hollow design, and the core parts (1, 1a, 1b, 2) are kept in specified axial positions relative to each other, in particular at a distance to each other, by means of at least one aid element (7) at least over the period of the sealing process and preferably over the period of the winding process as well.

Abstract: A spiral wound membrane module including a specialized end cap assembly including a connecting conduit defining a passageway extending radially inward from its outer periphery, and a differential pressure sensor connected to the passageway of the connecting conduit.

Abstract: A dialysis system includes: (i) a source of water made suitable for a dialysis treatment; (ii) at least one concentrate for mixing with the water from the source; (iii) a dialysis fluid pump; and (iv) a disposable set operable with the dialysis fluid pump and in fluid communication with the source of water and the at least one concentrate, the disposable set including a container having a first end and a second end, the container configured to allow the water and the at least one concentrate pumped by the dialysis fluid pump to enter at the second end and exit from the first end to mix for the dialysis treatment.

Abstract: This fluid separating element comprises: a spiral wound body formed by winding a separating membrane and a raw water flow passage material in a spiral shape; an outside shell provided on an outer periphery of the spiral wound body; and telescoping prevention plates provided at both ends of the spiral wound body and the outside shell, wherein the telescoping prevention plate comprises at least a second annular portion capable of holding the outside shell, and a third annular portion which is formed on an axially outer side of the second annular portion and comprises an annulus having a greater outer diameter than that of the second annular portion, and at least one depression is provided in a side surface on the spiral wound body side of the third annular portion.

Abstract: A membrane apparatus including a housing, a forward osmosis membrane dividing an internal space of the housing into an inlet region and a mixing region, and a pervaporation membrane dividing the internal space of the housing into the mixing region and a discharge region. The forward osmosis membrane separates a preliminary filtration liquid from an inlet liquid and provides the separated preliminary filtration liquid to the mixing region, the preliminary filtration liquid is mixed with a forward osmosis draw solution to make a mixed solution, the pervaporation membrane separates a final filtration liquid from the mixed solution and provides the separated final filtration liquid to the discharge region, the final filtration liquid is vaporized in the discharge region to make vapor, and an amount of the vapor is adjusted by at least one of a temperature of the mixed solution and a degree of vacuum of the discharge region.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for maximizing the generation of large-scale renewable energy (LSRE) by pressure-enhanced osmosis (PEO) and synergistic effects, in which a PEO module is designed by increasing the maximum power generation by increase of the dilution factor ? to enhance a power output beyond ten times of the conventional PRO method, and even more power can be generated by the PEO method by incorporation with synergistic effects to form two types of PEO systems: (1) a surficial PEO system, in which the synergistic effects are achieved through combined effects of FO and nanofiltration (NF) or ultrafiltration (UF), and application of an energy exchange and fluid recovery device for re-concentration and reuse of the draw solution, (2) a subsurface PEO system, synergistic effects are achieved through application of the gravitational potential, application of waste heat from power generation, and application of an uplift chamber.

Abstract: Method for recovering a target protein from a feedstock comprising said target protein and at least one impurity compound selected from host cell proteins (HCP), DNA, RNA or other nucleic acid, the target protein being characterized by a hydrodynamic radius Rh1 and the impurity compound being characterized by a hydrodynamic radius Rh2, wherein Rh1>Rh2, comprising the following steps (i) to (iv) and optionally step (v): (i) providing a polymeric mesh comprising at least one crosslinked polymer containing positively charged amino groups, wherein the polymer has a pore size exclusion limit Rhi which can be set variably; (ii) adapting the variable pore size exclusion limit Rhi of the polymeric mesh such that Rh2<Rhi and Rh1>Rhi; (iii) contacting the polymeric mesh with the feedstock; (iv) separating the polymeric mesh containing the retained impurity compound from the feedstock containing the excluded target protein.

Abstract: Methods of priming a plasma processing system are disclosed. The plasma processing system has a number of different fluid flow circuits that are defined by sources of fluid, fluid flow paths, waste containers, a mixer, a separator, valves and a pump. A first fluid circuit is flushed, where the first fluid circuit is defined by a source of a first fluid, a first valve positioned between the source of the first fluid and the first fluid flow path, a second valve positioned between the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path, a first pump positioned between the second fluid flow path and the third fluid flow path, and a first waste container in fluid communication with the third fluid flow path. A second fluid circuit is then flushed by closing and opening certain valves.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming a microporous membrane that incorporates an additive having low water solubility at the membrane's active surface from a precipitation fluid. The incorporated additive at the membrane's active surface can improve one or more of the membrane's hydrophilicity, wettability, anti-fouling behavior, blood compatibility, and stability over long periods of use or repetitive use. The microporous membrane with this modified active surface can be a hollow fiber, flat sheet, or other self-supporting shape. The microporous membranes can be used for membrane filtering or a solute and/or solvent exchange process, which involve contacting aqueous-based fluid or blood with the microporous membrane, such processes for dialysis, blood oxygenation, or blood separation filtering, or other processes.