Abstract: The present invention relates to a module for filtering, separating, purifying gases or liquids, or for catalytic conversion, including:a substantially cylindrical housing (13),at least one rigid element (4) of which at least one end (5) is substantially cylindrical and whose axis is parallel to that of the housing (13),at least one elastically deformable metal part in the form of a ring (6), fixed firstly to the housing (13) and connected secondly to the end (5) of the element (4), characterized in that the joint between the ring (6) and the end (5) of the element (4) is a hoop fitting.

Abstract: A tertiary treatment unit is provided that has a first filtration unit operatively connected to an influent for filtering solids therefrom to form an effluent, a second filtration unit operatively connected to the first filtration unit to receive the effluent and to filter finer solids and bacteria and viruses from the effluent, a supply tank operatively connected to the effluent to provide chemicals that are mixed into the effluent, and a reactor that receives the effluent and removes nitrogen and some phosphorous therefrom to form a treated effluent. The treatment unit further has a first adsorption unit that receives the treated effluent and adsorbs additional nitrogen, BOD, TSS and certain chemicals from the treated effluent, and a second adsorption unit that receives the partially adsorbed treated effluent from the first adsorption unit and adsorbs additional phosphorous from the treated effluent to form the final effluent.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method for hemoglobin purification utilizing a novel two-step dual-aqueous-phase extraction technique to separate hemoglobin from red cell membrane stroma and other protein contaminants. In the first step, a first dual-aqueous-phase liquid system is prepared which comprises an upper aqueous phase containing polyethylene glycol in water and a lower aqueous phase containing a phosphate buffer at a pH of about 10. In the second step, a second dual-aqueous-phase liquid system is prepared which comprises an upper aqueous phase, which contains the polyethylene glycol phase containing the hemoglobin extracted in the first step, and a lower aqueous phase containing a new phosphate buffer at a pH of less than 7.5. After the second extraction step, purified hemoglobin solution can then be obtained by removing the phosphate salt and the minute amounts of polyethylene glycol contained in the lower phase.

Abstract: An oil-based article absorbs oil-based fluid on a surface. The article is made of a cloth and a flotation material encased in the cloth to assist in the absorption of oil-based fluid and the flotation of the article. The cloth has at least one napped surface that defines voids therein, and nap is formed of raised ends or loops of the fibers and has a thickness. The flotation material can also absorb water. When encased in the cloth, the cloth inhibits water absorption to inhibit water from contacting the flotation material. Thus, the flotation material absorbs oil-based fluid to increase the absorption capability of the article. The oil-based fluid containing flotation material is capable of assisting flotation. The oil-based fluid is recovered from the article and put to a beneficial use. The article can be reused repeatedly.

Abstract: A method and materials for separating oil from water, using stacked disks to coalesce the oil, is disclosed. The method of coalescence allows configuration of systems which are compact, efficient, adaptable to modular configuration, and have a very high flow rate.

Abstract: It is proposed, in accordance with the invention, that a pressurized water purifier which includes an inlet conduit, a pressure-elevating pump mounted in the inlet conduit, a filter or membrane type purifying unit, a purified-water outlet conduit and a reject conduit for concentrated contaminated water that the reject conduit (22) includes a pressure-limiting valve (28) which is controlled by the pressure in the outlet conduit (18). This will enable the water purifier to operate at a required, high internal working pressure, while enabling the pressure of the purified water to be maintained at a maximum level limited by the water conduit system and to be varied in response to the water taken from the system in the absence of pulsations.

Abstract: An adsorption material for selectively removing Lp(a) lipoprotein, LDL cholesterol and/or vLDL cholesterol from aqueous liquids, in particular from blood, plasma or serum, consisting of porous glass beads as the solid carrier material whose silanol groups present on its surface carry ligands which are covalently bound and have alkyl residues with 4 to 12 atoms containing at least one ether group and a terminal .alpha.,.beta.-diol group containing alkyl residues with 4 to 12 C atoms and wherein the material has no free silanol groups. Also disclosed is a method of using the adsorption material for selective removal or determination of Lp(a) lipoprotein, LDL cholesterol or/and vLDL cholesterol from aqueous liquids, and a device for use in such methods.

Abstract: A filter apparatus for filtering machine tool coolant is disclosed as including a drum filter or a disc filter assembly including a hollow rotatable mandrel mounting a drum filter assembly or plurality of removable hollow disc filter elements each element having a foraminous non-reticulated metal screen having minute openings and a smooth planar surface for providing improved scrape cleanability and preventing movement of machining chips, particulate and also elongate contaminants from one side of the filter to the other side thereof.

Abstract: An interchangeable adhesive dispensing system adaptable for use in contact or non-contact adhesive dispensing includes a gun body, an adapter and a clamp which threadably connects to the gun body by bolts to compressively hold therebetween either a nozzle plate used for non-contact dispensing or a doctor blade assembly used for contact dispensing. To changeover from one type of dispensing to the other, the clamp is loosened so that the nozzle plate or doctor blade assembly may be removed from between the adapter and the clamp, a new nozzle plate or doctor blade assembly is located between the adapter and the clamp, and the clamp is tightened to the gun body.

Abstract: A multifunctional filtration apparatus is provided for the automated transfer, separation and filtration which accommodates all types of filter papers or filter mediums including aerophobic filter mediums such as nitrocellulose, nylon, biological membranes as well as aerophyllic filter mediums. The automated multifunctional filtration apparatus includes a first manifold and one or more separation chambers disposed on one side of a filter medium and a second manifold disposed on the other side of the filter medium.

Abstract: Systems and methods for separating a suspension of plasma and platelets from whole blood rotate a chamber about an axis to create within the chamber a low-G zone radially close to the axis and a high-G zone spaced radially further from the axis than the low-G zone. The systems and methods introduce whole blood into an inlet region of the chamber to initiate separation of red blood cells toward the high-G zone of the inlet region. This creates a strong flow of plasma that moves radially toward the low-G zone of the inlet region and elutes platelets into suspension with it. The systems and methods direct the radial flow of plasma and eluted platelets within the inlet region to a port in the inlet region for transport out of the chamber. The systems and methods also drag the interface into this radial plasma flow, eluting even the largest of platelets into suspension for collection.

Abstract: A liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer includes a liquid chromatograph unit for performing liquid chromatography, an atomizer having a controllable temperature for heating and atomizing a liquid flowing out of the liquid chromatograph unit during liquid chromatography to produce an atomized liquid, an ionizing device for ionizing the atomized liquid to produce an ionizing sample, a mass spectrometer for analyzing the ionized sample, a storage device for successively storing liquid chromatography conditions and respective atomizer temperatures used for the liquid chromatography conditions for past measurements performed with the liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer, an input device for inputting a current liquid chromatography condition for a current measurement, a retrieving device for retrieving from the storage device a liquid chromatography condition nearest to the current liquid chromatography condition among the liquid chromatography conditions stored in the storage device, and the atomizer temperatu

Abstract: The artificial kidney includes an exchanger having two compartments separated by a semipermeable membrane, the first compartment of which is connected to a circuit for conveying a flow of blood outside the body. A source of treatment liquid is provided, and a control unit selectively connects the source to either the inlet of the second compartment of the exchanger or to the blood circuit as a function of the transmembrane pressure. This kidney provides optimum purification treatment for patients suffering from temporary kidney failure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for filtering a fluid stream wherein the fluid stream is passed through a first filtering zone to remove particulate materials therefrom above a first preselected micron level, then through a desiccant media bed zone including a multiplicity of desiccant beads to dry the fluid stream and then through a second filtering zone to remove particulate materials therefrom above a second preselected micron level below said first micron level so as to remove smaller particulate materials including particulates from said first filtering zone.

Abstract: A process for separating and recovering serum and plasma components from a whole blood sample including passing a whole blood sample through a separating filter formed of a blood cell separating layer composed mainly of fibers impregnated with a coating agent. A device includes a blood collector having a needle at one end and a blood suction means at the other end, and a separating filter including a blood cell separating layer, the filter being provided in the intermediate zone of the blood collector, whereby a whole blood sample sucked through the needle by depressurizing the blood suction means is passed through the separating filter.

Abstract: Processes and systems for combining multiple units of a biological fluid in independent containers into a single container are disclosed.

Abstract: Leucocyte depletion filter assemblies and methods for removing leucocytes and other deleterious matter from a leucocyte-containing liquid are disclosed. Leucocyte depletion filter assemblies have a generally cylindrical housing having first and second chambers and an inlet into the first chamber and an outlet from the second chamber and a vent. A porous degassing element is positioned between the first and second chambers to remove gas from the liquid and the degassing element communicates with a vent covered with a liquophobic membrane which allows gas but not the liquid to flow through the vent. A hollow, cylindrical filter element is positioned in the second chamber and comprises a fibrous mass of microfibers capable of decreasing the leucocyte content of the liquid at a flow rate capacity of six liters per minute at a differential pressure of less than 15 psi.

Abstract: The invention provides processing donated blood, particularly a platelet-containing solution such as platelet-containing plasma, involving separating blood into a red cell containing sediment layer and a supernatant layer, and passing the supernatant layer through a filter until the filter is blocked, thereby leaving platelets to be harvested. The preferred filter comprises a porous medium having a plurality of zones of progressively increasing density.

Abstract: A solute can be separated from a solute/solvent solution by dissolving a gas-forming material into said solution and then adjusting the temperature, pressure and solute concentration of the resulting solution such that a Joule-Thompson free expansion of the gas-forming material released from the solution will produce a three-phase separation of the components of said solution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the multiple passage of fluids through a treatment unit (e.g. a medical apheresis unit). The apparatus includes primary and secondary vessels. Connected to the primary vessel is a first conduit which terminates at the treatment unit outlet, and a second conduit which terminates at the treatment unit inlet. Connected to the secondary vessel is a third conduit which terminates at the treatment unit inlet, and a fourth conduit which terminates at the treatment unit outlet. In use, a clamp is simultaneously secured to the first conduit and second conduit prior to filling the primary vessel with fluid (e.g. bone marrow). The clamp is then removed and placed on the first conduit and the third conduit simultaneously so that fluid flows from the primary vessel, into the treatment unit, and into the secondary vessel.