Abstract: In a method for regenerating an electrically conducting adsorbent laden with organic substances the adsorbent is heated by passing electric current through the adsorbent while not passing a flushing gas through the adsorbent. Subsequently, the flushing gas is passed through the adsorbent while not heating the adsorbent by passing electric current through the adsorbent so that the adsorbed organic substances are flushed from the adsorbent and the adsorbent is simultaneously cooled by the flushing gas.

Abstract: In a method for regenerating an electrically conducting adsorbent laden with organic substances the adsorbent is heated by passing electric current through the adsorbent while not passing a flushing gas through the adsorbent. Subsequently, the flushing gas is passed through the adsorbent while not heating the adsorbent by passing electric current through the adsorbent so that the adsorbed organic substances are flushed from the adsorbent and the adsorbent is simultaneously cooled by the flushing gas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor with two electrodes and a non-conducting iaphragm arranged between them. The electrodes have an insulating coating, which preferably comprises a metal oxide, mixed metal oxide, metal nitride, inorganic insulating material or fluorocarbon and the non-conducting diaphragm a metal oxide, mixed metal oxide, inorganic or organic insulating materials. As a function of the intended use, the diaphragm and electrode coating are porous (for measurements in non-aqueous liquids) or non-porous (for measurements of aqueous liquids). It is also directed at a process for measuring the characteristics of a liquid with the sensor according to the invention, as well as to the use of the sensor for the continuous or discontinuous investigation of liquids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymer membranes on the basis of polyviidene fluoride (PVDF), a process for the production thereof and their use for ultrafiltration. The membranes are produced according to known techniques from homogeneous solutions containing 5 to 30% by weight of PVDF and 0.01 to 30% by weight of sulfonic acids and/or their salts, obtainable by sulfonation of the polyetheretherketones of formula (I) and/or subsequent neutralization of the sulfonic acids. The membranes are then treated with methanolic solutions containing 0.1 to 5% by weight of the above-mentioned sulfonic acids and/or their salts. This process supplies membranes having excellent hydrophilic properties, high thermal and mechanical stabilities and high trans-membrane flows.--(--O--p--C.sub.6 H.sub.4 --O--p--C.sub.6 H.sub.4 --CO--p--C.sub.6 H.sub.4 --).sub.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for regenerating adsorbers as used in solvent recovery, for example. Regeneration is effected in that the adsorbed substances are desorbed according to known processes and a gaseous desorbate stream is produced, that the gaseous desorbate stream is fed into one or several pervaporation modules, that the desorbed substances in the pervaporation modules are removed from the desorbate stream by gas permeation via semi-permeable solubility diffusion membranes, and that the reduced desorbate stream is recirculated to the adsorber. Preferred embodiments of the process according to this invention use heatable solubility diffusion membranes. A recovery of the desorbate stream is rendered possible by the process according to this invention, which does not imply a change in state of the entire desorbate stream.

Abstract: The invention defines a device for the separation of fluid mixtures, comprising one or several membranes, in which the fluid mixture passes along one side of the membranes while, on the other side, a partial pressure of the constituent to be separated is maintained which is lower than the pressure in the fluid mixture.The inventive device is characterized by the fact that at least one heatable membrane is provided. The selective (separating) portion of the membrane may be a porous or a pervaporation membrane.The membrane may also comprise a supporting structure in addition to the selective portion, which may be made of a porous material in a preferred embodiment.Another preferred embodiment comprises a membrane coated with a material which is preferably wetted by the constituent to be separated by the respective membrane.

Abstract: A stream of gas is forced through the pores of an object and either the gas itself or a component thereof is electrically activated through partial brush discharge such that reaction products will modify the surface of the pore walls as the gas flows through. The method avoids vacuum deposition methods as well as wet-coating methods and is applicable for either hydrophobizing or hydrophilizing objects and for improving, for example, biochemical activities or compatability of the object with a liquid to be filtered later.

Abstract: There is provided a process for the adsorption and catalytic decomposition of foul-smelling intestinal gases, particularly mercaptans, wherein the intestinal gases are passed through a highly specific adsorbent which, out of a mixture of water vapor, methanol, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide and various sulfur-containing gases, particularly mercaptan-containing gases, catalytically decomposes and adsorbs only the sulfur and mercaptan compounds and optionally desorbs the non-smelling fractions. An absorbent for use in the method is characterized in that it contains an inert, highly porous solid having a specific surface according to BET of from 900 to 1800 m.sup.2 /g or pyrogenic silicon dioxide having a surface of from 50 to 500 m.sup.2 /g, the specific surfaces having been determined by argon adsorption at -196.degree. C., which are covered over their surface with from 0.1 to 5% by weight of aluminium, zinc, chromium or iron, based on the weight of the solid having a specific surface of 1000 m.sup.

Abstract: A pair of doppler type ultrasonic transmitters and receiving devices are employed, one operating at a frequency lower than the other. Each of the devices are connected to a demodulator to produce first and second doppler frequency signals, one indicative of vascular blood flow, the other indicative of movement of the vascular wall. The doppler frequencies are fed to a signal processing circuit and a reference stage received as its input, the output of the signal processors. The reference stage produces an output signal on coincidence of the two input signals which is indicative of the heart-beat frequency.

Abstract: In order to perform a non-invasive measurement of the blood flow rate in the smallest vessels, i.e. the capillaries, of a blood vessel bed, and to detect the presence of erythrocyte aggregations therein, acoustic pulses containing oscillations at a frequency above 20 MHz are directed through the skin of a subject from a crystal transducer and the resulting echo pulses are processed to produce information based on the Doppler frequency signals relating to blood flow in a predetermined direction and occurring within a time window corresponding to the distance from the crystal of the blood vessels to be examined. Interspersed between the above-mentioned pulses, spike pulses having a duration of the order of 20 ns are similarly transmitted, and echoes thereof are detected for the purpose of detecting the presence of erythrocyte aggregations.

Abstract: A system for preparing liquid biological substances, such as blood, blood components or cell suspensions for deep freezing which comprises atomizing a protective additive and dripping the biological substance into the stream of the atomized protective substance which is then collected in a receptacle and deep frozen. The system provides an effective way of intimately mixing the protective substance with the biological material to ensure a homogeneous distribution of the protective agent therein.

Abstract: A system for the deep freezing of biological substances provides an input representing the temperature-time curve required at the outer wall of a receptacle containing biological substances to be deep-frozen while a sensor measures the actual temperatures at this wall and controls the cooling applied to the receptacle to conform the cooling at the receptable wall to the precalculated temperature-time curve. This permits the necessary temperature gradient to be applied to the biological substance for maximum cell survival without any dead time necessitated by the use of sensors within the biological substance itself.

Abstract: A blood pump comprises a rigid outer wall which defines a squeeze pump that is operated by a pumping medium. A valve mechanism is used for controlling the flow of blood through the pump. The squeeze pump includes a flexible pumping tube, an entry side and an exit side, entry side connection mechanism and an exit side connection mechanism. The entry side connection mechanism includes an atrium that is defined by the outer wall and includes a diaphragm forming an internal lining within the atrium. The lining diaphragm is separated from the rigid outer wall by the pumping medium used to operate the squeeze pump. The exit side connection mechanism includes a tube bend constituting a curvature of the aorta and has a diaphragm forming an internal lining within the tube bend. The internal lining of the tube bend is also separated from the rigid outer wall by the pumping medium. The cross-section of the atrium on the entry side is substantially circular and the flow of blood is directed tangentially into the atrium.