Abstract: A rigid yard refuse bag liner for insertion into a yard refuse bag for supporting the yard refuse bag in an open condition. The rigid yard refuse bag liner is an elongated enclosure having an open bottom and having a tapered construction such that its bottom portion is wider than its top portion, which facilitates the removal of the rigid liner once the refuse bag liner/refuse bag are filled with yard refuse. To further facilitate this removal, air vents running through the enclosure permit the passage of air as the rigid liner is lifted upward, out of the yard bag. A compactor is associated with the rigid liner whereby the compactor is a planar surface coupled to a handle that the user can grasp and apply pressure to in order to compact the yard refuse that has already been collected.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a microporous, water-wettable, alcohol-insoluble, polyamide membrane used for cold beer filtration using a dilute, alkaline solution which is non-destructive to the membrane and the filtration equipment and which removes and/or de-absorbs and otherwise renders loaded proteins, polysaccharides and other biomolecules flushable from the membrane with water.

Abstract: A filtering process is disclosed for obtaining a clear effluent filtrate from a turbid oil or gas well treatment fluid contaminated with solid particulates comprised of drilling and formation debris having particle sizes in the range of from about 0.1 to about 30 micrometers comprising passing the treatment fluid through a surface filter having an absolute pore rating of about 40 micrometers or less at a flow density of from about 0.05 to about 0.5 gallons per minute per square foot of filter surface such that (1) initially at least a portion of the particulates is collected on the upstream surface of the surface filter and begins forming a filter cake with enhanced capability for removing particulates smaller than the absolute pore rating of said surface filter and (2) thereafter the treatment fluid is filtered through a filter composite of the surface filter and the filter cake whereby a clear effluent substantially free of solid particulates having particle sizes in the range of from about 0.

Abstract: A process is provided for filtration of aqueous oil-containing brines that are substantially free from viscosity-increasing agents, which comprises adding to the aqueous oil-containing brine having a tendency to contaminate and plug a filter a sufficient amount of an oxidizing agent capable of reacting with plugging contaminants present in the brine to alleviate the plugging tendency, thereby extending filter life.

Abstract: A fused salt thermal device having two spaced electrodes to provide an active thermal cell space therebetween, a reservoir containing an inorganic fusible salt electrolyte which is solid at a temperature below a predetermined activation temperature and which is molten at or above the activation temperature, and means permitting circulation of the fused salt electrolyte between the active thermal cell space and the reservoir during the generation of electricity in order to replenish spent electrolyte. Preferably, the fused salt thermal device has a metal electrode and an electrically conductive porous electrode spaced therefrom to provide an active thermal cell space with a reservoir containing an inorganic fusible salt electrolyte in fluid communication with the porous electrode so that upon activation of the thermal device the molten salt electrolyte circulates between the active thermal cell space and the reservoir through the porous electrode.