Abstract: A process for preparing membrane layers employing an apparatus suitable for plasma surface treating (e.g. forming a membrane layer on a substrate) which comprises a plasma generation section which is operable at least at substantially atmospheric pressure and is in communication via at least one plasma inlet (e.g. a nozzle) with an enclosed plasma treating section which is operable at a lower pressure than the plasma generation section, and wherein the plasma treating-section is in communication with an inlet for a fluid (e.g. polymerizable) reactant. A plasma beam generated in the apparatus and containing at least one fluid reactant impinges on the surface of a substrate to form a membrane layer.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of adsorbent layer upon a non-permeable substrate comprisinga) generating plasma by introducing a non-polymerizable fluid into a plasma generation zone using a direct current arc;b) introducing hydrocarbonaceous monomers into said plasma generation zone thereby forming polymerizable hydrocarbonaceous compounds, setting a ratio of flow rates of the hydrocarbonaceous monomers and the non-polymerizable fluid in the range from >0-0.001; andc) contacting the substrate with the glowing zone of said plasma.

Abstract: An apparatus suitable for plasma surface treating (e.g., forming a membrane layer on a substrate surface) comprises a plasma generation section which is operable at least at substantially atmospheric pressure and is in communication via at least one plasma inlet (e.g., a nozzle) with an enclosed plasma treating section which is operable at a lower pressure than the plasma generation section, and wherein the plasma treating-section is in communication with an inlet for a fluid (e.g., polymerizable) reactant used to form a layer on the substrate surface.

Abstract: Horizontal gas/liquid separator comprising a vessel having a gas inlet with a gas inlet channel and a gas outlet with a gas outlet channel. The channels are separated from one another by a horizontal gas/liquid separation zone provided with swirl tubes. To obtain a uniform gas/liquid distribution over the swirl tubes, these swirl tubes are provided with primary gas outlet tubes with different cross sectional areas depending on their location relative to the gas outlet.

Abstract: Mixtures of gas and liquid are treated and separated within a housing containing one apparatus or a column containing a plurality of apparatuses where each apparatus contains a tubular wall defining an inner space and a surrounding outer space, inlet means for supplying a mixture of liquid and gas into the inner space, swirl-imparting means within the inner space for imparting a rotary motion to separate the mixture of liquid and gas and outlet means for separately discharging the liquid and gas.