Abstract: There is provided a process for effecting separation of at least a gaseous permeate-disposed operative material from a gaseous supply material that is being supplied to a gaseous supply material receiving space that is disposed in mass transfer communication with a permeate receiving space through a membrane, the gaseous supply material including an operative material that defines a gaseous supply material-disposed operative material, and the membrane including a gel. The process includes replenishing liquid material that has become depleted from the gel.

Abstract: There is provided a process for effecting separation of at least a gaseous permeate-disposed operative material from a gaseous supply material that is being supplied to a gaseous supply material receiving space that is disposed in mass transfer communication with a permeate receiving space through a membrane, the gaseous supply material including an operative material that defines a gaseous supply material-disposed operative material, and the membrane including a gel. The process includes replenishing liquid material that has become depleted from the gel.

Abstract: There is provided a process for effecting separation of at least a gaseous permeate-disposed operative material from a gaseous supply material that is being supplied to a gaseous supply material receiving space that is disposed in mass transfer communication with a permeate receiving space through a membrane, the gaseous supply material including an operative material that defines a gaseous supply material-disposed operative material, and the membrane including a gel. The process includes replenishing liquid material that has become depleted from the gel.

Abstract: A membrane supported biofilm reactor uses modules having fine, hollow fibres, for example, made from melt spun thermoplastic polymers treated after spinning to increase their permeability to oxygen, used, for example, in tows or formed into a fabric. In one module, one or more sheets of the fabric are potted into a module to enable oxygen containing gas to be supplied to the lumens of the hollow fibres. Various reactors and processes, for example to treat wastewater, using such modules are described. Mechanical, chemical and biological methods, for example endogenous respiration, are used to control the thickness of the biofilm.

Abstract: A membrane supported biofilm reactor uses modules having fine, hollow fibers, for example, made from melt spun thermoplastic polymers treated after spinning to increase their permeability to oxygen, used, for example, in tows or formed into a fabric. In one module, one or more sheets of the fabric are potted into a module to enable oxygen containing gas to be supplied to the lumens of the hollow fibers. Various reactors and processes, for example to treat wastewater, using such modules are described. In one process, oxygen travels through fibers, optionally through an attached biofilm, to oxygenate surrounding water. Mechanical, chemical and biological methods, for example endogenous respiration, are used to control the thickness of the biofilm.

Abstract: A membrane module apparatus to transfer a gas to or from a liquid has a sheet having at least one gas transfer surface. The gas transfer surface is in flow communication with a header through a gas channel. The module may be used to support a biofilm on the gas transfer surface. A plurality of sheets or portions of sheets may be separated by spacers.

Abstract: A membrane supported biofilm reactor uses modules having fine, hollow fibres, for example, made from dense wall Poly methylpentene (PMP) used in tows or formed into a fabric. In one module, one or more sheets of the fabric are potted into a module to enable oxygen containing gas to be supplied to the lumens of the hollow fibres. Various reactors and processes, for example to treat wastewater, using such modules are described. Mechanical, chemical and biological methods are used to control the thickness of the biofilm.

Abstract: A membrane supported biofilm reactor uses modules having fine, hollow fibres, for example, made from dense wall Poly methylpentene (PMP) used in tows or formed into a fabric. In one module, one or more sheets of the fabric are potted into a module to enable oxygen containing gas to be supplied to the lumens of the hollow fibres. Various reactors and processes, for example to treat wastewater, using such modules are described. Mechanical, chemical and biological methods are used to control the thickness of the biofilm.

Abstract: A spacer mesh is provided and is configured to separate a first ion conducting membrane from a second ion conducting membrane to define a space between the membranes, comprising a plurality of strands consisting essentially of a polymer having a heat distortion temperature of at least 90° C. at 66 psi, and a melt flow index within the range of 3 g/10 min to 6 g/10 min, and being chemically stable at pH>13 or pH<2. The spacer mesh includes a first plurality of spaced apart substantially parallel strand elements, and a second plurality of spaced apart substantially parallel strand elements, wherein the first plurality of strand elements and the second plurality of strand elements are connected to define a netting having a plurality of apertures, each of the apertures having a plurality of vertices defined by a pair of intersecting strands, and a distance between non-adjacent vertices in an aperture is less than 10/1000 of an inch.

Abstract: A heterogeneous ion exchange material is provided which comprises an ion exchange resin incorporated within a binder, the binder comprising a material selected from the group consisting of: (i) a Metallocene catalyzed linear low density polyethylene, (ii) a very low density polyethylene or ultra low density polyethylene processed using either Ziegler-Natta catalysts or Metallocene catalysts, (iii) a thermoplastic elastomeric olefin comprising a polypropylene continuous phase with an ethylene-propylene-diene monomer or ethylene-propylene rubber rubbery phase dispersed through the polypropylene continuous phase, and (iv) a thermoplastic vulcanizate comprising a polypropylene continuous phase with an ethylene-propylene-diene monomer, ethylene-propylene rubber, nitrile-butadiene rubber, natural rubber or ethylene vinyl acetate rubbery phase dispersed through the polypropylene continuous phase.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing deionized water, comprising an electrodialyzer having cation exchange membranes and anion exchange membranes alternately arranged to form demineralizing compartments and concentrating compartments and having ion exchangers accommodated in the demineralizing compartments, and designed to conduct an electric current while supplying water to be treated to the demineralizing compartments, wherein a spacer is arranged in each concentrating compartment to maintain the thickness of the concentrating compartment, and the cation exchange membranes or the anion exchange membranes are incorporated in their dry state in the electrodialyzer, whereby water is supplied to the electrodialyzer, while each ion exchange membrane is brought in contact with the spacer by a pressure from the demineralizing compartment side.

Abstract: An electrically driven membrane process apparatus is provided comprising a first spacer having a perimeter having a surface with an inner peripheral edge defining an opening, and a recess formed on the inner peripheral edge, and an ion exchange membrane having an outer edge fitted within the recess. The spacer can further comprise a plurality of bosses and an ion exchange membrane having a corresponding plurality of apertures for receiving the bosses. The spacer can include a plastic mesh consisting essentially of polypropylene or polyethylene, and a perimeter surrounding the plastic mesh, the perimeter comprising material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic vulcanizates and thermoplastic elastomeric olefins. The spacer can have an upstanding seal member depending therefrom, received by groove within a corresponding frame member. A second spacer is also provided having a continuous flange depending from its surface and surrounding a throughbore, for pinching a portion of the first spacer.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing deionized water consisting essentially of an electrodialyzer having cation exchange membranes and anion exchange membranes alternately arranged between a cathode and an anode to form demineralizing compartments and concentrating compartments, and ion exchangers accommodated in the demineralizing compartments, wherein a pressure of from 0.1 to 20 kg/cm2 is exerted between the ion exchangers accommodated in the demineralizing compartments and the cation exchange membranes and anion exchange membranes defining the demineralizing compartments.

Abstract: A modular sysTem for the demineralization of aqueous liquids comprising a plurality of modular units, each of the modular units being encapsulated and having a cathode proximate a first end of the modular unit and an anode proximate the opposite end of said modular, a plurality of alternating diluting compartments and concentrating compartments positioned between the cathode and the anode, and ion exchange material positioned within the diluting compartments. Each of the diluting compartments has a compartment spacer with an elongated central cavity and a plurality of fine slit openings at each end adjacent the cavity. The ion exchange means comprise a porous and permeable continuous phase of cation or anion exchange resin particles and a porous and permeable dispersed phase of clusters of the other of the cation or anion exchange resin particles.

Abstract: An electrodeionization apparatus adapted to remove ions from a liquid, the apparatus having a cathode proximate a first end of the apparatus and an anode proximate the opposite end of the apparatus and having a plurality of alternating diluting compartments and concentrating compartments positioned between the cathode and the anode, the diluting and concentrating compartments defined by anion and cation permeable membranes, and ion exchange material positioned within the diluting compartments, the diluting compartments having therein a continuous phase of a first ion exchange material containing a dispersed phase of clusters of a second ion exchange material. The method of removing ions from a liquid in such an electrodeionization apparatus comprises passing an aqueous liquid to be purified through the diluting compartments in which the diluting compartments have the continuous phase of a first ion exchange material with the dispersed phase of a second ion exchange material.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing deionized water consisting essentially of an electrodialyzer having cation exchange membranes and anion exchange membranes alternately arranged between a cathode and an anode to form demineralizing compartments and concentrating compartments, and ion exchangers accommodated in the demineralizing compartments, wherein a pressure of from 0.1 to 20 kg/cm.sup.2 is exerted between the ion exchangers accommodated in the demineralizing compartments and the cation exchange membranes and anion exchange membranes defining the demineralizing compartments.