Abstract: The present invention provides porous composite materials and methods of making and using the same. In one embodiment, a porous composite material comprises a porous substrate comprising a first polymeric material and at least one particle or fiber of a second polymeric material and a third polymeric material disposed on at least one surface of the porous substrate and having at least one point of attachment the to the at least one particle or fiber of the second polymeric material.

Abstract: Methods of making porous composite materials are provided. These methods involve providing a sintered porous first polymeric material, providing a solution containing a second polymeric material dissolved in a solvent, and, depositing the solution onto the sintered porous first polymeric material to form a precipitated porous second polymeric material wherein a portion of the second polymeric material is fused to the sintered, porous first polymeric material by at least one direct physical bond, and the second polymeric material is in at least some of the pores of the first polymeric material. In some methods, the first polymeric material and the second polymeric material are soluble in the same solvent.

Abstract: The invention provides composite porous materials in which a second material is fused to and/or is in the pores and/or is fused directly to some of the pore walls of a porous first material. The invention also provides methods of filtering a fluid using these composite porous materials and methods of manufacturing the composite porous materials.

Abstract: The invention provides composite porous materials in which a second material is fused to and/or is in the pores and/or is fused directly to some of the pore walls of a porous first material. The invention also provides methods of filtering a fluid using these composite porous materials and methods of manufacturing the composite porous materials.

Abstract: The invention provides composite porous materials in which a second material is fused to and/or is in the pores and/or is fused directly to some of the pore walls of a porous first material. The invention also provides methods of filtering a fluid using these composite porous materials and methods of manufacturing the composite porous materials.

Abstract: The invention provides composite porous materials in which a second material is fused to and/or is in the pores and/or is fused directly to some of the pore walls of a porous first material. The invention also provides methods of filtering a fluid using these composite porous materials and methods of manufacturing the composite porous materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides porous composite materials and methods of making and using the same. In one embodiment, a porous composite material comprises a porous substrate comprising a first polymeric material and at least one particle or fiber of a second polymeric material and a third polymeric material disposed on at least one surface of the porous substrate and having at least one point of attachment the to the at least one particle or fiber of the second polymeric material.

Abstract: The invention provides composite porous materials in which a second material is fused to and/or is in the pores and/or is fused directly to some of the pore walls of a porous first material. The invention also provides methods of filtering a fluid using these composite porous materials and methods of manufacturing the composite porous materials.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for microfiltration useful in softening water as well as in removing other dissolved constituents where the method comprises passing water that contains a precipitate through a semipermeable tubular membrane. Filtrate is received from the outside of the tubular membrane and the filtrate contains levels of dissolved compounds at concentrations below those that would be predicted by the solubility limits of the compounds. The method may be practiced at elevated pressures without incurring significant fouling of the membrane. It is particularly suited to removing cations such as calcium and magnesium that contribute to water hardness. The water may be treated prior to passing through the membrane by adjusting pH, adding complimentary anions, or adding a flocculant. The apparatus comprises a series of semipermeable tubular membranes housed in a module. The membranes are fluidly connected to an inlet and two outlets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for microfiltration useful in softening water as well as in removing other dissolved constituents where the method comprises passing water that contains a precipitate through a semipermeable tubular membrane. Filtrate is received from the outside of the tubular membrane and the filtrate contains levels of dissolved compounds at concentrations below those that would be predicted by the solubility limits of the compounds. The method may be practiced at elevated pressures without incurring significant fouling of the membrane. It is particularly suited to removing cations such as calcium and magnesium that contribute to water hardness. The water may be treated prior to passing through the membrane by adjusting pH, adding complimentary anions, or adding a flocculant. The apparatus comprises a series of semipermeable tubular membranes housed in a module. The membranes are fluidly connected to an inlet and two outlets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for microfiltration useful in softening water as well as in removing other dissolved constituents where the method comprises passing water that contains a precipitate through a semipermeable tubular membrane. Filtrate is received from the outside of the tubular membrane and the filtrate contains levels of dissolved compounds at concentrations below those that would be predicted by the solubility limits of the compounds. The method may be practiced at elevated pressures and turbulent flow without incurring significant fouling of the membrane. It is particularly suited to removing cations such as calcium and magnesium that contribute to water hardness. The water may be treated prior to passing through the membrane by adjusting pH, adding complimentary anions, or adding a flocculant. The apparatus comprises a series of semipermeable tubular membranes housed in a module. The membranes are fluidly connected to an inlet and two outlets.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment system in which biologically active particulate material mixed with wastewater is recirculated under turbulent conditions. The biomass is maintained at high concentration, and recirculation of the particles maintains the biological layer on the particles at a more active and efficient state would be the case without such recirculation. The system is particularly efficient, especially when the organic waste materials are slowly or relatively non-biodegradable, when the particulate material is adsorbtive (as, for example are particles of activated carbon) and the recirculation system includes an ultrafilter. When combined with a pretreatment of either alum or ferric chloride with lime, the system is particularly suited for efficient and effective treatment of dairy wastes.

Abstract: Wastewater is treated with activated carbon, lime, and filter aid, and subjected to membrane filtration to provide water free from suspended solids and having a TOC level less than about 200 mg/l and total solids less than about 2000 mg/l.

Abstract: A low pressure, high flux water purification system. In a continuous loop recirculation system metal hydroxides are employed to bind impurities in wastewater into particles of a size greater than ten angstroms which are then separated from the water by means of an ultrafiltration membrane. A large metal hydroxide/impurity ratio is maintained thereby permitting a purified water flux of over 30 gfd using filter tubes of diameter greater than 100 mils and length greater than 6 inches under a wastewater pressure as low as 9 psig. The filter tubes are grouped in bundles, each bundle within its own water collecting box, so that system down time is minimized and purification standards may be maintained in the event of a partial failure of the system.

Abstract: A box completely enclosing an ultrafiltration unit forming part of a larger water purification system, has brackets for support of the unit and ports for the entrance and exit of wastewater conduits. A drain located a distance above the bottom of the box permits a moist atmosphere to be maintained in the box during normal operations and a second drain located flush with the bottom of the box permits quick and effective isolation of a unit so that the system operation may be continued in the event of failure of the unit.

Abstract: A method of removing soluble and insoluble small particle size materials from wastewater by binding the small particle size material with a combining agent to form soluble and/or insoluble bound materials having a particle size sufficiently large to permit filtration of the wastewater with removal of the bound materials. The method is preferably carried out to remove heavy metals and other materials from metal plating and finishing wastewater to allow recovery and reuse of the water in plating and finishing operations and/or permit recovery and salvaging of the metals normally carried by the wastewater.