Abstract: A system and/or method of recovering a metal, a mineral, a salt, and/or a lithium compound from a feed stream, the system comprising a multi-stage membrane system with inner stage pressure boosting pumps, and at least one energy recovery device transferring hydraulic energy from a concentrate stream to a feed stream of at least one of the membrane systems.

Abstract: Methods of recovering precious metals from unconventional feed water sources. In approaches, the methods use a combination of one or more of ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and/or reverse osmosis membranes. The unconventional feed water source may be salt lake brines, coal-fired plant flue-gas scrubber blowdown water, high salinity brines, concentrated brine from desalination of seawater and the like sources. The recovered precious metals may include gold tetrachloride, gold sulfate, silver tetrachloride, silver sulfate, rare earth elements, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Methods of recovering precious metals from unconventional feed water sources. In approaches, the methods use a combination of one or more of ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and/or reverse osmosis membranes. The unconventional feed water source may be salt lake brines, coal-fired plant flue-gas scrubber blowdown water, high salinity brines, concentrated brine from desalination of seawater and the like sources. The recovered precious metals may include gold tetrachloride, gold sulfate, silver tetrachloride, silver sulfate, rare earth elements, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Methods of recovering lithium from a lithium source or a lithium-containing material using low pH solutions and membrane technologies to purify and concentrate the recovered lithium. The lithium sources may include a spent lithium-ion battery/cell, a lithium-containing mineral deposit, or other lithium containing materials. The processes described herein recovery the lithium after digestion of the lithium-containing material with a low pH solution through one or more acid-stable, semipermeable membranes.

Abstract: Methods of recovering lithium from a lithium source or a lithium-containing material using low pH solutions and membrane technologies to purify and concentrate the recovered lithium. The lithium sources may include a spent lithium-ion battery/cell, a lithium-containing mineral deposit, or other lithium containing materials. The processes described herein recovery the lithium after digestion of the lithium-containing material with a low pH solution through one or more acid-stable, semipermeable membranes.

Abstract: Methods of recovering lithium from a lithium source or a lithium-containing material using low pH solutions and membrane technologies to purify and concentrate the recovered lithium. The lithium sources may include a spent lithium-ion battery/cell, a lithium-containing mineral deposit, or other lithium containing materials. The processes described herein recovery the lithium after digestion of the lithium-containing material with a low pH solution through one or more acid-stable, semipermeable membranes.

Abstract: A method and system for recovering natural gas liquids (NGLs) from hydrocarbon mixtures and for producing a pipeline quality natural gas (NG) stream from a NG stream with a BTU content greater than about 1100 BTU per standard cubic foot. An NG or petroleum gas stream containing NGLs is delivered to a crossflow semipermeable membrane filtration apparatus wherein the semipermeable membrane is wetted with an organic liquid to render the membrane oleophilic. The NG stream is delivered at a pressure of at least about 150 psig. NGLs permeate through the wetted oleophilic membrane at a backpressure of at least 120 psig and maintain the desirable membrane characteristics; they are collected as liquids at a pressure of at least about 15 psig. A pipeline quality, primarily methane retentate stream of not greater than about 1050 BTU/scf is produced.

Abstract: A method and system for recovering natural gas liquids (NGLs) from hydrocarbon mixtures and for producing a pipeline quality natural gas (NG) stream from a NG stream with a BTU content greater than about 1100 BTU per standard cubic foot. An NG or petroleum gas stream containing NGLs is delivered to a crossflow semipermeable membrane filtration apparatus wherein the semipermeable membrane is wetted with an organic liquid to render the membrane oleophilic. The NG stream is delivered at a pressure of at least about 150 psig. NGLs permeate through the wetted oleophilic membrane at a backpressure of at least 120 psig and maintain the desirable membrane characteristics; they are collected as liquids at a pressure of at least about 15 psig. A pipeline quality, primarily methane retentate stream of not greater than about 1050 BTU/scf is produced.

Abstract: Streams (11) of natural gas contaminated with significant amounts of carbon dioxide can be efficiently and economically processed to create Syngas (16). An available source (1) of flue gas that might otherwise be dispersed into the atmosphere in conjunction with such a CO2-laden natural gas stream (11) renders the process even more economical and efficient through the creation of multiple feedstreams (14, 27, 34) that are combined to deliver a composite near equal mixture of methane and CO2 to a plasma reactor (15) or the like that will generate Syngas. When coupled with a Fischer-Tropsch reactor (40), the overall process provides a particularly efficient and economical process for producing synthetic liquid hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A cyanoacrylate-based adhesive composition is disclosed. The cyanoacrylate-based adhesive composition includes a cyanoacrylate monomer, and a bleachable dye including a Michler's hydrol cation or derivatized Michler's hydrol cation, paired with a non-nucleophilic anion that provides a stable color to the cyanoacrylate-based adhesive.

Abstract: A method for treating oil field produced wastewater containing high organics, silica, boron, hardness, and suspended and dissolved solids by applying three membrane types in series is provided. First, Ultrafiltration (UF) is applied to remove oil and suspended solids. Second, Nanofiltration (NF) is used to reject hardness, soluble iron and organics. Subsequently, the NF permeate is treated by a double pass Reverse Osmosis (RO) process. The first-pass is applied at a high temperature of about 180° F. and low pH to remove the majority of the salts and silica. Then the feed is chilled, stripped of carbon dioxide and finally pH adjusted to 10 to maximize boron removal.

Abstract: A cyanoacrylate-based adhesive composition is disclosed. The cyanoacrylate-based adhesive composition includes a cyanoacrylate monomer, and a bleachable dye including a Michler's hydrol cation or derivatized Michler's hydrol cation, paired with a non-nucleophilic anion that provides a stable color to the cyanoacrylate-based adhesive.

Abstract: A membrane filter washing method is provided using a wash solution containing a determined concentration of a leaching agent.

Abstract: A cyanoacrylate-based adhesive composition is disclosed. The cyanoacrylate-based adhesive composition includes a cyanoacrylate monomer, and a bleachable dye including a Michler's hydrol cation or derivatized Michler's hydrol cation, paired with a non-nucleophilic anion that provides a stable color to the cyanoacrylate-based adhesive.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the selective removal of ferric ion and/or ferric compounds from valuable metal recovery process streams.

Abstract: A method and a system for treating seawater to facilitate secondary recovery of petroleum from a location below a body of saline water by flooding a permeable stratum with the treated water. The system utilizes a spirally-wound cross flow semipermeable membrane cartridge incorporating a three layer membrane arrangement preferably having nanofiltration characteristics which facilitates treatment of open ocean water by a single pass without any chemical or mechanical pretreatment to result in a liquid stream of desired character that can have greater ionic strength than the input seawater, e.g. at least about 18,000 ppm of chloride ion and less than 50 ppm of sulfate ion. This surprising objective is obtained even at high operating temperatures, e.g. as high as about 70° C., through the combination of the construction of the feed spacer and the nanofiltration character of the three layer membrane arrangement.

Abstract: Fluorochemical urethane compositions comprising one or more fluorochemical urethane compounds, and one or more auxiliary compounds for treatment of a fibrous substrate are described. The fluorochemical compositions are capable of improving one or more of the oil- and/or water repellency, stain- and/or soil repellency and stain and/or soil release properties, with improved durability, of the fibrous substrate treated with the fluorochemical composition.

Abstract: The compositions comprise one or more fluorochemical urethane compounds and one or more silsesquioxane compounds. This fluorochemical urethane compound(s) comprises the reaction product of (a) one or more polyfunctional isocyanate compounds; (b) one or more fluorochemical monofunctional compounds; and optionally (c) one or more hydrophilic polyoxyalkylene compounds; and/or (d) one or more silane compounds.

Abstract: A method of slot extrusion coating is provided that can be used to apply thin coatings using liquid compositions having high percent solids. A window of operability advantageously identifies the limits of a process to provide these thin high solids coatings. The window of operability is determined by obtaining a first graphical curve representing actual values of wet thickness as a function of percent solids level. The critical wet thickness is then identified on the first graphical curve. The window of operability is identified as an area defined by the boundaries: percent solids greater than the point at which critical wet thickness occurs, an actual wet thickness greater than all points above the first graphical curve and equal to or less than the critical thickness.

Abstract: A method and a system for treating seawater to facilitate secondary recovery of petroleum from a location below a body of saline water by flooding a permeable stratum with the treated water. The system utilizes a spirally-wound cross flow semipermeable membrane cartridge incorporating a three layer membrane arrangement preferably having nanofiltration characteristics which facilitates treatment of open ocean water by a single pass without any chemical or mechanical pretreatment to result in a liquid stream of desired character that can have greater ionic strength than the input seawater, e.g. at least about 18,000 ppm of chloride ion and less than 50 ppm of sulfate ion. This surprising objective is obtained even at high operating temperatures, e.g. as high as about 70° C., through the combination of the construction of the feed spacer and the nanofiltration character of the three layer membrane arrangement.