Abstract: Solvent and acid stable ultrafiltration and nanofiltration membranes including a non-cross-linked base polymer having reactive pendant moieties, the base polymer being modified by forming a cross-linked skin onto a surface thereof, the skin being formed by a cross-linking reaction of reactive pendant moieties on the surface with an oligomer or another polymer as well as methods of manufacture and use thereof, including, inter alia separating metal ions from liquid process streams.

Abstract: Solvent and acid stable ultrafiltration and nanofiltration membranes including a non-cross-linked base polymer having reactive pendant moieties, the base polymer being modified by forming a cross-linked skin onto a surface thereof, the skin being formed by a cross-linking reaction of reactive pendant moieties on the surface with an oligomer or another polymer as well as methods of manufacture and use thereof, including, inter alia separating metal ions from liquid process streams.

Abstract: Solvent and acid stable ultrafiltration and nanofiltration membranes including a non-cross-linked base polymer having reactive pendant moieties, the base polymer being modified by forming a cross-linked skin onto a surface thereof, the skin being formed by a cross-linking reaction of reactive pendant moieties on the surface with an oligomer or another polymer as well as methods of manufacture and use thereof, including, inter alia separating metal ions from liquid process streams.

Abstract: Solvent and acid stable ultrafiltration and nanofiltration membranes including a non-cross-linked base polymer having reactive pendant moieties, the base polymer being modified by forming a cross-linked skin onto a surface thereof, the skin being formed by a cross-linking reaction of reactive pendant moieties on the surface with an oligomer or another polymer as well as methods of manufacture and use thereof, including, inter alia separating metal ions from liquid process streams.

Abstract: A process for reducing the content and volume of organic matter in a wastewater stream comprises contacting the latter with a nanofiltration device so as to obtain a concentrate, and a permeate as an aqueous stream containing any salts of non-precipitable metal ions which may be present, then contacting the concentrate with a preferably backflashable ultrafiltration device, and optionally also with activated carbon. This process may be part of a broader one which also removes other components from the wastewater stream. A module comprising (a) a nanofiltration device; (b) a preferably backflashable ultrafiltration device; (c) conduit(s) adapted to convey nanofiltration device concentrate to the ultrafiltration device; and optionally (d) a vessel containing activated carbon; as well as a system for treating a wastewater stream which includes this module, also form part of the invention.

Abstract: A platform for supporting negotiation between parties to achieve an outcome, the platform comprising: a party goal program unit for: defining respective party's goal programs in respect of said outcome, said goal program comprising a plurality of objective functions and constraints associated with respective objective functions, for associating each of said objective functions with one of a plurality of levels of importance, and for assigning to objective functions within each level a respective importance weighting, said party goal program unit comprising a party input unit for allowing a party to provide data for a respective goal program, a goal program unifier, associated with said party goal program unit for receiving goal programs of respective parties, and carrying out unification of said goal programs by considering said objective functions objectivewise and levelwise with associated constraints in the respective goal programs to determine whether two goal programs have a common field of interest from

Abstract: A gradient mixer for the preparation of immobilized pH-gradient (IPG) gels, which includes a positive displacement syringe dispensing device (4,5) driven by a controlled speed motor (1); a mixer driven by a magnetic stirrer (6); a temperature controlled circulating air oven for the mixer/dispensing syringes (7); a cassette into which mixed solutions of acidic/basic gels are dispensed and the IPG gel is shaped (9); and a second temperature controlled circulating air oven for the cassette (8).

Abstract: Immobilized buffered gels obtained from hydroxy group containing natural or synthetic polymers and acid or basic di- or triazine derivatives are useful and highly effective media, e.g. in form of membranes, for preparative isoelectric focusing electrophoresis for separating high molecular compounds, such as proteins or peptides, from biological mixtures.

Abstract: Immobilized buffered gels obtained from hydroxy group containing natural or synthetic polymers and acid or basic di- or triazine derivatives are useful and highly effective media, e.g. in form of membranes, for preparative isoelectric focusing electrophoresis for separating high molecular compounds, such as proteins or peptides, from biological mixtures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to semipermeable mosaic polymer membranes of asymmetric structure and with a macroscopic distribution of the mosaic-forming anionic and cationic charges (sites). The membranes can be prepared by casting a polymer solution of an optionally charged matrix-forming polymer and at least one precursor polymer, incompatible with the matrix-forming polymer, in a selected solvent, into a film, forming a skin on one side of the film, precipitating the skinned film to form the asymmetric membrane and charging it by chemical reactions to introduce or complete their mosaic structure. These membranes have good permeability for electrolytes, such as salts of mono- or polyvalent inorganic acids, while retaining low molecular weight organic solutes.

Abstract: A composite membrane comprises a substrate made from a polymer selected from copolymers and homopolymers of ethylenically unsaturated nitriles, which substrate has preferably first been treated with a pore protector in absence of curing agents and catalysts therefor, prior to applying as the final coating a silicone layer, which is crosslinked. The pore protector, which may be, for example, a hydroxy-terminated polysiloxane, particularly a silanol-terminated polysiloxane, serves the dual purpose of preventing the pores from collapsing, when the support is dried during the curing of the silicone layer, and of preventing passage of the coating material deeply into the pores and thus also preventing an undue reduction of the flux of the finished coated membrane. Such composite membranes include solvent stable membranes which swell to an extent of no more than about 10% when immersed in various organic solvents, and their mixtures with each other and/or water.

Abstract: A composite membrane which is substantially insoluble (and preferably swells no more than 10%) in acetonitrile, ethanol, hexane, toluene, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, and their mixtures with each other and/or with water, comprises a substrate made from copolymers or homopolymers of ethylenically unsaturated nitriles, the substrate having been subjected to the steps of: (1) insolubilizing the polymer by crosslinking; (2) coating with a silicone layer; and (3) crosslinking the silicone layer. Prior to step (2), the substrate is preferably treated with a pore protector in absence of curing agents and catalysts. The pore protector is e.g. a hydroxy-terminated polysiloxane, particularly a silanol-terminated polysiloxane; it prevents the pores from collapsing, when the support is dried during step (3), and prevents passage of the coating material deeply into the pores, thus also preventing an undue reduction of the flux of the finished membrane.

Abstract: Composite solvent stable membranes for treating organic liquids comprise a crosslinked layer of less than 5 microns in thickness supported on a solvent stable porous membrane substrate, which layer includes at least one polymer selected from polyphenylene oxide type polymers and polysulfone type polymers, provided that the crosslinked layer includes at least one polymer derived from haloalkylated polyphenylene oxide type monomers. Such composite membranes include solvent stable membranes which swell to an extent of no more than about 10% when immersed in various organic solvents, and their mixtures with each other and/or water.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the continuous separation of electrically charged macromolecular compounds, such as proteins, by forced-flow membrane electrophoresis is provided.Said process is conducted in an electrophoretic cell comprising a membrane compartment, divided by a micro- or ultrafiltration membrane into a feed and permeate cell, and electrode compartments being partitioned from the membrane compartment with ion-exchange membranes, which are impermeable to the macromolecular compounds, and have virtually no permeability to salts.The electrophoretic process comprises the steps of recycling a mixed solution of the charged compounds which are dissolved in a separation buffer through the feed cell, subjecting of the solution to a pressure-driven membrane separation, applying an electric field across the membranes and the solution to cause electrophoretic migration of the charged compound and to separate them, and withdrawing the charged compounds thus separated.

Abstract: An efficient process and system for the removal of at least one organic acid from aqueous feed streams.

Abstract: Semipermeable composite membranes composed of a porous substrate and at least two layers of film-forming polymers coated thereon are provided, which comprise a first layer of monomeric or polymeric diazonium salts, which have been reacted with themselves and with an at least difunctional compound, and a second layer, which is chemically bonded to the first one, of a cross-linked, ionically charged hydrophilic polymer.The membranes show good mechanical, physical and chemical stabilities and are useful in reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration processes, particularly for desalting solutions of low molecular weight organic compounds.

Abstract: A composite membrane for separating at least one dissolved or suspended component from a liquid phase, and characterized by solvent stability, comprises:(A) a substrate microfiltration, ultrafiltration or reverse osmosis membrane which has been initially formed from at least one member selected from non-crosslinked acrylonitrile homopolymers and copolymers, and non-crosslinked substituted acrylonitrile homopolymers and copolymers, and which has been subjected to at least one in situ crosslinking reaction; and(B) superimposed upon the substrate membrane, at least one coating including at least one component selected from hydrophilic monomers containing reactive functions, hydrophilic oligomers containing reactive functions and hydrophilic polymers containing reactive functions, such reactive functions having been subjected to a post-coating crosslinking reaction.

Abstract: Semipermeable composite membranes which comprise a porous substrate of a homo- or copolymer on the basis of acrylonitrile are provided, which have been cross-linked, and at least two layers of film-forming polymers coated thereon, a first layer of monomeric or polymeric diazonium salts which have been reacted with themselves and with an at least difunctional compound, and a second layer, which is chemically bonded to the first one, of a cross-linked, ionically charged hydrophilic polymer.The membranes show good mechanical, physical and chemical stabilities, preferably solvent stability, and are useful in reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration processes, particularly for desalting solutions of low molecular weight organic compounds.

Abstract: Composite membranes are provided comprising an underlying membrane selected from the group consisting of microfiltration, ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis membranes; and a coating thereon comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyaromatic polymers and sulfonated poly(haloalkylenes), which has been subjected to a post-coating crosslinking treatment. These coated membranes are useful for various separation processes, especially in the food industry.

Abstract: A composite membrane which comprises:(a) a porous semipermeable membrane substrate; and(b) a coating superimposed thereon which includes at least one member selected from:monomers containing at least one diazonium group,polymers containing at least one diazonium group,monomers containing at least one primary amino group and which have been exposed to the action of at least one member selected from nitrous acid and other reagents which potentially react with primary amine groups to form diazonium groups, andpolymers containing at least one primary amino group and which have been exposed to the action of at least one member selected from nitrous acid and other reagents which potentially react with primary amine groups to form diazonium groups; and wherein the coating has been subjected to at least one in situ chemical reaction with loss of any diazonium groups which may be present, and with formation of valence links in at least one of the modes (i), (ii) and (iii), namely:(i) among different moieties of the at