Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semi-permeable ceramic membrane and a semi-permeable ceramic membrane made by the method, the method including providing a mixture of at least two non-metallic mineral components comprising fine particles having an effective particle size of up to 1 &mgr;m and coarse particles having an effective particle size of 1 &mgr;m or above, the fine particles having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the coarse particles, suspending the mixture of fine and coarse particles in a liquid to form a slurry, applying the slurry to a porous mould so as to form a green intermediate product, and baking or firing the green intermediate product to form a finished membrane. The finished membrane has a density distribution of the fine particles that increases in one direction (in use) across the finished membrane and a density distribution of the coarse particles that decreases in the same direction across the finished membrane.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for the electrochemical treatment of a liquid medium, which allows the production of a sterilizing solution as well as the decontamination and purification of liquid mediums from toxic organic substances and other impurities. The apparatus contains a diaphragm-shaped electrolytic midstream cell, a feed line for the liquid medium being processed, a cathodic outlet line for carrying the liquid medium out of the cathode chamber to a place of collection or discharge, an anodic outlet line for carrying the liquid medium out of the anode chamber into a catalytic reactor for breaking down active chlorine, an exit line for carrying the liquid medium to the place of collection, and a bypass line, an additional exit line and a flow switching device. The apparatus can also be equipped with a flow switching device, a connecting line, a midstream expansion tank, a purification filter and other components.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a sterilizing solution, wherein there is generated a supply of softened water by passing water through an ion-exchange water softener, and a supply of saturated salt solution by mixing a first part of the supply of softened water with a supply of salt. A second part of the supply of softened water is mixed together with a first part of the supply of saturated salt solution in a predetermined ratio and passed through at an electrolytic cell having a working chamber and an auxiliary chamber separated by a porous membrane, one of the chambers including an anode and the other including a cathode, the output from the working chamber being the sterilizing solution. The ion-exchange water softener is regenerated with a second part of the supply of saturated salt solution.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for generating a sterilizing solution through the electrolytic treatment of an aqueous salt solution. An aqueous salt solution is passed, under pressure, into the working chamber of an electrolytic cell, which cell is divided into a working chamber and an auxiliary chamber by a permeable membrane. The solution is filtered through the membrane, and collected from an output of the auxiliary chamber. Gases, such as chlorine, liberated in the working chamber during electrolysis, are dissolved in a water supply, and this water supply is partially or fully mixed with the output of the auxiliary chamber so as to generate a sterilizing solution. The method and apparatus disclosed serves to generate a sterilizing solution with less expenditure of energy and raw materials than in the prior art.