Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating products, which may contain cellular material of eukaryotic and/or prokaryotic origin and in particular micro-organisms, by bringing the product in device comprising two electrodes connected to an electronic circuit such that in said device and in said product a pulsating electrical field is created, characterized by the rise time of each imposed voltage pulse which is less than the electronic relaxation time of the product. Preferably the rising edge of each cycle starts within the relaxation time of the product and even more preferably each electrical field pulse has a duration shorter than the relaxation time of the product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high-pressure device (1) having a cylindrical high-pressure vessel (3) and prestressing means in order to exert an axial pressure on the vessel. The vessel (3) can have been formed from a number of layers of composite material, such as glass, carbon or aramide fibers which are oriented in the peripheral direction and are embedded in a matrix of epoxy resin or polyurethane. By applying the axial prestress to the pressure vessel (3), the tangential stress is distributed more uniformly over the wall thickness of the high-pressure vessel (3), the stress decreasing at the inside of the wall and increasing at the outside thereof. As a result, the innermost fibers of a high-pressure vessel (3) made of composite material are subjected to appreciably less stress, which has a beneficial effect on the life of the high-pressure vessel (3), and all fibers of the wall are utilized effectively.

Abstract: The starting material is conveyed in an extruder through zones of high and low pressure formed by different screw elements of opposing pitch. An extractant is fed in the high pressure zones located upstream of the screw elements of opposing pitch. The extractant then flows in a direction countercurrent to a direction of transport of the starting material and is discharged via a discharge opening located in or close to the low pressure zone, downstream of a screw element of opposing pitch.

Abstract: System for treating pumpable products by electrical pulses comprising at least one treatment chamber formed by at least two modules and comprising a flow channel through which product can be pumped, an end electrode at the one end of the treatment chamber to which a low voltage has to be applied, another end electrode at the other end of the chamber to which a high voltage has to be applied, a generator circuit for generating voltage pulses to be applied to said electrodes. The treatment chamber is provided with at least one intermediate electrode which is located in between the end electrodes and to which a voltage in between the voltages of the two end electrodes has to be applied.

Abstract: A reactor vessel comprising (a) a cylindrically shaped, hollow core element as the inner wall, which element is open at both ends; and (b) at least one layer of high performance fibers, preferably having a tensile strength of at least 100 MPa, arranged around the core element in an essentially circumferential orientation, wherein the fibers are embedded in a rigid polymeric or resinous matrix. The reactor vessel is suitably part of a high pressure reactor, which further includes two plugging elements arranged in the opposing open ends of the vessel, which plugging elements are mounted on a common frame for balancing the forces exerted on the plugging elements. The reactor is very suitable for use in high pressure operations.