Abstract: Water insoluble carbonates are utilized as adsorbents to remove phosphates from water flowing through an iron impregnated or coated foam. The iron impregnated or coated foam acts to improve the removal of phosphates as well as to remove nitrates and ammonia. A powdered carbonates/binder mixture, i.e. MgCO3 and/or La2(CO3)3 mixed with cellulose, is formed into pellets then calcined. Aqueous phosphates adsorb onto the surface area of the pellet for eventual removal. Calcining the pellets removes the cellulose binder and opens the interior of the pellet up to provide additional surface area for adsorption. These pellets are placed within a porous bag and placed with water, preferably within a flow of water.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for desalinating water, such as seawater. The system, method, and/or apparatus includes an electrodialysis cell that can separate monovalent ionic species from multivalent ionic species, so they may be separately treated. Each separate treatment may include precipitation of salt via the use of an organic solvent, followed by processing of precipitated salts and membrane treatment of water to remove solvent and remaining salts.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of separating phase separated, neutrally buoyant materials from liquids and apparatuses for carrying out the methods. The methods and apparatuses employ nanobubbles. In certain embodiments, the nanobubbles may be formed in solutions of hydrophobically modified water soluble polymers. The methods result in removal of 90% by weight or more of neutrally buoyant materials from liquids. The methods are useful in certain embodiments for separating neutrally buoyant oily mixtures from water produced by mining operations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separation of one or more salts from water are described. The methods include addition of a water miscible solvent to the water, followed by separation of the precipitated salt in a slurry, and evaporation of the water miscible solvent from the slurry. The apparatus include a novel design for a wetted wall separator tube that allows the solids in the slurry to pass through while providing efficient evaporation of the water miscible solvent from the water.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of separating a first soluble salt from water that contains the first soluble salt and a second soluble salt, by (a) adding a composition to a water product containing a first soluble salt and a second soluble salt, the composition comprising seed crystals composed substantially of a target insoluble salt to be formed from the first soluble salt; and (b) collecting the target insoluble salt. These methods may be used, for example, to separate strontium from water that includes at least one soluble strontium salt and a second soluble salt (such as one soluble calcium salt).

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for precipitating a water soluble salt or water soluble salts from water, including adding a water-miscible solvent to a water solution including an inorganic salt. The system, method and apparatus also allow for the separation of the precipitated salt, and for separation of the solvent from the water. In doing so, reclamation of water is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enzymatically active composition for suppressing sulfide generation. The composition is free from sulfur dehydrogenase and comprises at least one enzyme having sufficient sulfide-production inhibiting activity in an acidic medium to at least inhibit biogenic sulfide production, and an oxidized nitrogenous inorganic salt present in an amount sufficient to act as an electron acceptor for the enzyme. The oxidized nitrogenous inorganic salt preferably is selected from an alkali metal nitrite, an alkaline earth metal nitrite, an alkali metal nitrate, an alkaline earth metal nitrate, or a mixture of two or more of the foregoing salts. The enzymatically active composition is free from viable bacteria and is non-toxic (i.e., has an oral LD50 in rats greater than 1000 mg/Kg of body weight at a concentration of about 25,000 parts per million (ppm) in water).

Abstract: The present invention provides an enzymatically active composition for suppressing sulfide generation. The composition is free from sulfur dehydrogenase and comprises at least one enzyme having sufficient sulfide-production inhibiting activity in an acidic medium to at least inhibit biogenic sulfide production, and an oxidized nitrogenous inorganic salt present in an amount sufficient to act as an electron acceptor for the enzyme. The oxidized nitrogenous inorganic salt preferably is selected from an alkali metal nitrite, an alkaline earth metal nitrite, an alkali metal nitrate, an alkaline earth metal nitrate, or a mixture of two or more of the foregoing salts. The enzymatically active composition is free from viable bacteria and is non-toxic (i.e., has an oral LD50 in rats greater than 1000 mg/Kg of body weight at a concentration of about 25,000 parts per million (ppm) in water).

Abstract: Acidic metal-bearing wastewaters are treated to produce a finished water of sufficient purity to meet discharge standards while recovering metals removed in forms which are commercially valuable. The metals are selectively precipitated, either in a batch or in a continuous system, for removal of individual metal products in a specific sequence of steps from the wastewater. In each step, the pH is adjusted to the specific pH range and sulfide ion is introduced to precipitate the metals, excepting the removal of ferric iron and aluminum which is achieved using hydroxide precipitation. Bioconversion process using unique equipment converts sulfate in the wastewater to the hydrogen sulfide gas required for the precipitation process. This bioconversion process reduces the sulfate in the wastewater so that the water can be directly discharged or used for agricultural applications.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to sensors configured to sense concentrations of nitric oxide. The sensors of the present invention generally comprise a selectively permeable membrane, a semi-permeable reference electrode, and a sensing electrode. The membrane generally comprises a dispersed solid electrolyte. The solid electrolyte generally is a nitric oxide trapping agent configured to stabilize the nitric oxide to form stable, oxidizable nitric oxide complexes. The nitric oxide complexes may then diffuse through the membrane and the reference electrode to the sensing electrode where they are oxidized. An electrical current indicative of the concentration of the nitric oxide generated by the oxidation may be transmitted from the sensor to a picoammeter, which may be configured to measure the electrical current and to signal to a user of the sensor the concentration of the nitric oxide.

Abstract: Acidic metal-bearing wastewaters are treated to produce a finished water of sufficient purity to meet discharge standards while recovering metals removed in forms which are commercially valuable. The metals are selectively precipitated, either in a batch or in a continuous system, for removal of individual metal products in a specific sequence of steps from the wastewater. In each step, the pH is adjusted to the specific pH range and sulfide ion is introduced to precipitate the metals, excepting the removal of ferric iron and aluminum which is achieved using hydroxide precipitation. Bioconversion process using unique equipment converts sulfate in the wastewater to the hydrogen sulfide gas required for the precipitation process. This bioconversion process reduces the sulfate in the wastewater so that the water can be directly discharged or used for agricultural applications.

Abstract: Liquid phase liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) are disclosed having a composition and structure that can be varied to provide desirable properties. The liquid phase LCPs have polyiminoborane, polyaminoborane, and/or borozine polymer backbone molecules, with silicon and/or phosphorous side chain molecules linked to the backbone that provide a degree of alignment assigned an Order Parameter (S), defined as S=? [3 cos2 ??1], where ? is the angle between the axis of an LCP molecule and the vertical direction. The inventive liquid phase LCPs have an average Order Parameter in the range of about 0.2 to about 0.99 and are applicable to a number of rinse, coolant, lubricant, sterilization and other protectant processes.

Abstract: Liquid phase liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) are disclosed having a composition and structure that can be varied to provide desirable properties. The liquid phase LCPs have polyiminoborane, polyaminoborane, and/or borozine polymer backbone molecules, with silicon and/or phosphorous side chain molecules linked to the backbone that provide a degree of alignment assigned an Order Parameter (S), defined as S=?[3 cos2 ??1], where ? is the angle between the axis of an LCP molecule and the vertical direction. The inventive liquid phase LCPs have an average Order Parameter in the range of about 0.2 to about 0.99 and are applicable to a number of rinse, coolant, lubricant, sterilization and other protectant processes.

Abstract: Chemical compositions are provided, for use as topical anesthetics or skin refrigerants. These compositions do not cause the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer and are non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and less flammable than ethyl chloride. Also these chemical compositions match the skin temperature versus time profile needed in the management of myofascial pain syndromes, for effectively freezing skin prior to minor skin surgery and for effectively freezing skin prior to giving painless injections.

Abstract: A method of selectively heating targeted cells within a specimen while avoiding heating of non-targeted cells is provided. The method comprises the steps of:(a) determining at least one combination of magnetic field strength and radio wave frequency (strength-frequency combination) at which only the targeted cells will resonate when the magnetic field and the electromagnetic radiation are applied to the specimen orthogonal to one another; and(b) applying a magnetic field and a radio frequency wave to the targeted cells, the strength of the magnetic field and the frequency of the radio wave corresponding to the strength-frequency combination to the targeted cells, in order to cause nuclear magnetic resonance in the targeted cells, thereby increasing the temperature of only the targeted cells.

Abstract: Amine or diphosphine complexed Mn(II) compounds reversibly adsorb sulfur dioxide and oxygen as well as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and lower alkenes. More specifically, these compounds have the following formula:Mn(II)LX.sub.2where X represents F.sup.-, Br.sup.-, Cl.sup.-, I.sup.-, SCN.sup.- or OH.sup.-. L is a ligand having the formula ##STR1## The metal complexes are used to adsorb gases as a solid adsorbent, suspended on aluminum oxide or dissolved in a non-volatile solvent. The gas can be adsorbed at a low temperature in the range of 30.degree.-200.degree. C., and desorbed at a higher temperature in the range of 45.degree.-230.degree. C. or at a lower pressure.

Abstract: Dual interrelated distillation columns are disclosed wherein the heat for a first column is transferred by thermal conduction through a common wall or surface to a second column to increase efficiency and decrease waste of energy. In one embodiment, the first heat generating column is a cylindrical column, and the second column is an annular column concentric to the first column. This concentric arrangement permits the heat generated in the first column to flow outwardly into the second column, thereby improving its efficiency and reducing the heat loss. Typically, the inner first column is a high pressure rectifying column, and the outer concentric column is a stripping column. In an alternate embodiment, the inner column can simply be a portion of a high pressure distillation process, and the outer column is a portion of a lower pressure distillation column.

Abstract: Amine complexed Mn(II) compounds reversibly adsorb sulfur dioxide and oxygen as well as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and lower alkenes. More specifically, these compounds have the following formula:Mn(II)LX.sub.2where X represents F.sup.-, Br.sup.-, I.sup.-, SCN.sup.- or OH.sup.-. L is a ligand having the formulaN(R.sub.1).sub.n or R.sub.2 --N.dbd.N--R.sub.3wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 represents identical or different substituents generally including alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic and heterocyclic aromatic radicals and n is 1-3. The metal complexes are used to adsorb gases as a solid adsorbent, suspended on aluminum oxide or dissolved in a non-volatile solvent. The gas can be adsorbed at a low temperature in the range of 30.degree.-200.degree. C., and desorbed at a higher temperature in the range of 45.degree.-230.degree. C. or at a lower pressure.

Abstract: Dual interrelated distillation columns are disclosed wherein the heat from a first column is transferred by thermal conduction through a common wall or surface to a second column to increase efficiency and decrease waste of energy. In one embodiment, the first heat generating column is a cylindrical column, and the second column is an annular column concentric to the first column. This concentric arrangement permits the heat generated in the first column to flow outwardly into the second column, thereby improving its efficiency and reducing the heat loss. Typically, the inner first column is a high pressure rectifying column, and the outer concentric column is a stripping column. In an alternate embodiment, the inner column can simply be a portion of a high pressure distillation process, and the outer column is a portion of a lower pressure distillation column.