Abstract: A method for recovering and treating hydrocarbon fluids using a hydraulic fracturing process wherein a fluid stream containing liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon species or both, produced water, suspended solids, and dissolved contaminants is recovered from a well. Hydrocarbon species are separated from the fluid stream to produce a second fluid stream comprising liquid water, which is then directed to a filter medium and essentially all of the second fluid stream passes through the medium to produce a permeate stream and a filter cake, and the filter cake is separated from the medium and disposed of separately.

Abstract: A porous membrane constructed of a cast polymeric film with a face located adjacent to at least a portion of the surface of a nanofiber substrate fabric. The membrane is not formed by lamination of two independent layers one layer being the film and the other being the substrate fabric.

Abstract: A process is provided for separating particles from a liquid stream by a crossflow mechanism. The liquid stream is passed tangentially across a membrane, where the membrane comprises an active layer that has a fibrous structure in the form of a nonwoven, and the nonwoven has i) a mean flow pore size of 0.03 to 1.7 microns, ii) a maximum pore size of 3.1 microns, and an active layer having a mean thickness of less than 300 microns.

Abstract: An oil recovery process that utilizes one or more filtration medium comprises a filter cake and a second filtration medium being nonwovens sheet to remove silica and/or oil and/or dissolved organics and/or dissolved solids from produced water which includes separating oil from the produced water and precipitating silica into particles and wherein the produced water having the precipitated silica is directed to a filtration medium which operates in a direct flow filtration mode and removes the precipitated silica from the produced water to form a filtrate stream.

Abstract: A nonwoven web of fibers that have a number average diameter of less than 1 micron. The web can have a Poisson Ratio of less than about 0.8, a solidity of at least about 20%, a basis weight of at least about 1 gsm, and a thickness of at least 1 micrometer.

Abstract: A process for stripping chemically bonded spinning solvent from a solution-spun nonwoven web comprising the steps of providing a nonwoven web comprising solvent-laden polymeric fibers having average fiber diameters of less than about 1 micrometer, and transporting the nonwoven web through at least one infrared solvent stripping station wherein infrared radiation irradiates the nonwoven web in the absence of a solvent stripping fluid impinging on the nonwoven web in order to reduce the solvent concentration of the fibers to less than about 10,000 ppmw.

Abstract: A method for recovering and treating hydrocarbon fluids using a hydraulic fracturing process wherein a fluid stream containing liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon species or both, produced water, suspended solids, and dissolved contaminants is recovered from a well. and hydrocarbon species are separated from the fluid stream to produce a second fluid stream comprising liquid water, which is then directed to a filter medium and essentially all of the second fluid stream passes through the medium to produce a permeate stream and a filter cake, and the filter cake is separated from the medium and disposed of separately.

Abstract: An oil recovery process that utilizes one or more filtration media having an efficiency of 30% or greater for particles of 1 micrometer size or greater and a flow rate of 2 milliliters per minute per centimeter squared of media per unit pressure of the liquid (ml/min/cm2/kPa) to remove silica and/or oil and/or dissolved organics and/or dissolved solids from produced water which includes separating oil from the produced water and precipitating silica into particles and wherein the produced water having the precipitated silica is directed to a filtration medium which operates in a direct flow filtration mode and removes the precipitated silica from the produced water to form a permeate stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid filtration medium comprising at least one nonwoven sheet wherein the nonwoven sheet has a water flow rate of at least 10 ml/min/cm2/KPa and a tortuosity filter factor of at least 3.0. The liquid filtration medium can be used in a filter system with an optional pre-filter layer or microfiltration membrane.

Abstract: This invention relates to separators for batteries and other electrochemical cells, especially lithium-ion batteries, having a shutdown mechanism. The separator is a laminate that contains a nonwoven nanoweb and a porous layer composed of a plurality of thermoplastic particles having particle size smaller than the mean flow pore size of the nanoweb. The shutdown layer melts and starts to flow at a desired temperature, and restricts the ion flow path, resulting in a substantial decrease in ionic conductivity of the separator at the desired shutdown temperature, while leaving the separator intact.

Abstract: This invention relates to separators for batteries and other electrochemical cells, especially lithium-ion batteries, having a shutdown mechanism. The separator comprises a nonwoven nanoweb comprising a coating composed of a plurality of thermoplastic particles having particle size larger than the mean flow pore size of the nanoweb. The coating flows at a desired temperature, and restricts the ion flow path, resulting in a substantial decrease in ionic conductivity of the separator at the desired shutdown temperature, while leaving the separator intact.

Abstract: The invention provides a process comprising heating a polyamic acid fiber to a temperature in the range of a first temperature and a second temperature for a period of time in the range of 5 seconds to 5 minutes to form a polyimide fiber, wherein the first temperature is the imidization temperature of the polyamic acid and the second temperature is the decomposition temperature of the polyimide

Abstract: Alkaline batteries are disclosed that advantageously include separators comprising at least one porous layer of fine fibers having a diameter of between about 50 nm and about 3000 nm that provide improved combinations of reduced thickness, dendritic barrier against short-circuiting and low ionic resistance as compared with known battery separators. The fine fibers show improved wet-ability in the alkaline electrolytes.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aluminum electrolytic capacitor having a cathode, an anode and an improved spacer comprised of polymeric nanofibers. The nanofiber spacer offers low ionic resistance, desirable barrier properties and high electrolyte absorption. The use of the improved spacer results in devices having higher capacitance, lower ESR, less heat generation and improved capacitor manufacturing efficiency.

Abstract: A process for stripping chemically bonded spinning solvent from a solution-spun nonwoven web comprising the steps of providing a nonwoven web comprising solvent-laden polymeric fibers having average fiber diameters of less than about 1 micrometer, and transporting the nonwoven web through at least one infrared solvent stripping station wherein infrared radiation irradiates the nonwoven web in the absence of a solvent stripping fluid impinging on the nonwoven web in order to reduce the solvent concentration of the fibers to less than about 10,000 ppmw.

Abstract: A nonwoven web of fibers that have a number average diameter of less than 1 micron. The web can have a Poisson Ratio of less than about 0.8, a solidity of at least about 20%, a basis weight of at least about 1 gsm, and a thickness of at least 1 micrometer.

Abstract: A process for stripping chemically bonded spinning solvent from a solution-spun nonwoven web comprising the steps of providing a nonwoven web comprising solvent-laden polymeric fibers having average fiber diameters of less than about 1 micrometer, and transporting the nonwoven web through a solvent stripping zone wherein infrared radiation irradiates the nonwoven web and a solvent stripping fluid impinges on the nonwoven web in order to reduce the solvent concentration of the fibers to less than about 10,000 ppmw.

Abstract: The invention is an improved process for stripping chemically bonded spinning solvent from a solution-spun nonwoven web by adding antioxidant to the fiber-forming polymer, and transporting the nonwoven web through a solvent stripping zone at a temperature and for a time sufficient to reduce the solvent concentration of the fibers to less than about 1000 ppmw.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aluminum electrolytic capacitor having a cathode, an anode and an improved spacer comprised of polymeric nanofibers. The nanofiber spacer offers low ionic resistance, desirable barrier properties and high electrolyte absorption. The use of the improved spacer results in devices having higher capacitance, lower ESR, less heat generation and improved capacitor manufacturing efficiency.

Abstract: Alkaline batteries are disclosed that advantageously include separators comprising at least one porous layer of fine fibers having a diameter of between about 50 nm and about 3000 nm that provide improved combinations of reduced thickness, dendritic barrier against short-circuiting and low ionic resistance as compared with known battery separators. The fine fibers show improved wet-ability in the alkaline electrolytes.