Abstract: Apparatus for the measurement of quasi-static gravity gradients comprising: a flexible ribbon held under tension at both ends; sensing means arranged to detect the transverse displacement of the ribbon from an undisturbed position due to the gravitational field acting on said ribbon and to generate a signal representing the displacement; and output means coupled to said sensing means and responsive to said displacement signal to generate an output signal which is a function of the gravitational gradient tensor of the gravitational field; wherein the ribbon has a non-uniform rigidity profile and/or mass profile along its length such that, in use, the displacement response of the ribbon due to the gravitational gradient of the gravitational field is enhanced and/or the displacement response of the ribbon due to the absolute gravitational acceleration of the gravitational field is suppressed.

Abstract: Apparatus for the measurement of quasi-static gravity gradients comprising: a flexible ribbon held under tension at both ends; sensing means arranged to detect the transverse displacement of the ribbon from an undisturbed position due to the gravitational field acting on said ribbon and to generate a signal representing the displacement; and output means coupled to said sensing means and responsive to said displacement signal to generate an output signal which is a function of the gravitational gradient tensor of the gravitational field; wherein the ribbon has a non-uniform rigidity profile and/or mass profile along its length such that, in use, the displacement response of the ribbon due to the gravitational gradient of the gravitational field is enhanced and/or the displacement response of the ribbon due to the absolute gravitational acceleration of the gravitational field is suppressed.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and operating method related thereto for deionizing water to produce substantially pure water using electric field and ion exchange materials are disclosed, including embodiments incorporating one or more of the novel features of brine and electrode streams flowing in a direction counter-current to the stream being deionized, a filling of the brine stream with stratified ion exchange materials, a stream mixing feature for mixing the stream being deionized, a gas removal feature for removal of gases, a spiral-wound embodiment of an electrodialysis device according to the invention, and a method for determining the preferred operating current for electrodialysis systems according to this invention.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and operating method related thereto for deionizing water to produce substantially pure water using electric field and ion exchange materials are disclosed, including embodiments incorporating one or more of the novel features of brine and electrode streams flowing in a direction counter-current to the stream being deionized, a filling of the brine stream with stratified ion exchange materials, a stream mixing feature for mixing the stream being deionized, a gas removal feature for removal of gases, a spiral-wound embodiment of an electrodialysis device according to the invention, and a method for determining the preferred operating current for electrodialysis systems according to this invention.

Abstract: Improved electrodialysis (ED) stacks are disclosed having one or more components selected from the group:a) cation exchange membranes having ion exchange groups predominantly sulfonic acid groups and a minor amount of weakly acidic and/or weakly basic groups or membranes which are selective to monovalent cations and simultaneously therewith, cation exchange granules selective to monovalent cations as packing in the dilute compartments;b) anion exchange membranes having as ion exchange groups only quaternary ammonium and/or quaternary phosphonium groups and substantially no primary, secondary and/or tertiary amine and/or phosphine groups or membranes which are selective to monovalent anions simultaneously therewith, anion exchange granules selective to monovalent anions as packing in the dilute compartments;c) as packing in the dilute compartment, anion exchange granules which are selective to monovalent anions, or cation exchange granules which are selective to monovalent cations, or cation exchange granules

Abstract: Improved electrodialysis (ED) stacks are disclosed having one or more components selected from the group:a) cation exchange membranes having ion exchange groups predominantly sulfonic acid groups and a minor amount of weakly acidic and/or weakly basic groups or membranes which are selective to monovalent cations and simultaneously therewith, cation exchange granules selective to monovalent cations as packing in the dilute compartments;b) anion exchange membranes having as ion exchange groups only quaternary ammonium and/or quaternary phosphonium groups and substantially no primary, secondary and/or tertiary amine and/or phosphine groups or membranes which are selective to monovalent anions simultaneously therewith, anion exchange granules selective to monovalent anions as packing in the dilute compartments;c) as packing in the dilute compartment, anion exchange granules which are selective to monovalent anions, or cation exchange granules which are selective to monovalent cations, or cation exchange granules

Abstract: Improved electrodialysis (ED) stacks are disclosed having one or more components selected from the group:a) cation exchange membranes having ion exchange groups predominantly sulfonic acid groups and a minor amount of weakly acidic and/or weakly basic groups or membranes which are selective to monovalent cations and simultaneously therewith, cation exchange granules selective to monovalent cations as packing in the dilute compartments;b) anion exchange membranes having as ion exchange groups only quaternary ammonium and/or quaternary phosphonium groups and substantially no primary, secondary and/or tertiary amine and/or phosphine groups or membranes which are selective to monovalent anions simultaneously therewith, anion exchange granules selective to monovalent anions as packing in the dilute compartments;c) as packing in the dilute compartment, anion exchange granules which are selective to monovalent anions, or cation exchange granules which are selective to monovalent cations, or cation exchange granules

Abstract: Improved electrodialysis (ED) stacks are disclosed having one or more components selected from the group:a) cation exchange membranes having ion exchange groups predominantly sulfonic acid groups and a minor amount of weakly acidic and/or weakly basic groups or membranes which are selective to monovalent cations and simultaneously therewith, cation exchange granules selective to monovalent cations as packing in the dilute compartments;b) anion exchange membranes having as ion exchange groups only quaternary ammonium and/or quaternary phosphonium groups and substantially no primary, secondary and/or tertiary amine and/or phosphine groups or membranes which are selective to monovalent anions simultaneously therewith, anion exchange granules selective to monovalent anions as packing in the dilute compartments;c) as packing in the dilute compartment, anion exchange granules which are selective to monovalent anions, or cation exchange granules which are selective to monovalent cations, or cation exchange granules

Abstract: Improved electrodialysis (ED) stacks are disclosed having one or more components selected from the group:a) cation exchange membranes having ion exchange groups predominantly sulfonic acid groups and a minor amount of weakly acidic and/or weakly basic groups or membranes which are selective to monovalent cations and simultaneously therewith, cation exchange granules selective to monovalent cations as packing in the dilute compartments;b) anion exchange membranes having as ion exchange groups only quaternary ammonium and/or quaternary phosphonium groups and substantially no primary, secondary and/or tertiary amine and/or phosphine groups or membranes which are selective to monovalent anions simultaneously therewith, anion exchange granules selective to monovalent anions as packing in the dilute compartments;c) as packing in the dilute compartment, anion exchange granules which are selective to monovalent anions, or cation exchange granules which are selective to monovalent cations, or cation exchange granules

Abstract: Electrodialysis ("ED") stacks are disclosed having components selected from the group:a) cation exchange ("CX") membranes and/or CX granules having in at least a surface a predominant amount of sulfonate exchange groups and a minor amount of weakly ionized exchange groups;b) anion exchange ("AX") membranes and/or AX granules having in at least a surface substantially only quaternary ammonium and/or phosphonium exchange groups which upon decomposition leave almost no amine or phosphine groups bound to the membranes or granules;c) AX and/or CX granules which are selective to monovalent ions at currents which are fractions of the limiting current of such granules;d) AX and/or CX membranes and granules, such membranes and granules selective to monovalent ions at currents which are fractions of the limiting current of such membranes and granules;e) ion exchange ("IX") granules in which the concentration of IX groups in the inner regions is a fraction (including zero) of the concentration in the outer regions;f) AX

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the concentration of carbon compounds in water, the apparatus including a reaction zone for converting such carbon compounds to free and/or combined carbonaceous acids, a device for introducing at least a portion of the water to be analyzed as liquid or vapor into such zone, a device for contacting such acids with weakly basic anion exchange resin and a device for measuring the electrical impedance of at least a portion of such resin.

Abstract: Novel thin film composite membranes are disclosed. They are prepared from vinyl and related monomers by phase transfer catalysis at the interface between one phase containing a polymerizable vinyl or related monomer and a second phase containing an entity necessary to initiate polymerization of the monomer. The two phases are substantially insoluble in each other. At least one of the phases is a fluid. One of the phases is integral with a porous support or substrate or a precursor of such support or substrate such as a porous organic or inorganic diaphragm made by thermal phase inversion from which the soluble phase has not been extracted.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for recovering renatured polypeptides and proteins (collectively "polypeptides") from solution thereof and/or of their S-sulfonate derivatives (collectively "solution of polypeptides") in denaturants comprising:introducing said solution into a renaturant chamber (compartment, cell, space) of an electrodialysis ("ED") apparatus, said chamber bounded by membranes each of which is substantially permeable to low molecular weight singly charged ions of at least one charge sign and substantially impermeable to said polypeptides and S-sulfonate derivatives, said membranes separating said renaturant chamber from juxtaposed rinsing chambers on each side of the renaturant chamber;introducing rinsing solutions into said juxtaposed rinsing chambers, said rinsing solutions synergetically with said membranes facilitating a decrease in the chaotropism of said denaturant in said renaturant chamber when a direct electric current is imposed through said renaturant and rinsing chambers in series;applying

Abstract: An improved integrated and cyclic process and apparatus are disclosed wherein portions of various process and waste fluids are recycled to control impurities in the influents to membrane chlor-alkali cells and simultaneously to minimize liquid pollutants from the process. The improved process and apparatus reduces energy costs and wastes while simultaneously controlling impurities important to operation of membrane chlor-alkali electrolytic cells.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for pH control in the anode compartments of membrane chlor-alkali cells is disclosed wherein an anode is used having an oxygen evolution efficiency substantially equivalent chemically to the hydroxide ion transfer efficiency of the membrane.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for pH control and energy savings in chlor-alkali electrolysis cells is disclosed wherein a fuel cell type spaced porous catalytic anode is utilized to chemically oxidize a controlled, sub stoichiometric amount of hydrogen to provide hydrogen ions to a recirculating anolyte. The pH is monitored and the flow of hydrogen fuel adjusted to provide a resultant desired pH in the range of about 2 to about 4. Optionally, hydrogen gas produced at the cell cathode may comprise the fuel supply and a spaced porous catalytic cathode may be employed for hydrogen supply control and depolarization.

Abstract: A process for treating liquid whey is disclosed in which raw whey is first partially demineralized by electrodialysis and then subjected to forced flow electrophoresis to effect the separation of lactose and a simultaneous increase in the percentage solids content in the resulting product whey solution.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for pH control and energy savings in chlor-alkali electrolyis cells is disclosed wherein a fuel cell type spaced porous catalytic anode is utilized to chemically oxidize a controlled, sub stoichiometric amount of hydrogen to provide hydrogen ions to a recirculating anolyte. The pH is monitored and the flow of hydrogen fuel adjusted to provide a resultant desired pH in the range of about 2 to about 4. Optionally, hydrogen gas produced at the cell cathode may comprise the fuel supply and a spaced porous catalytic cathode may be employed for hydrogen supply control and depolarization.

Abstract: A process for treating liquid whey is disclosed in which raw whey is first partially demineralized by electrodialysis and then subjected to forced flow electrophoresis to effect the separation of lactose and a simultaneous increase in the percentage solids content in the resulting product whey solution.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an open celled polyurethane foam article, which initially is generally non-absorbent, the surface of which is subsequently rendered absorbent by decreasing the average pore cell size to a critical range while preferably also simultaneously or subsequently achieving a critical range of a wetting agent in such surface. This can be accomplished in either of two ways. The first method is to permanently collapse the cells in the surface region of the original foam so that the concentration of any residual wetting agents initially present in the structure increases in the compressed surface region, thus rendering said surface more readily absorbent. For a surgical dressing, the surface cells should be permanently but only partially collapsed to substantially less than the original size to form a microporous skin.