Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods of filtering water utilize an integrated gravity-fed, dual ion-exchange filtration bottle. Flow-through multi-stage filtration technology is applied to a personal water bottle. The system filters water from an upper unfiltered water reservoir through a multi-stage filter to a lower filtered water reservoir. A user then drinks from the lower reservoir. The bottle includes a cap with a filtered water outlet through which filtered water in the lower reservoir is accessed with a straw, spout, or other access device. The cap includes an unfiltered water inlet to allow filling and refilling of the upper reservoir without disassembling the bottle. The bottle includes a filter vent that eliminates air locks and partial vacuum that can develop when unfiltered water drains from the upper reservoir through the filter to the lower reservoir. This gravity-fed dual ion-exchange filtration system allows for more complete removal of dissolved solids.

Abstract: An expandable water filtering pitcher having a pitcher with a top portion, a base portion and an inner wall surface defining an internal volume of the pitcher, a spout at the top portion at a pitcher opening, a handle attached to an exterior of the pitcher, a filter adapter mounted within the pitcher top portion. The filter adapter is within a reservoir comprising an opening therethrough from the top portion to the base portion of the pitcher and a reservoir sleeve movably coupled to the reservoir and top portion, at least one of the reservoir and the reservoir sleeve moveable in relation to the other between a retracted position defining a first reservoir volume within the reservoir and reservoir sleeve, and an expanded position defining a second reservoir volume within the reservoir and reservoir sleeve at least 40% larger than the first reservoir volume.

Abstract: Embodiments of a gravity filter for potable water comprise a loose filter bed comprising ion exchange resin particles and activated carbon particles, and a porous non-woven filter substrate disposed downstream of the loose filter bed, wherein the porous non-woven filter substrate comprises an impregnated heavy metal scavenger.

Abstract: A disinfection device for a trapped-liquid comprising of a drain trap for a liquid flow having an inner surface to trap a volume of the trapped-liquid and a helical coil capable of generating metal ions to eliminate biological cells attached to said drain trap. An electric valve is connected to a tap water and the helical coil and a power supply provides a current and a voltage to the helical coil for a period of ionization and a sensor system installed in the drain trap to sense flow of a liquid through the drain trap. A timer system to determine the length of a stagnant-time that the trapped-liquid is stagnant in the drain trap; and to determine the length of an ionization-time for the period of ionization.

Abstract: An electrocoagulation system including a dosing unit, a mixing unit and a buffer tank is provided. The dosing unit receives a fluid from an external source and injects an electrochemically generated coagulant into the fluid using one or more pairs of electrodes. The mixing unit mixes the coagulant with the fluid and is separate from the dosing unit. The buffer tank holds the fluid until particles contained in the fluid grow to a predetermined size.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for aggregating and separating an organic material mixture which is provided in a dissolved form in an aqueous emulsion. The method is characterized by the following steps: a) providing an aqueous emulsion with organic compounds which are provided in the emulsion in a dissolved form, said organic compounds being carboxylic acids, phospholipids, glycolipids, glyceroglycolipids, phenols, sterols, chlorophyll, and/or sinapines, b) mixing the emulsion from step a) with an aqueous solution containing copper(II) ions and/or calcium ions until an aggregate formation is achieved, and c) separating the aggregates from step b) by means of a sedimentation, filtration, or centrifugation process after achieving an aggregated phase of the organic compounds from step b).

Abstract: A tool for use with a basket assembly is provided. The basket assembly is of the type configured for being receivably engaged with an opening defined in a drain cover skirt for covering the perimeter of a floor drain. The tool is configured for engaging the basket assembly and removing the basket assembly from the drain cover skirt upon force input from a user.

Abstract: A sulphur denitrification system includes a liquid input fluidly coupled to a source of saltwater that includes nitrate; a liquid output fluidly coupled to the source of saltwater; a plurality of vertically-oriented tanks, at least one of the tanks including a liquid inlet that is fluidly coupled to the liquid input to receive a flow of the saltwater, a volume configured to enclose a plurality of sulphur particles that support denitrification bacteria that biologically transform the nitrate into at least one of nitrous oxide or nitrogen gas, and a liquid outlet fluidly coupled to the liquid output and the liquid inlets of the tanks; and a circulation system configured to circulate a portion of the saltwater though the liquid input to the liquid inlets of the plurality of tanks, through the plurality of tanks, and from the liquid outlets of the tanks to the liquid output and the liquid inlets of the tanks.

Abstract: The invention discloses an unpowered water purification system for a riverfront landscape constructed wetland, comprising a riparian wetland constructed along a lake-land ecotone of a river, lake-pond. The riparian wetland comprises a plurality of alternatively arranged wetland islands and watercourses formed between them. The bottom surface of the riparian wetland is lower than the normal water level of the river, lake-pond, and the upper surface of the wetlands is flush with the normal water level of the river, lake-pond. Plants are planted on the wetlands. A revetment is constructed between the riparian wetland and the river, lake-pond, and its upper surface is between the bottom surface of the riparian wetland and the upper surface of the wetlands. The invention achieves good purification and landscape effects. The purification system has some advantages such as good landscape effects, simple management without energy and power consumption, and thus is durable and stable.

Abstract: It discloses an application of a fermentation broth of Potamogeton crispus in the removal of nitrogen in constructed wetlands. The fermentation broth of Potamogeton crispus is prepared by the following method: collecting, draining off and grinding the Potamogeton crispuses, then, placing the grinded Potamogeton crispuses into a fermentation tank, mixing them with domesticated fermented sludge, and then adding water and fermenting the mixed liquor at a constant temperature, removing the residue of the Potamogeton crispuses, and obtaining the prepared fermentation broth of Potamogeton crispus. The present invention also discloses an application of the fermentation broth of Potamogeton crispus in the removal of nitrogen in constructed wetlands.

Abstract: Provided is a wastewater treatment method that keeps Bacillus predominant inside the biological treatment tank and makes it possible to improve the water quality of the treated water while suppressing the volume of sludge generated in association with wastewater treatment. A wastewater treatment method for purifying wastewater by microorganisms in a biological treatment tank wherein the wastewater is purified by causing a first microorganism belonging to the genus Bacillus that is + for nitric acid reduction and ? for starch decomposition and a second microorganism that is ? for nitric acid reduction and + for starch decomposition in testing of the physiological properties of microorganisms to be predominant inside the biological treatment tank.

Abstract: Recalcitrant chemical oxygen demand (COD) of a liquid is reduced in a water treatment system. The method includes pretreating the liquid in a pretreatment unit to remove indigenous bacteria or microbes to a population level below which the indigenous organisms can interfere with the screened and externally introduced microorganisms. The liquid is then provided to a reactor that has a filter bed formed with a carrier material. Special microbes are screened and used to colonize the carrier material to remove recalcitrant COD. A biofilm is cultured on the surface of the carrier material to immobilize the screened microbes in the reactor. The method further includes percolating the liquid from the pretreatment unit through the filter bed colonized with the screened microbes to degrade at least part of the recalcitrant COD under aerobic conditions.

Abstract: An improved livestock wastewater treatment system for treating wastewater produced by a confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) facility to reclaim water and solids from the wastewater, and to reduce the environmental footprint of the CAFO facility is provided. The treatment system combines both mechanical and chemical water treating and includes separation of liquids from solids, collection of the separated solids at various stages, and treatment of the remaining liquid so that it can be reclaimed. Methods of treating livestock wastewater with the livestock wastewater treatment system is also provided.

Abstract: Treatment of the wastewater from isophorone production comprising neutralization, filtration and a downstream chemical oxidation process and subsequent reduction. The invention relates to treatment of the wastewater from isophorone (IP) production comprising neutralization, filtration and a downstream chemical oxidation process and subsequent reduction.

Abstract: A radial flow hydrothermal reactor for a sludge thermal hydrolysis treatment is provided. An outer and an inner cylinder are successively sleeved in a cylindrical body of the reactor. A guiding cylinder is arranged between the outer and the inner cylinder. Guiding pipes are provided on the guiding cylinder. An agitator is arranged in the inner cylinder, so that sludge has low viscosity and good fluidity after reaching reaction parameters. Because an inlet pipe is arranged below the inner cylinder, the sludge enters the inner cylinder from bottom and flows out from top, and the inner cylinder has a diameter not large, which guarantees heating time. Because of a small height-to-diameter ratio of the reactor, the sludge after heating has the good fluidity, and flows outward radially in the outer cylinder. With an increased flowing radius, a flowing velocity decreases, and a hydrothermal reaction proceeds continuously, which guarantees reaction time.

Abstract: An optimized gasification/vitrification processing system having a gasification unit which converts organic materials to a hydrogen rich gas and ash in communication with a joule heated vitrification unit which converts the ash formed in the gasification unit into glass, and a plasma which converts elemental carbon and products of incomplete combustion formed in the gasification unit into a hydrogen rich gas.

Abstract: A glass molding apparatus includes at least one molding part including a molding cast configured to mold a glass, a transfer roller part including a plurality of transfer rollers below the molding part, the transfer rollers being arranged along a first direction, being configured to rotate in a first rotation direction to transfer the molding part along the first direction, and being configured to apply heat to the molding part, and a plurality of pressure parts configured to apply pressure to the molding part.

Abstract: A method of drawing a material into sheet form includes forming a preform comprising at least one material as a large aspect ratio block wherein a first transverse dimension of the preform is much greater than a second transverse dimension substantially perpendicular to the first transverse dimension. A furnace having substantially linearly opposed heating elements one spaced from the other is provided and the heating elements are energized to apply heat to the preform to create a negative thermal gradient from an exterior surface along the first transverse dimension of the preform inward toward a central plane of the preform. The preform is drawn in such a manner that the material substantially maintains its first transverse dimension and deforms across its second transverse dimension.

Abstract: A method of preparing a glass medical container is provided including the steps of providing a glass blank and forming a channel through a part of the glass blank, the channel being substantially free of tungsten or derivatives thereof. In a further aspect of the subject invention, a glass medical container is provided including a glass body having a channel extending through a part of the glass body, the channel being substantially free of tungsten or derivatives thereof. With the subject invention, tungsten or derivatives thereof can be generally or altogether completely avoided in glass medical containers.

Abstract: Selenogermanate, selenogallo- or selenoindo-germanate glasses that are modified by alkali metals, for example, Na or Li and, as such, are characterized by high alkali ion mobility or conductivity. Ionic conducting chalcogenide glasses have potential application as an electrolyte medium for solid state batteries.

Abstract: The present invention relates in a first aspect to a method for etching a primary preform or core rod. The present invention moreover relates in a second aspect to the etched primary preform thus obtained and moreover to a final preform and optical fibers obtained therefrom and to a method of preparing optical fibers therefrom.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to a coated article including a coating formed from a sol that has hydrophobic surface properties. The sol may include a mixture of at least two alkylsiloxane chemicals, with the sol potentially being aged for a certain comparatively short amount of time before being wet-applied to a major substrate surface. The application process may also undergo a certain comparatively short curing process to help provide hydrophobic surface properties. The hydrophobic surface properties help provide anti-soiling functions that are advantageous in a variety of applications including, for example, solar mirror applications.

Abstract: A curable formaldehyde-free binding composition for use with fiberglass is provided. Such curable composition comprises an addition product of an amine and a reactant to form an amino-amide intermediate. To the amino-amide is added an aldehyde or ketone to form the curable binder composition. The composition when applied to fiberglass is cured to form a water-insoluble binder which exhibits good adhesion to glass. In a preferred embodiment the composition when applied to fiberglass provides a sufficient blackness required in facer products.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating clay-bearing aggregates, particularly those used for construction purposes, whereby inclusion of fines is maximized due to minimization of clay washing which tends to remove such fines, and whereby performance of the aggregate-containing construction material is enhanced. Exemplary methods comprise introducing to clay a water-soluble, functionalized polyamine comprising a water-soluble polyamine formed by reacting an amine compound with an epoxy compound, the polyamine thus reacted being functionalized through the use of certain halide, sulfate, or epoxy compounds.

Abstract: A method of making a rapid setting composition for cement boards is disclosed. Compositions including a hydraulic cement preferably portland cement, an alkali metal citrate such as tripotassium citrate, and a phosphate such as sodium trimetaphosphate, with optional gypsum, and no alkanolamine accelerant, and no fly ash based cement. An interaction between the alkali metal citrate and the phosphate increases the effectiveness of accelerating reactions of the portland cement without need for an alkanolamine accelerant, even in the presence of gypsum. This allows unexpected quick setting and increased early-age compressive strength without shrinkage in the cement board compositions.

Abstract: The present application discloses an asphalt binder additive composition comprising a carrier matrix and an agent selected from the group consisting of a curing agent and a masked curing agent. Also described are methods for improving or enhancing the paving or re-paving of asphalt mixture to road surfaces comprising combining the disclosed asphalt binder additive composition with an asphalt binder.

Abstract: A refractory composition yields refractory articles having excellent resistance to high-temperature thermal shock and creep. The refractory composition is based primarily on chamotte having controlled particle sizes, and may also include mullite, fused silica, calcined alumina and microsilica, having controlled particle sizes. The refractory composition includes an aqueous colloidal silica binder that provides excellent castability and binding between the ingredients following drying.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a RBSiC member that has a large size and a complicated shape and possesses ceramic properties. The process is Selective Laser Sintering process which includes providing a raw material containing silicon carbide particles and a binder, forming a thin layer of the raw material, and sintering the thin layer by irradiating a desired area in the thin layer with laser to form a sintered thin layer, repeating the step of forming the sintered thin layer to obtain a green body, impregnating the green body with a carbon source and curing the green body impregnated with the carbon source to give a cured body, carbonizing an organic compound component in the cured body to give a fired body, and infiltrating the fired body with silicon and subjecting the fired body to reaction sintering to give a RBSiC member, wherein the fired body contains 8% to 30% by weight of carbon.

Abstract: An ultrafine continuous fibrous ceramic filter, which comprises a filtering layer of a fibrous porous body, wherein the fibrous porous body comprises continuous ultrafine fibers of metal oxide which are randomly arranged and layered, and powdery nano-alumina incorporated into the ultrafine fibers or coated thereon, the ultrafine fibers being obtained by electrospinning a spinning solution comprising a metal oxide precursor sol-gel solution, and optionally, a polymer resin, and sintering the electrospun fibers, in which the ultrafine fibers have an average diameter of 10˜500 nm, and the fibrous porous body has a pore size of maximum frequency ranging from 0.05 to 2 ?m, exhibits high filtration efficiency at a high flow rate, and can be regenerated.

Abstract: Adhesive compositions and methods for bonding materials with different thermal expansion coefficients is provided. The adhesive is formulated using a flux material, a low flux material, and a filler material, where the filler material comprises particulate from at least one of the two components being bonded together. A thickening agent can also be used as part of the adhesive composition to aid in applying the adhesive and establishing a desired bond thickness. The method of forming a high strength bond using the disclosed adhesive does not require the use of intermediary layer or the use of high cure temperatures that could damage one or both of the components being bonded together.

Abstract: A building material includes a base material, a first mirror coating formed on the surface of the base material, a second mirror coating formed on the surface of the first mirror coating, wherein the first mirror coating contains a filler and a first resin material, the pencil hardness of the first mirror coating is in the range of about 3H to about 8H, the second mirror coating contains at least a second resin material, and the pencil hardness of the second mirror coating is in the range of about B to about 2H.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions containing at least 80% by weight, especially at least 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of at least one magnesium sulfate-urea compound selected from the compound of the formula (I) and mixtures of the compound of the formula (I) with the compound of the formula (II): [MgSO4.mCO(NH2)2.nH2O] (I), [MgSO4.xCO(NH2)2.yH2O] (II), in which m and x are each in the range from 0.9 to 1.1, n is in the range from 1.9 to 2.1 and y is in the range from 2.9 to 3.1, where the compositions, based on the total weight of the composition, contain less than 10% by weight of free MgSO4 in the form of the anhydrate or in the form of hydrates of magnesium sulfate and less than 10% by weight of unbound urea. The invention also relates to the production of the compositions and to the use thereof as fertilizers or fertilizer additive.

Abstract: A single-step method for preparing a free-flowing, non-dusting micronutrient-coated particulate solid fertilizer material, the method comprising applying a single fluid onto particulate solid fertiliser material at ambient temperature without chemical reaction or chelation, said single fluid comprising a suspension of one or more micronutrient materials in an oil.

Abstract: Processes for manufacturing organic fertilizer products, such as liquid and solid organic fertilizer, from animal manure are disclosed, together with the fertilizer products produced therefrom.

Abstract: A fertilizer and method of making a fertilizer that include bioactivated nutrients derived from immobile/less mobile elements. The immobile/less elements are made available to plants by the action of element mobilizing microorganisms, which are isolated, cultured, and combined with organic material and sources of the immobile element.

Abstract: A combustible aerosol composition is disclosed including an oxidizer including potassium bromate, a fuel including potassium cyanurate, and a hydrated mineral composition including potassium hydromagnesite.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for preparing p-xylene and propylene from methanol and/or dimethyl ether. This method comprises coupling two reaction processes, an aromatization reaction of methanol and/or dimethyl ether and an alkylation reaction of ethylene with methanol and/or dimethyl ether. The method of this invention produces p-xylene and propylene with a high selectivity by returning an ethylene-enriched component in reaction byproducts from preparation of p-xylene from methanol and/or dimethyl ether to the reaction system for performing alkylation reaction with methanol and/or dimethyl ether in the presence of catalysts.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods for producing renewable detergent compounds. More specifically, the invention relates to methods for producing detergent intermediates, including bio-linear alkylbenzene (LAB), bio-alcohols, and long chain bio-paraffins, from natural oils.

Abstract: A fuel and method for conversion of sesquiterpenes to high density fuels. The sesquiterpenes can be either extracted from plants or specifically produced by bioengineered organisms from waste biomass. This approach allows for the synthesis of high performance renewable fuels.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the conversion of acyclic C5 feedstock to a product comprising cyclic C5 compounds, including cyclopentadiene, and catalyst compositions for use in such process. The process comprises contacting the feedstock and, optionally, hydrogen under acyclic C5 conversion conditions in the presence of a catalyst composition to form said product. The catalyst composition comprises a microporous crystalline metallosilicate, a Group 10 metal or compound thereof, and a Group 11 metal or compound thereof.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for removing contaminants from an olefin stream, comprising passing the contaminated olefin stream through a first adsorbent in a thermal swing adsorption process to produce a relatively pure olefin product stream, and a regenerating gas stream containing the contaminants, passing the contaminated regenerating gas stream through a pressure swing adsorption process to yield a relatively pure regenerating gas stream, which can be redirected to the thermal swing adsorption process for regenerating the adsorbent therein.

Abstract: A reactor cell for measuring gas and liquid permeation is disclosed. A hollow fiber is supported by and sealed into a first hole and a second hole of the reactor module. The first and second ends of the hollow fiber are sealed with a sealing solution. Methods for making and using the reactor cell are also disclosed. As made and used, the reactor cell further comprises a molecular sieving membrane that is uniform and free of defects grown on an inner bore surface of the hollow fiber.

Abstract: A process for enhancing the selective and efficient production of (E)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (HCFO-1233zd(E), or 1233zd(E)). During the manufacture of HCFO-1233zd(E) by fluorination of 1,1,1,3,3-pentachloropropane (HCC-240fa), a by-product of 1,3,3-trichloro-1,1-difluoropropane (HCFC-242fa) is separated and then dehydrochlorinated to form 1,3-chloro-3,3-difluoropropene (HCFO-1232zd). The HCFO-1232zd is then fluorinated to form HCFO-1233zd(E).

Abstract: A method for producing 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropene and/or 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene using a single set of four unit operations, the unit operations being (1) hydrogenation of a starting material comprising hexafluoropropene and optionally recycled 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene; (2) separation of the desired intermediate hydrofluoroalkane, such as 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane and/or 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane; (3) dehydrofluorination of the intermediate hydrofluoroalkane to produce the desired 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropene and/or 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene, followed by another separation to isolate the desired product and, optionally, recycle of the 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for a high temperature isomerization reaction converting (E)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene to (Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene. In certain aspects of the invention, such a process includes contacting a feed stream with a heated surface, where the feed stream includes (E)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene or mixture of (E)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene with (Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene. The resulting product stream includes (Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and (E)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, where the ratio of (Z) isomer to (E) isomer in the product stream is higher than the ratio feed stream. The (E) and (Z) isomers in the product stream may be separated from one another.

Abstract: A process of isolating 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO) from a fermentation broth includes separating a liquid fraction enriched in 1,4-BDO from a solid fraction comprising cells, removing water from said liquid fraction, removing salts from said liquid fraction, and purifying 1,4-BDO. A process for producing 1,4-BDO includes culturing a 1,4-BDO-producing microorganism in a fermentor for a sufficient period of time to produce 1,4-BDO. The 1,4-BDO-producing microorganism includes a microorganism having a 1,4-BDO pathway having one or more exogenous genes encoding a 1,4-BDO pathway enzyme and/or one or more gene disruptions. The process for producing 1,4-BDO further includes isolating 1,4-BDO.

Abstract: A process for transitioning a reactor from base-catalyzed polyol production to double metal cyanide (DMC)-catalyzed polyol production is described. The process includes discharging a base-catalyzed and un-neutralized product mixture from a reactor, and adding an acidified polyether polyol starter and DMC catalyst mixture to the reactor. A DMC-catalyzed polyol production reaction can then be conducted in the reactor without intermediate washing or rinsing of the reactor, and without catalyst deactivation from base or alkaline hold-up.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optimized process for the preparation of methacrolein. Methacrolein is used in chemical synthesis particularly as an intermediate for the preparation of methacrylic acid, methyl methacrylate or even active ingredients, fragrances or flavorings. In particular the present invention relates to the optimization of the process parameters by which, inter alia, a reduction of the content of harmful dimeric methacrolein in the end product may be achieved.

Abstract: Novel intermediates for the complete synthesis of vitamin D are provided that allow a great versatility of functional groups in the final vitamin derivatives. Vitamin derivatives that are epimeric in position 3 and vitamin derivatives with a wide range of functionalities in position 18, including compounds with isotopic labelling are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds, their use in the treatment or the prevention of viral disorders, including HIV.