Abstract: A method of distillation having the steps of drawing a volume of untreated water containing impurities into a container, applying a vacuum to the container, applying an oscillating electric charge to the untreated water thereby producing water vapor from the untreated water, capturing the water vapor in a vapor pipe, and condensing the water vapor back into a liquid form in a collecting chamber. An oscillating frequency of 2.6 gigahertz, either by sonic or electric charge, displaces the hydrogen bonding between water molecules. This displacement permits distillation at a low temperature without the infusion of large amounts of energy common in previously known methods.

Abstract: Materials which are not themselves storage-stable at room temperature are made suitable for storage by mixing them with a carrier substance and spray drying the resulting mixture so as to form particles containing both the material and the carrier substance in which the carrier substance is in an amorphous, i.e. glassy or rubbery, state. Formation of such a composition greatly enhances stability. The material stored may be a biological material such as an enzyme, the components of a chemical reaction such as reagents for carrying out an assay, or even viable biological cells.

Abstract: Water distillation apparatus for convenient domestic use including a housing containing a condenser coil and having a vapor inlet and a distillate outlet. A fan cools and condenses vapor. A boiler is releasably connected to the housing by a vapor discharge outlet in the form of an inwardly-directed cylinder and the vapor inlet has a cooperating spigot termination so that the boiler may be moved away from the vapor inlet and filled with water for batch distillation. The distilland water is heated with an electric heating element and the distillate is discharged through a carbon filter into a discrete glass pitcher adjacent to the boiler. The arrangement permits easy removal of the boiler from the housing for filling with distilland or cleaning, as well as the convenient replacement of the boiler in the housing afterwards.

Abstract: A distilling apparatus which includes a water chamber to receive cold water from an external water supply source, a heating chamber having an electric heater controlled to heat water to the boiling point, a guide pipe connected between the bottom side of the water chamber and the bottom end of the heat chamber to guide water from the water chamber to the heating chamber, a radiating coil pipe connected to a distilled water drain pipe outside the apparatus, and a steam pipe connected between the steam chamber and the radiating coil pipe and passing through the water chamber to guide steam from the heating chamber to the radiating coil pipe, permitting steam to be condensed into distilled water and heat to be absorbed by water in the water chamber.

Abstract: An ultraclean evaporation system which includes a vessel formed of a fluoropolymer inert to hydrogen peroxide and having an impurity level less than the impurity level of samples to be analyzed therein, preferably perfluoroalkoxy (PFA). A radiant heater is spaced from the vessel for uniformly heating the contents of the vessel. A shield, manufactured of aluminum and coated with a fluoropolymer encases the vessel alone or in conjunction with the heater. An inert gas supply is coupled to the vessel with a coupler of fluoropolymer inert to hydrogen peroxide, preferably PFA. An output is provided from the vessel formed of a fluoropolymer inert to hydrogen peroxide, preferably PFA. An orifice is provided which is formed of a fluoropolymer inert to hydrogen peroxide, preferably PFA, for controlling the flow rate of the inert gas supply. The tubing has a length of at least about 3 meters. The vessel has a side wall and a bottom forming a corner and is disposed so that the corner is the lowest region of the vessel.

Abstract: A water purification method and apparatus is described which distills a contaminated water supply having contaminants dissolved therein with electrically powered spaced apart immersion electrodes. When connected to a source of alternating electrical current, the electrode members cooperate to distill water by heating while concurrently removing the contaminants as solid precipitates in the contaminated remaining water.

Abstract: A vaporizer (film evaporator) (13) for halide-free, silicon-containing liquid reactants used in producing preforms is provided. The vaporizer includes a plurality of packed-bed columns (22) surrounding a central tube (24). A mixture of liquid reactant, e.g., octamethyl-cyclotetrasiloxane, and gas, e.g., oxygen, is sprayed onto the top surfaces (54) of the columns (22) by a set of spray nozzles (32). The liquid reactant and the gas flow downward together through the columns and are heated by hot oil (28) which flows around the columns' walls (50). The liquid reactant evaporates into the gas until the dew point temperature is reached, at which point all of the liquid reactant will have been converted into vapor. The vapor/gas mixture exits the bottom surfaces 56 of columns (22), where its direction of flow changes from downward to upward. This change in flow direction separates higher molecular weight species (46) from the vapor/gas mixture.

Abstract: A rotary evaporator is described utilizing a magnetically driven fluorocarbon cylinder, operating within a solvent container, to create a thin solvent film for rapid evaporation without the usual requirement for rotating the entire solvent container assembly. Infra-red heating is employed for efficient evaporation rates. Solvent heating is controlled during evaporation by a single temperature probe, turning the infra-red heater on and off on demand of the probe. Over heating of the product is prevented by maintaining a solvent residue at or near the conclusion of an evaporation.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for disposing of waste rinse water used in photographic processes in which the waste rinse water is heated in a dissolution tank to be reduced to a slurry which is accumulated and stored in drums for later processing. The apparatus is compact consisting of separate tanks for the different rinse water, a holding tank to collect the contaminated rinse water and a separate dissolution tank. There is no discharge of any liquid waste products into the environment.

Abstract: A method of forming dried, solid particulate products from carbohydrate solutions, including complex carbohydrate solutions in the presence of recycled dried product using dielectric heating to supply heat of water vaporization.

Abstract: A corrosive liquid such as sulphuric acid is concentrated by boiling in an evaporator vessel having a thermosyphon loop connected to the bottom of the vessel. Electrodes of carbon which is essentially free of any organic binders are located in one leg of the thermosyphon loop to heat the liquid by current conducted through the liquid. The electrodes are located well below the liquid surface so that boiling occurs only above the electrode level, reducing erosion of the electrodes. The electrodes are blanketed with air which flows through the porous carbon into the liquid, thereby protecting the seals and electrode connections and also introducing air into the thermosyphon loop to promote circulation of the liquid in the loop.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for treating pickling solutions used for pickling metal, such as iron, steel, special alloys, or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes an evaporator, a condensor, a crystallizer, a crystal-separating device, fittings and conduits for connection to the metal-treating plant, and a device for automatically controlling the evaporation rate in the evaporator. The evaporator includes a flow channel, vapor removal connection above the liquid level in the flow channel, an inlet and outlet for the solution being treated, and a plurality of electrodes for directly applying AC current to the solution. The electrodes are mounted spaced along the length of th flow channel and are completely covered by the solution so as to be out of contact with the vapor. The crystallizer comprises an upright cylindrical vessel having an inlet and an outlet, a driven shaft extending in the center line of the vessel, and is provided with radial ribs.

Abstract: A method is provided for directly heating a concentrated sulphuric-acid solution by passing alternating electric current between surface-passivated electrodes immersed in the solution and by using electrodes of iron or an iron alloy having a low resistance iron or iron alloy inner core covered by an outer high resistance passivating surface layer which are so surface-passivated that the transition resistance between the electrodes and the concentrated sulphuric-acid solution is at least as great as the resistance exerted by the concentrated sulphuric-acid solution.

Abstract: In a thin-layer evaporator having a vapor chamber and a hollow rotor mounted for rotation in such chamber, the rotor defining a chamber to receive a heat-transfer medium and one wall thereof constituting an upwardly facing, conical evaporator surface, a heating system for the heat-transfer medium is provided within the rotor and is thus in direct contact with such medium. The heating system is cylindrical in form and is of a diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the evaporator surface.

Abstract: A float member is provided defining a hollow chamber therein and a vertically elongated conduit depends downwardly from the float member and includes an upper portion projecting upwardly and opening into the hollow chamber to a level above the liquid level on the exterior of the float member. Heating structure is provided within the chamber in good heat transfer relation with the upper portion thereof projecting into the hollow chamber and condenser structure is provided for condensing liquid vapors. In addition, vapor conveying structure is provided and communicates the interior of the chamber with the condenser structure for conveying hot liquid vapors from the chamber into the condenser structure for condensing therein.

Abstract: An apparatus of small dimensions may be used to operate the water contained in the processing baths of automatic processing machines. The solid residue may be collected and sent to silver recovery plants, whereas the evaporated water serves to heat the drying station of the processing machine whereinafter it may be fed to the washing station. In so doing, a considerable amount of wash water is recovered and no chemical compounds are discharged to the sewer through which pollution of surface waters is practically eliminated.

Abstract: A combined water distiller and cooler having a boiler and a steam condenser incorporating an expansion chamber with an air inlet over a distilled water accumulating tank so that condensing steam and water condensate may mix with air to improve the potable quality of the distilled water before it drains into the accumulator tank. The evaporator of a refrigeration system used to cool the distilled water is located inside of the distilled water accumulator tank as is the steam condenser coil, so that the combined cooling effect of the refrigerant evaporator and the chilled distilled water are used to condense steam to water in the condenser coil.