Abstract: Provided is a particle control device for controlling fine particles. The particle control device includes: a base with a predetermined area and including an insulator; a first electrode and a second electrode disposed on the base such that they are separated from each other by a predetermined distance; and a fluid flow path disposed on the base so as to pass between the first electrode and the second electrode and to allow a solution to flow. The first electrode includes a plurality of branch electrodes with fine widths, each branch electrode having one end that is adjacent to the second electrode, with the fluid flow path interposed between the branch electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: An active method for decanting the dispersed phase in the continuous phase of an emulsion. According to the method, repulsive forces created by an electric field are used on the drops constituting the dispersed phase. The electric field scans the reservoir containing the emulsion, enabling the dispersed phase to be concentrated in a determined region of the reservoir, for the recovery and/or analysis of the emulsion. A device implements the method.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for separating minerals in drilling fluid based primarily on density. The separator creates and maintains a slurry with a controllable density for separating minerals from drill cuttings. The density is controlled through the use of an electrode array. The separator comprises a primary separation chamber containing the dense slurry, and a multiple number of secondary separation chambers used to separate cuttings from the drilling fluid. The invention also contains inlet hardware allowing the mixed mineral suspension to enter the first separation chamber, and hardware allowing the three outlet (separated) streams to exit the device. One of the three outlet streams carries the minerals that have a density greater than the user selectable density set point, while the second carries the minerals that have a density less than the density set point, and the third carries clean drilling fluid.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and apparatuses for aggregating microorganism in an aqueous suspension. In particular, are systems, methods, and apparatuses that apply an electrical field to an aqueous suspension comprising microorganisms as the aqueous suspension follows a flow path to cause aggregation of the microorganisms. The electrical field may be continuous or pulsed. In some embodiments, the flow path for the aqueous suspension may vary. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the electrical field may be tuned.

Abstract: A microreactor containing a plurality of introduction channels 21 and 22 for introducing a plurality of liquids, a merging section 23 for merging the plurality of introduction channels 21 and 22, and a reaction channel 41 located on a downstream side of the merging section 23, characterized in that a flow control section 80 is located on a downstream side of the merging section 23 and an upstream side of the reaction channel 41, and the flow control section 80 contains in a channel 81 thereof a movable particle 82. According to the constitution, such a microreactor can be provided that the flow state in the reaction channel 41 is controlled to realize a flow state with good reproducibility.

Abstract: The water is at the origin of an entire series of geological and climatic processes and is primarily the basis of all forms of life. Actually, it is the majority component of all living organisms (50% to 98%); the human body contains 70% of the total mass thereof. The biosphere in its entirety consists of 80% water. Although this may be one of the most highly examined liquids, its properties comprising numerous anomalies have not yet all been elucidated. It plays an essential role in the structure and metabolism of all living beings. This biological role is due to its physical and chemical properties that are out of the ordinary. Bernal and Flower established a rule defining that each oxygen atom has two hydrogen atoms as neighbors and each hydrogen bond contains one hydrogen atom. The separation of the liquid water molecules produces the formation of hydroxyl ion (OH?) and hydronium ions (H3O+), which hampers this rule.

Abstract: In order to improve the efficiency of the separation of an insulating liquid from a dispersum, in particular of water dispersed in oil, the electric conductivity of a dispersion having the dispersion constituents is measured continuously or discontinuously. An optimum frequency is calculated as a function of this conductivity. Pulsations of at least one pulsating electric field are thereby prescribed, this dispersion being led through said field. This frequency is preferably in the frequency range of >60 Hz-1 kHz. An electric field with a separating AC voltage can be arranged downstream of an electric field of a pulsating separating voltage of adjustable frequency in the flow direction of the dispersion, and an electric field of a pulsating charging DC voltage can be arranged upstream.

Abstract: Method for separating the constituents of a dispersion In order to improve the efficiency of the separation of an insulating liquid (3) from a dispersum (4), in particular of water dispersed in oil, the electric conductivity (&sgr;s) of a dispersion (S) having the dispersion constituents (3, 4) is measured continuously or discontinuously. An optimum frequency (f) is calculated as a function of this conductivity. Pulsations of at least one pulsating electric field are thereby prescribed, this dispersion (S) being led through said field. This frequency (f) is preferably in the frequency range of >60 Hz-1 kHz. An electric field with a separating AC voltage (U3) can be arranged downstream of an electric field of a pulsating separating voltage (U2) of adjustable frequency (f) in the flow direction of the dispersion (S), and an electric field of a pulsating charging DC voltage (U1) can be arranged upstream.

Abstract: A process for separating an emulsion into separate and easily recoverable phases. The process comprises exposing an emulsion comprising a discontinuous phase and a non-conducting continuous phase to an electric field thereby effecting coalescence of the discontinuous phase into droplets of a size for effective gravitation from the continuous phase, where the discontinuous phase and the continuous phase have different dielectric constants and densities and at least one of the phases comprise a silicon containing compound or a silicon containing polymer. The present process is especially useful for separating emulsions where the discontinuous phase is an aqueous acid solution and the continuous phase is diorganopolysiloxane.

Abstract: A method is provided to remove metals from a residual oil containing an initial amount of a selected metal, the method comprising the steps of:providing a vessel for exposing the residual oil to a DC electric field having a strength of about one kV/inch or greater,passing the residual oils through the vessel whereby at least ten percent by weight of the initial amount of the selected metal is removed by attraction to an electrode; andpassing the residual oil that has been passed through the vessel over a hydrodemetalization catalyst in the presence of hydrogen. Metal containing particles and other toluene insoluble organic and inorganic solids are effectively removed from residual oil streams by treatment with a DC electrical field prior to hydrodemetalization resulting in significant increases in useful lives for downstream hydrodemetalization catalyst.

Abstract: A method of augmenting the coalescence of water in an emulsion having a heavier water component that is relatively electrically conductive and a lighter oil component that is relatively non-conductive, including the steps of tangentially injecting the emulsion into the interior of a cylindrical vessel and tangentially withdrawing the emulsion from the vessel interior to cause the emulsion to flow circumferentially within the vessel to thereby impart centrifugal force on the emulsion to create a first area within the vessel adjacent the vessel sidewall in which the heavier water component of the emulsion is maintained and a second area within the vessel interior towards which the lighter oil component migrates and imposing an electrical potential on a concentrically positioned electrode within the vessel interior and thereby on the areas within the vessel having the circumferentially flowing emulsion to cause at least a portion of the water component of the emulsion to coalescence, the lighter, relatively non-

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating the components of an emulsion comprising an electrically conductive component dispersed in a continuous phase of a substantially electrically insulating component, for instance, a water-in-oil emulsion. The method includes the steps of introducing bubbles of an electrically insulating gas into the emulsion, whilst simultaneously applying an electric or electrostatic field across the emulsion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for augmenting the coalescence of water in a water-in-oil emulsion. The apparatus includes a tubular vessel having a cylindrical side wall and opposed ends. A tangential inlet in the cylindrical side wall is adjacent one of the vessel ends. A tubular electrode having an external diameter less than the internal diameter of the vessel extends concentrically within the vessel from the one end less than the entire length of the vessel. An elongated electrode extends axially and concentrically within the tubular electrode from the one end. An outlet is provided in the one end between the tubular electrode and the elongated electrode. The inlet and outlet serve to cause fluid to initially flow through the vessel in a circumferential path outside the tubular electrode and thereafter axially through the tubular electrode to the outlet. An electrical potential is applied between the electrodes and the vessel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of augmenting the coalescence of water in a water-in-oil emulsion in which the emulsion is tangentially ejected into the interior of a cylindrically walled vessel to cause the emulsion to flow circumferentially within the vessel and to thereby cause the water component of the emulsions to migrate towards the vessel cylindrical wall, the vessel having an axially positioned electrode therein. A voltage, preferably a pulsating DC voltage, is imposed between the electrode and the vessel to thereby subject the swirling water-in-oil emulsion to an electrical potential to cause the water components to coalescence from smaller to larger droplets. The water-in-oil emulsion is passed from the vessel where the water component can be more effectively separated from the emulsion by gravitational or centrifugal separation.

Abstract: An aqueous anodizing solution for anodizing an article of magnesium or magnesium-base alloy which contains, per one liter volume thereof, 20-300 g. of an aluminate, 0.5-8 moles of an alkali hydroxide per one mole of the aluminate, and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of 20-200 g. of a boron compound, 2-50 ml. of a phenol, 2-50 g. of a sulfate, and 5-70 g. of an iodine compound. A process for coloring an article of magnesium or magnesium-base alloy which comprises forming an aluminum oxide-containing layer over a surface of said article and subsequently coloring said layer with an anodized aluminum-coloring dye is also disclosed.