Abstract: A water treatment system comprises: an oil removal apparatus including a fixed-bed reactor configured to hold an adsorption particles by use of a magnetic unit, the adsorption particles each including a base material containing magnetite, the adsorption particles configured to adsorb oil included in to-be-treated water; a pretreatment apparatus configured to recover the oil from the adsorption particles sent from the oil removal apparatus; and a thermal energy generating apparatus configured to obtain thermal energy from the oil recovered by the pretreatment apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for thermal hydrolysis of organic matter, wherein a heating element (2) and a cooling element (4) are provisioned to heat up or cool down the organic matter. Heat exchangers are provisioned as heating element (2) and cooling element (4) which exchange heat between the organic matter and a medium. The organic matter and the medium are separate relative to each other within the heat exchangers. A throttle (9) and a decompression tank (10) are provisioned between the heating element (2) and the cooling element (4).

Abstract: The invention is a pervaporation process and pervaporation equipment, using a series of membrane modules, and including inter-module reheating of the feed solution under treatment. The inter-module heating is achieved within the tube or vessel in which the modules are housed, thereby avoiding the need to repeatedly extract the feed solution from the membrane module train.

Abstract: Brine disposal systems are configured to receive brine from a brine source and to passively collect seawater from a nearby ocean during high tide using one or more tidal forces. Tidal movements during high tide, low tide, or both may be used to mix and thereby dilute the brine with the seawater. The mixture of seawater and brine is then passively discharged into the ocean during low tide using the tidal force, thereby minimizing the impacts on the marine ecosystem.

Abstract: A hemodialysis system includes (i) blood tubing; (ii) a peristaltic blood pump contacting the blood tubing to pump blood through the blood tubing; (iii) a dialyzer in fluid communication with the blood tubing; (iv) first and second peristaltic dialysate pumps; (v) a dialysate heater; (vi) a plurality of pinch valves; and (vii) a cassette including a rigid structure, a heating portion, first and second dialysate pumping tubes, and a plurality of incoming tubes, the rigid structure when the cassette is mounted for operation orienting (a) the heating portion adjacent to the dialysate heater so that dialysate can be heated by the dialysate heater, (b) the first and second dialysate pumping tubes adjacent to the first and second peristaltic dialysate pumps, and (c) the plurality of incoming tubes adjacent to the plurality of pinch valves to enable the tubes to be individually closed by the pinch valves.

Abstract: A system for producing emulsions includes a liquid supply system, an emulsification system in liquid connection with the liquid supply system to receive a first liquid and a second liquid from the liquid supply system while in operation to be used to produce an emulsion therefrom, and a surfactant recovery system connected to the emulsification system to receive the emulsion when produced from the first and second liquids. The second liquid is immiscible with the first liquid, and the surfactant recovery system recovers at least a portion of surfactant from the emulsion when the emulsion is received from the emulsification system.

Abstract: A hemofiltration system and method for pumping blood from a patient's blood stream into an access line, introducing an anticoagulant solution into the pumped blood, filtering the pumped blood and delivering it to a return line, introducing a substitution fluid into the pumped blood, introducing a calcium and magnesium solution into the blood traveling through the return line, and returning the blood back to the patient's blood stream.

Abstract: A unit for pretreating water by heat and/or ion treatment. It provides a pretreatment unit including a direct contact heat and/or ion exchanger having a continuous or dispersed phase that includes a fluorinated liquid that is not miscible with water with a density of more than 1.25.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for recovering organic compounds from plant waste water. A saturator (10) is coupled to a feed gas stream (70) and a heated makeup water stream (54) which includes recoverable organic compounds. The saturator provides a saturated feed gas stream (70) which includes feed gas, steam and recovered organic compounds. A pump (30) recycles saturator water (56) and the makeup water stream (50) is added to that recycle stream (54).

Abstract: An apparatus for removing oil from sea ice comprises modular crusher units which may be pivotally mounted on a barge or other vessel. A rotating, toothed drum crushes the ice against a grating and mixes it with warmed, recycled water to form an ice/water slurry which is conveyed by means of an auger to one or more melting units. The liquid phase output of the melting units is first conveyed to a surge tank and then to a separator unit which separates the oil from the water. The oil is conveyed to a storage tank for subsequent offloading and disposal and the water is returned in a recycle line to sprayers mounted in the crusher unit(s) for deicing the intake section of the crusher and mixing with the crushed sea ice to form an ice/water slurry for subsequent, on-board treatment. The modular design of the apparatus permits a plurality of units to be mounted on a vessel in a side-by-side array such that substantially the entire beam of the vessel at the stern (or bow) may be covered and used for ice intake.

Abstract: A treatment device for magnetically treating liquid in a liquid container includes a container holder to receive the liquid container. An active cooling unit is associated with the container holder to cool the liquid within the liquid container. At least one magnet associated with the container holder to generate a magnetic field within the liquid in the liquid container.

Abstract: A tank for use in a system that outputs a liquid at a user defined constant temperature in order to regulate the temperature of a piece of equipment includes a body of material defining a chamber for receiving and storing the liquid. The top wall has a fill port and one of the other walls includes an outlet port. An auxiliary port and fluid return port are also included. The body further includes a well, sized to accommodate a deionizer cartridge, extending down into the chamber from an opening in top wall that can be removed. A flow velocity reducer is disposed in the auxiliary port for reducing the velocity of the liquid entering the auxiliary port from the return fluid port and then passing into the fill port so that the liquid does not spray or splash onto the walls of the fill port.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and system for the production of biogas, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classified Class A Biosolids, and pathogen reduced organic liquid fertilizer. Through the digestion of waste materials using sequential phases in an efficient digestion process, enhanced biomass conversion efficiency and improved output of products (in quantity and/or quality) are obtained with a significant reduction in dwell time in each phase.

Abstract: A multi-stage pump system for use in desalination systems including a first stage S1 providing low pressure for priming the system a second stage S2 that is in fluid communication with the first stage and is primed by the low pressure from the first stage. The second stage S2B includes at least one reciprocating piston 122, in an enclosing cylinder 121, 121A and is attached to the two second flexible inflatable bladders 123. The piston 122 will move up and down within the cylinder 121 121A relative to the movement of the two second stage flexible bladders 123 due to priming by the first stage affecting their buoyancy. The driving fluid then passes into a passage 130 and is expelled to an outlet and Stage three (S3) at higher pressure when the first reciprocating member 122 proceeds through a complete stroke.

Abstract: An article and method to treat extracorporeally a patient's bodily fluid. The bodily fluid can include blood, cerebral spinal fluid and lymph. A first stage of the method includes applying a treatment. The treatment can comprise dosing with a medication, thermal treatment, or irradiation. The treatment can occur at levels that could otherwise compromise the patient's health. A second stage of the method substantially removes the treatment from the bodily fluid. The bodily fluid can then be returned to the patient. The article includes a treatment chamber that applies the treatment and a removal module for removing the treatment. The method can be a continuous process such as, for example, a dialysis process.

Abstract: Provided is a method that can remove fission products in a spent electrolyte produced in a dry reprocessing process by an easy operation and can vitrify the fission products easily, the fission products including not only the fission products that generate precipitate but also the fission products that generate no precipitate. A spent electrolyte produced in a dry reprocessing process is subjected to a phosphate conversion processing to obtain a processing target substance; the processing target substance is passed through a separating material 10 including an iron phosphate glass at a temperature of not more than a softening point of the iron phosphate glass in order to remove insoluble fission products included in the processing target substance by filtration with the separating material and to sorb fission products in solution to the separating material for separation; and the iron phosphate glass holding the fission products is used as a waste vitrification material.

Abstract: Apparatuses and systems for removing heavy hydrocarbons from a solvent stream are disclosed herein. The apparatuses extract heavy hydrocarbons into light hydrocarbons and provide a solvent stream having the heavy hydrocarbons removed. Two water washing steps are used to remove residual solvent from the heavy hydrocarbon solution in light hydrocarbons. In some embodiments, the second water wash is used for processing subsequent batches of the solvent stream. The heavy hydrocarbons and solvent can be recovered and processed further. Methods for removing heavy hydrocarbons from a solvent stream are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Certain disclosed embodiments concern systems and methods of preparing dialysate for use in a home dialysis system that is compact and light-weight relative to existing systems and consumes relatively low amounts of energy. The method includes coupling a household water stream to a dialysis system; filtering the water stream; heating the water stream to at least about 138 degrees Celsius in a non-batch process to produce a heated water stream; maintaining the heated water stream at or above at least about 138 degrees Celsius for at least about two seconds; cooling the heated water stream to produce a cooled water stream; ultrafiltering the cooled water stream; and mixing dialysate components into the cooled water stream in a non-batch process.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods of preparing dialysate for use in a home dialysis system that is compact and light-weight relative to existing systems and consumes relatively low amounts of energy. The method includes coupling a household water stream to a dialysis system; filtering the water stream; heating the water stream to at least about 138 degrees Celsius in a non-batch process to produce a heated water stream; maintaining the heated water stream at or above at least about 138 degrees Celsius for at least about two seconds; cooling the heated water stream to produce a cooled water stream; ultrafiltering the cooled water stream; and mixing dialysate components into the cooled water stream in a non-batch process.

Abstract: Plant for melting and cleaning of snow and ice, distinguished in that the plant comprises a means for melting using enthalpy of a water source in order to melt snow and ice, and a means for cleaning for cleaning out the pollution from the water phase that contains the melted snow and ice. Method for melting and cleaning of snow and ice, using the plant according to the invention.

Abstract: There is provided a slow filtration device adapted so that raw water sampled from a river or out of the ground can be treated into drinkable water, etc. in a short time after being newly assembled. The slow filtration device including a filtration sand layer, a raw-water supply part, and a removal part includes a net (15) provided above a filtration sand layer (13) within the filtration tank (11) so as to cover the filtration sand layer (13) and used as a carrier for the breeding of algae, a heat-generating heater (18) provided directly below the net (15) to maintain the net (15) at a predetermined temperature, and an algae raising lamp (16) provided above the net (15) within the filtration tank (11) to radiate light onto the net (15) and promote growth of the algae.

Abstract: A supercritical fluid polymer depolymerization machine is disclosed herein, which machine is capable of converting a wide range of biomass and/or waste plastic materials into a plurality of reaction products (liquid and gaseous) including fermentable sugars, hydrocarbons, and various aromatic substances that, in turn, are readily convertible into liquid transportation fuel known as “neodiesel.

Abstract: Membranes for membrane distillation include at least one hollow fiber porous hydrophobic membrane, the at least one membrane including carbon nanotubes incorporated into the pore structure of the membrane. Membrane distillation systems may include a heat exchanger operably connected to a hollow fiber membrane module with one or more membranes including carbon nanotubes. Methods of solvent removal, sample preconcentration and desalination employing hollow fiber porous hydrophobic membranes with carbon nanotubes are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for concentrating gold contained in a leach residue obtained in a copper hydrometallurgical process for recovering copper from a copper sulfide mineral to efficiently separate and recover gold from the leach residue: a gold-bearing copper sulfide mineral is subjected to pressure leaching with sulfuric acid at a temperature higher than 102° C. and 112° C. or lower to obtain a leach residue, and the leach residue is subjected to flotation to separate it into a float fraction and a sink fraction; the float fraction obtained by flotation is desulfurized to obtain a desulfurized product; the desulfurized product is subjected to oxidative roasting to obtain an oxidatively-roasted product; the oxidatively-roasted product is dissolved in a sulfuric acid solution to obtain a copper solution, and a gold-bearing residue is separated and recovered from the copper solution.

Abstract: A method and a device to increase the efficiency of dialysis for the removal from blood of substances that are more or less tightly bound to carriers such as albumin. According to the invention this is accomplished by a simultaneous significant increase of the flow rate of the dialysis fluid and of the area of the membrane that separates the blood from the dialysis fluid, compared to conventional dialysis.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a zero discharge waste water treatment system are provided. The system includes a filtration train including filter media having successively smaller diameter filtration elements, a reverse osmosis apparatus including a pump and a membrane coupled in flow communication with said filtration train, a vapor compressor coupled in flow communication with said reverse osmosis apparatus, and a spray dryer coupled in flow communication with said vapor compressor, said spray dryer configured to separate moisture in a brine solution from particulate suspended in the brine solution.

Abstract: An ablutionary installation including a mixing valve having respective inlets for hot and cold water and an outlet for temperature controlled water, a temperature sensor for monitoring outlet water temperature and providing a signal representative of the outlet water temperature to an electronic controller, a user interface permitting selection of outlet water temperature up to a pre-determined temperature, the electronic controller being operable to compare the selected and sensed outlet water temperatures for controlling the mixing valve to adjust the ratio of hot and cold water delivered to the outlet according to the selected outlet water temperature, and apparatus for initiating a disinfection cycle to deliver water to the outlet at a temperature higher than the pre-determined temperature, wherein the initiating apparatus includes an operating sequence with at least two inputs.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a water treatment system and a sanitization system and method. A sanitization fluid, typically water at a pharmaceutically acceptable temperature, is intermittently provided to the water treatment system for minimal periods of time.

Abstract: A dialysis system includes: a water purification unit; a dialysate generation unit configured to use water purified by the water purification unit; a dialysate delivery unit configured to deliver dialysate prepared by the dialysate generation unit; a supplemental power source; a first electrical connection configured to electrically connect a branch power source with at least one of the water purification unit, the dialysate generation unit and the dialysate delivery unit; and a second electrical connection configured to electrically connect the supplemental power source with at least one of the water purification unit, the dialysate generation unit and the dialysate delivery unit.

Abstract: A water purification system and method for removing inorganic, organic and biological species from water. The system and method involve simultaneous treatment of water using mild heat, a photoactive catalyst such as titanium dioxide and UV irradiation.

Abstract: Simultaneous source-sink flow, or radial counterflow, is driven by a centrifugal pump disposed within a casing. Radially outward source flow of brine goes into a shrouding tank and concentrates while a radially inward sink flow of fresh water flows back over the pump to axial extraction. An axial pump drives sink flow and axial extraction. Convergent sink flow passes under an inductor to an axial exhaust port. Induced viscosity and inductive repulsion hinder the passage of brine in sink flow, so only fresh water can reach the axial exhaust port. Crystallization of scale-forming salts is aided by Joule heating from the inductor. Solvent and gases are continuously axially extracted in sink flow, favoring crystallization. Sodium chloride is cooled and crystallized in the shrouding tank. Brine comprising other salts flows out of the tank to treatment by suitable means. Thus brine is separated into fresh water, crystallized salt, and concentrated brine.

Abstract: A method of wastewater treatment comprises: providing waste water to a vessel within a solar collector; and superheating the waste water under pressure within the vessel using solar energy of the solar collector, thereby to provide oxidation conditions from said solar energy to oxidize organic matter. The water may then be passed to a flash chamber to vaporize and leave behind a brine with dissolved salts.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes using the naturally present dissolved chemicals as precipitants from local water sources to form an adsorbent. The adsorbent may be collected and used at the right pH and temperature to purify and remove heavy metals from waste water. Once the heavy metals are removed the concentration of the heavy metals are estimated in the reusable water. The local authority acceptable level heavy metal containing reusable water is reclaimed for non-human consumption. This disclosure enables to conserve water and provide a cheap and an effective method to decontaminate industrial waste water.

Abstract: A fluidic device configured for separating components of a fluid includes a flow path within an interior of the fluidic device, and at least one heatable frit positioned in the flow path and arranged to selectively adjust a temperature of the fluid in the flow path within the interior of the fluidic device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conducting supercritical wet oxidation reactions wherein any precipitated solids do not contact the solid side walls of the containment vessel so as to prevent any of these precipitated solids from adhering to or corrode the vessel walls is provided. To do this, a controlled, continuous flow of clean fluid, preferably under supercritical conditions, is introduced to the process so as to form a film-like, clean fluid surface between the physical containment vessel walls and the supercritical wet oxidation reactants.

Abstract: A device for processing fluids includes a number of fin layers with a number of plates separating the fin layers so that a fluid flow passage is defined through each fin layer. A first fluid inlet is in communication with a first end portion of the fluid flow passage, a first fluid outlet is in communication with a second end portion of the fluid flow passage, a second fluid inlet is in communication with the second end portion of the fluid flow passage and a second fluid outlet in communication with the first end portion of the fluid flow passage. The fluid flowing through the second inlet is subjected to a shearing action by the fin layers so that mass transfer to the fluid flowing through the first inlet occurs. The device may be used for both liquid-liquid processes, such as extraction, or gas-liquid processes, such as adsorption, absorption or desorption and reactions.

Abstract: A water heater is provided with monitor/diagnostic display apparatus that selectively provides a user with visual or other type of indicia of the overall efficiency of the water heater. The apparatus includes a monitoring unit that may be mounted on the water heater, and a display unit that may be mounted either on the water heater or remotely therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the purification of an aqueous stream coming from the Fischer-Tropsch reaction which comprises: feeding the aqueous stream containing organic by products of the reaction to a fractionating distillation column or to a stripping column; —condensation of the vaporized stream leaving the head of the column and the removal of a distillate enriched in the heaviest by-products; —feeding the partially purified aqueous stream leaving the bottom of the distillation column, at the head to one or more sensible contact exchangers; —sending a process gas in countercurrent to the tail of the exchanger at a temperature lower than that of the aqueous stream; —sending the process gas enriched in water and part of the residual organic product leaving the head of the exchanger to the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis plant of hydrocarbons; —sending the purified colder water leaving the exchanger directly to further treatment.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method and system for supercritical removal of an inorganic compound. The method includes: bringing a fluid including one or more inorganic fractions at supercritical conditions; separating at least one of the fractions in the fluid; cooling and/or depressurizing the fluid; and removing the at least one separated fraction.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of acidic solutions of activated silica for water treatment. Activated silica is formed during the process of acidifying a sodium silicate solution to below pH 2 with sulfuric acid.

Abstract: Systems and methods of capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide, comprising mixing a substantially non-aqueous solvent and an alkali such that the solvent and alkali form a solvent suspension, mixing water and a flue gas containing carbon dioxide with the solvent suspension such that a reaction occurs, the reaction resulting in the formation of a carbonate, water and heat.

Abstract: Methods and devices for selectively removing from a subject a target cell, pathogen, or virus expressing a binding partner on its surface are presented. In one embodiment, the device contains an excorporeal circuit, which includes, at least, a magnetic filter comprising a magnet and a removable, magnetizable substrate capable of capturing magnetic nanomaterials; and a pump in fluid communication with the magnetic filter, wherein the pump moves fluid through the excorporeal circuit. The magnet is capable of generating a magnetic field sufficient to capture magnetic nanomaterials in the magnetic field. In a preferred embodiment, the target cells are cancer cells and/or cells infected with pathogenic agents. The devices may be designed for extracorporeal or in vivo uses. Functionalized superparamagnetic nanoparticles are either mixed ex vivo with a biological fluid from the patient or injected into the patient.

Abstract: A filter device is made up of: a filter portion having a fluid outlet at its axis, and a fluid inlet in a position away from the axis, in which a fluid containing particles is supplied at a predetermined flow speed from the fluid inlet to cause a swirling, particles are moved outward in a centrifugal state and the fluid from which the particles are separated is discharged from the fluid outlet, and the particles separated by slowing down the swirling are allowed to sink; and a settlement portion in which the particles that settle in the filter portion are allowed to settle. Thus, a fluid containing particles is supplied at a predetermined flow speed to cause swirling, the particles are separated by a centrifugal force caused by the swirling and allowed to sink and settle, and the fluid from which the particles are separated is discharged. A large amount of particles can be allowed to settle and be reliably removed in a short time with this small-sized and simple device.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention, in performing cooling treatment of a waste liquid, to provide a mechanism which safely treats the waste liquid by cooling, without increasing cost and without providing large equipment. A treatment method of a waste liquid is proposed, in which a chemical liquid is supplied from a chemical liquid supply portion to a chemical liquid treatment portion; water is supplied from a water supply portion to a water treatment portion; a first waste liquid discharged from the chemical liquid treatment portion is made to flow into an inner pipe through a waste chemical portion, concurrently with making a second waste liquid discharged from the water treatment portion flow through a waste water portion into an outer pipe which is disposed outside the inner pipe; and the second waste liquid has a lower temperature than the first waste liquid.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for the extraction of solutes from solid matter using dense gases in a mechanical auger separation system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that promote the remediation of contaminated materials that are produced during industrial processes. These systems and methods include heating a material, transferring heat from the material to an industrial process. During this transfer, contaminants may be introduced into the material. These methods may remove the contaminant by treating the material with a surface modified nanoceramic through nanofiltration and/or active sites adsorption/reaction. The surface modified nanoceramic may remove at least part of the contaminant in the material. No cooling required prior to removing the contaminant from the material, which can lead to great energy saving and pollution reduction.

Abstract: The present invention includes systems and methods for treatment of seawater RO system for recovering most of the water (i.e., 85-90%) from the concentrate of a brackish groundwater reverse osmosis treatment system that may use, e.g., a batch method. With proper pH control and antiscalant dosage, the batch-treatment SWRO system of the present invention can be used to recovery water from silica-saturated RO concentrate without fouling the membranes. Silica concentrations of over 1000 mg/L are attainable with relatively minimal pre-treatment of the silica-saturated feed solution.

Abstract: A filter having a filter body with a plurality of filter openings, each having a passage cross-section which varies automatically in response to a characteristic inherent to a medium flowing through the openings to filter the medium.

Abstract: A fuel delivery system includes a fuel stabilization unit that removes dissolved oxygen from liquid fuel to increase the temperature at which the liquid fuel can be elevated without substantial formation of insoluble products. At least a portion of the fuel with reduced amounts of dissolved oxygen is vaporized prior to entering a combustion device to improve mixing and combustor performance.

Abstract: A method and a device to increase the efficiency of dialysis for the removal from blood of substances that are more or less tightly bound to carriers such as albumin. According to the invention this is accomplished by a simultaneous significant increase of the flow rate of the dialysis fluid and of the area of the membrane that separates the blood from the dialysis fluid, compared to conventional dialysis.