Abstract: The invention provides devices, test kits and methods for removing target agents from a sample. The device contains one or more porous matrices having pore sizes larger than 10 ?m, and a plurality of particles impregnated therein. The target agents attach the device and are removed from the sample.

Abstract: An oil absorbing article which includes an oil absorbent material which is stable against melting at a temperature of at least about 100° F. in an aqueous environment; a receptacle for holding the oil absorbent material having a porous material which is stable against melting at a temperature of at least about 100° F. in an aqueous environment and which permits the passage of water and oil components through the receptacle; and a flexible handle attached to the receptacle for hanging the oil absorbent article in the aqueous environment. Also, a method for using the oil absorbing article by placing the article in an aqueous environment having a temperature of at least about 100° F. and which is contaminated with oil components for a period of time sufficient to remove at least a portion of the oil components.

Abstract: A biodegradable beverage filter cartridge having: a biodegradable fluid permeable beverage filter component; an openable lid component of biodegradable and/or recyclable material; and a beverage receptacle component composed of an exterior biodegradable heat-resistant structural polymer layer, an inner protective seal layer of biodegradable polymer, and an intermediate biodegradable and/or recyclable oxygen barrier layer between the exterior and inner layers and provided with a pierceable and/or a liquid permeable base portion and a sidewall portion extending generally upwardly from the base portion for securing the lid component to the beverage receptacle component and defining a beverage filter component receptacle area for receiving the beverage filter component. The cartridge may optionally include beverage material positioned within a beverage material receiving area of the beverage filter component.

Abstract: A braid-reinforced composite hollow fiber membrane is disclosed. The braid-reinforced composite hollow fiber membrane comprising a reinforcing material of a tubular braid and a polymer resinous thin film coated on the surface of the tubular braid according to the present invention is characterized in that: the tubular braid comprises multifilaments made of monofilaments having a crimp rate of 2 to 40%, and the peeling strength of the tubular braid and a polymer resinous thin film coated on the surface thereof is 1 to 10 MPa. In the composite hollow fiber membrane, the crimp rate of the monofilaments constituting the tubular braid of the reinforcing material is 2 to 40%, thus the surface area of the tubular braid contacted with the polymer resinous thin film is increased. Thus, the peeling strength of the tubular braid and the polymer resinous thin film coated on the surface thereof is excellent.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a new type of high performance polymer membranes prepared from aromatic polyimide membranes by thermal treating and crosslinking and methods for making and using these membranes. The polymer membranes were prepared from aromatic polyimide membranes by thermal treating under inert atmosphere followed by crosslinking preferably by using a UV radiation source. The aromatic polyimide membranes were made from aromatic polyimide polymers comprising both pendent hydroxy functional groups ortho to the heterocyclic imide nitrogen and cross-linkable functional groups in the polymer backbone. The membranes showed significantly improved selectivity and permeability for gas separations compared to the aromatic polyimide membranes without any treatment. The membranes can be fabricated into any convenient geometry and are not only suitable for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations, but also can be used for other applications such as for catalysis and fuel cell applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermally bound non-woven material containing a low-shrinkage dual-component core-sheath fiber consisting of a crystalline polyester core and a crystalline polyester sheath which has a melting point at least 10° C. lower than the core, the heat-shrinkage characteristic of said fiber being less than 10% at 170° C.

Abstract: A method for collecting matter using a matter collection Unit, as described below, provides a low energy, low cost and nearly zero pollutant process for extracting suspended and/or dissolved matter in a medium. The method collects the matter on a material when the medium is permitted to flow past the material which is disposed within a chamber, and the medium, with less suspended matter, can flow back to a medium body to permit, e.g., further growth and/or higher collection efficiency. The process can operate continuously alongside, e.g. a growth system, to harvest suspended matter until the matter is ready for extraction. Post extraction collected matter, e.g., can be converted into valuable commercial products or the process can be used to remediate a medium, such that the valuable product is a substantially cleaner medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the method of producing concentric carbon nanospheres from the pyrolytic combustion of a carbonaceous material such as plant material. The material can be carboxylated and then optionally metallated to produce nanospheres capable of filtering a liquid such as water.

Abstract: A novel composite of glass fiber paper and reinforcing material that is useful for high speed manufacturing of devices comprising it is disclosed. The composite is formed by pressing into a glass fiber paper, having multimodal (at least bi-modal) composition, a hydrophilic reinforcing material. The composite has anisotropic separation properties that are particularly useful for preparing a fluid fraction from whole blood. The preferred glass fiber paper comprises glass fibers such that there are a plurality of short fibers (6) having large diameters and long fibers (2) with smaller diameters. The preferred glass fiber paper also exhibits partial ordering. There are many more of the long fibers (2) with smaller diameters than of the short fibers (6) having large diameters. Also disclosed are several blood separator device designs for efficiently separating the fluid fraction of blood from whole blood using the composite.

Abstract: The invention features methods for separating cells from a sample (e.g., separating fetal red blood cells from maternal blood). The method begins with the introduction of a sample including cells into one or more microfluidic channels. In one embodiment, the device includes at least two processing steps. For example, a mixture of cells is introduced into a microfluidic channel that selectively allows the passage of a desired type of cell, and the population of cells enriched in the desired type is then introduced into a second microfluidic channel that allows the passage of the desired cell to produce a population of cells further enriched in the desired type. The selection of cells is based on a property of the cells in the mixture, for example, size, shape, deformability, surface characteristics (e.g., cell surface receptors or antigens and membrane permeability), or intracellular properties (e.g., expression of a particular enzyme).

Abstract: This invention relates to an amorphous non-glassy ceramic composition that may be prepared by curing, calcining and/or pyrolyzing a precursor material comprising silicon, a Group III metal, a Group IVA metal, and/or a Group IVB metal.

Abstract: A filter with high filtration capacity, comprising a filtering element, whose particularity is that the filtering element is made of a plant fiber selected among hemp, kenaf, jute and agave.

Abstract: This invention relates to an amorphous non-glassy ceramic composition that may be prepared by curing, calcining and/or pyrolyzing a precursor material comprising silicon, a Group III metal, a Group IVA metal, and/or a Group IVB metal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a filter material including a sheet-like laminate which includes an ultrafine fiber aggregate layer formed of an aggregate of ultrafine fibers produced by an electrospinning method having an average fiber diameter of not less than 10 nm and not more than 1000 nm, and a base material formed of a nonwoven fabric or a woven fabric constituted from fibers having an average fiber diameter of 1 ?m or more, said filter material satisfying all of a plurality of specific requirements, having a capability of collecting or separating ?m-order microfine particles with a high accuracy and exhibiting a less pressure loss and a long filtering life, as well as a filter cartridge using the filter material.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel and improved compositions containing calcium phosphate and methods of using the same for the removal of protein aggregates from biopharmaceutical compositions containing a product of interest, e.g., a therapeutic antibody or protein.

Abstract: A fluid filter has a plurality of inlet channels, a plurality of outlet channels, and filter walls separating the inlet channels from the outlet channels. The inlet channels are parallel to the outlet channels, and the filter walls have a plurality of pores through which the inlet channels are connected to the outlet channels. A cross-sectional area of all inlet channels is larger than a cross-sectional area of all outlet channels, and a value of diameters of the pores of the filter walls calculated by mercury porosimetry being a median value d50, being between 0.01 ?m and 0.5 ?m.

Abstract: A membrane structure is provided. The membrane structure includes a polymer layer having a plurality of pores; and a ceramic layer disposed on the polymer layer. The ceramic layer has a plurality of substantially unconnected pores. Each of the substantially unconnected pores is in fluid communication with at least one of the pores of the polymer layer. A method of manufacturing a membrane structure is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a polymer layer having a plurality of pores; and disposing a ceramic layer on the polymer layer. Disposing a ceramic layer includes depositing a metal layer on the polymer layer; and anodizing the metal layer to convert the metal layer into a porous layer. At least one of the depositing step and the anodizing step is performed as a continuous process. Alternatively, at least one of the depositing and the anodizing step is performed as a batch process.

Abstract: Filter media for liquid purification, which can remove metal compounds or metal ions containing in polishing or washing liquids such as alkali, acid solution or ultra-pure water used for silicon wafers of semiconductors. Removal of metals from various kind of liquid such as inorganic chemicals, organic solvent, or industrial waste water are also the subject of the present invention. The Filter media made of melt-blown nonwoven substrate comprising of aethylene/norbornene copolymer represented by the following formula [1] and/or a polycyclic norbornene polymer represented by the following formulae [2](a),(b),(c) as raw material, wherein said ethylene/norbornene copolymer and said polycyclic norbornene polymer have a glass transition temperature (Tg) selected in a range from 80 to 180° C. and melt volume rate (MVR) (ISO 1133, measuring conditions: 260° C., 2.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a fluid with a body are disclosed. Various aspects involve treating a fluid with a porous body. In select embodiments, a body comprises ash particles, and the ash particles used to form the body may be selected based on their providing one or more desired properties for a given treatment. Various bodies provide for the reaction and/or removal of a substance in a fluid, often using a porous body comprised of ash particles. Computer-operable methods for matching a source material to an application are disclosed. Certain aspects feature a porous body comprised of ash particles, the ash particles have a particle size distribution and interparticle connectivity that creates a plurality of pores having a pore size distribution and pore connectivity, and the pore size distribution and pore connectivity are such that a first fluid may substantially penetrate the pores.

Abstract: The invention relates to a web or filter structure such as the filtration media comprising a collection of fiber comprising a first polymer and a second polymer in a fine fiber or fine fiber web structure. The combination of two polymers provides improved fiber rheology in that the fiber has excellent temperature and mechanical stability. The combination of polymers imparts the properties of elasticity or tackiness, which is desirable for adhering particles to the fiber web, with high temperature resistance.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a fluid with a body are disclosed. Various aspects involve treating a fluid with a porous body. In select embodiments, a body comprises ash particles, and the ash particles used to form the body may be selected based on their providing one or more desired properties for a given treatment. Various bodies provide for the reaction and/or removal of a substance in a fluid, often using a porous body comprised of ash particles. Computer-operable methods for matching a source material to an application are disclosed. Certain aspects feature a porous body comprised of ash particles, the ash particles have a particle size distribution and interparticle connectivity that creates a plurality of pores having a pore size distribution and pore connectivity, and the pore size distribution and pore connectivity are such that a first fluid may substantially penetrate the pores.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a depth filter layer with inorganic layer double hydroxide, a method for production thereof, a filtration device containing this, a method for the separation of at least one contaminant from at least one target product in a liquid medium by means of at least one upstream depth filter layer and the use of the depth filter layer for removal of contaminants. The depth filter layer selectively retains contaminants such as nucleic acids, while target proteins of biotechnological processes are transmissible into the filtrate.

Abstract: A modified polyamide membrane and method for making and using the same. The present invention includes many embodiments including methods comprising contacting a polyamide membrane with certain modifiers, including but not limited to certain oxazoline and/or thiazoline-based compounds, derivatives and polymers thereof. In one embodiment, the surface of a polyamide membrane is coated with a solution including a polyoxazoline and optionally a polyalkylene oxide material, followed by optional heating. Preferred embodiments may exhibit improved performance, e.g. increased rejection of certain species, (e.g. sodium chloride and/or boric oxides such as boric acid or various borate salts), reduced fouling, improved antimicrobial properties, and/or improved storage stability.

Abstract: Diatomaceous earth products are prepared by at least agglomerating at least one natural diatomaceous earth material with at least one aluminate material, and subjecting agglomerated diatomaceous earth material to at least one heat treatment. In one embodiment, the diatomaceous earth product has a permeability ranging from about 0.2 darcy to about 3.0 darcy. In another embodiment, the diatomaceous earth product has a cristobalite content of less than about 1% by weight. In a further embodiment, the diatomaceous earth product has a quartz content of less than about 0.5% by weight. Also disclosed are diatomaceous earth products, uses for diatomaceous earth products, and filter aid compositions comprising diatomaceous earth products.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are diatomaceous earth products containing reduced soluble metal levels, processes for reducing soluble metal levels in diatomaceous earth products, and methods of using the same. In particular, diatomaceous earth products are disclosed that have been treated with at least one surface metal blocking agent, and then subjected to at least one thermal treatment process to reduce the level of soluble metals associated therewith. Such diatomaceous earth products containing reduced soluble metal levels may be useful for various applications including, but not limited to, as filter aid materials.

Abstract: A water non-dispersible polymer microfiber is provided comprising at least one water non-dispersible polymer wherein the water non-dispersible polymer microfiber has an equivalent diameter of less than 5 microns and length of less than 25 millimeters. A process for producing water non-dispersible polymer microfibers is also provided, the process comprising: a) cutting a multicomponent fiber into cut multicomponent fibers; b) contacting a fiber-containing feedstock with water to produce a fiber mix slurry; wherein the fiber-containing feedstock comprises cut multicomponent fibers; c) heating the fiber mix slurry to produce a heated fiber mix slurry; d) optionally, mixing the fiber mix slurry in a shearing zone; e) removing at least a portion of the sulfopolyester from the multicomponent fiber to produce a slurry mixture comprising a sulfopolyester dispersion and water non-dispersible polymer microfibers; and f) separating the water non-dispersible polymer microfibers from the slurry mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of the invention for separating at least one first material from a mixture comprising this at least one first material and at least one second material, which comprises the steps: (A) Contacting of at least one magnetic particle and at least one bifunctional molecule or an adduct of the two with the mixture comprising the at least one first material and at least one second material so that an adduct is formed from the at least one magnetic particle, the bifunctional compound of the general formula (I) and the at least one first material, (B) suspension of the adduct obtained in step (A) in a suitable suspension medium, (C) separation of the adduct present in the suspension from step (B) from the suspension by application of a magnetic field, (D) if appropriate, dissociation of the adduct separated off in step (C) in order to obtain the at least one first material. a corresponding adduct and the use of such an adduct for the separation of mixtures of materials.

Abstract: Disclosed are coalescers, systems, and methods for coalescing a mixture of two phases, namely a continuous phase and a dispersed phase. The disclosed coalescers, systems, and methods include or utilize one or more layers of media material having a distinct mean pore size and wettability. The disclosed coalescers, systems, and methods are effective for removing the dispersed phase from the mixture.

Abstract: A mesoporous silica structure having a plurality of mesopores includes a dendritic framework having mesopores. 90% or more of the mesopores observable in a 500 nm×500 nm area pass through the framework in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the framework.

Abstract: A modified polyamide membrane and method for making and using the same. The present invention includes many embodiments including methods comprising contacting a polyamide membrane with certain modifiers, including but not limited to certain oxazoline and/or thiazoline-based compounds, derivatives and polymers thereof. In one embodiment, the surface of a polyamide membrane is coated with a solution including a polyoxazoline and optionally a polyalkylene oxide material, followed by optional heating. Preferred embodiments may exhibit improved performance, e.g. increased rejection of certain species, (e.g. sodium chloride and/or boric oxides such as boric acid or various borate salts), reduced fouling, improved antimicrobial properties, and/or improved storage stability.

Abstract: A macrocyclic pore-apertured carbon nanotube apparatus is disclosed. The carbon nanotube apparatus can be used to filter or exclude ions, solutes in solution, as well as particles suspended in a colloidal mixture. The nanotube apparatus includes a carbon nanotube having a carboxylated portion at least one pore entrance and at least one molecular aperture adapted to be bonded to the carboxylated portion of the carbon nanotube. The molecular aperture is further adapted to prevent dissolved ions in a solution from entering the pore entrance. Methods for preparing and using the apparatus are also disclosed. The apparatus can also be incorporated into to filtration media for conducting reverse osmosis filtration.

Abstract: A novel composite of glass fiber paper and reinforcing material that is useful for high speed manufacturing of devices comprising it is disclosed. The composite is formed by pressing into a glass fiber paper, having multimodal (at least bi-modal) composition, a hydrophilic reinforcing material. The composite has anisotropic separation properties that are particularly useful for preparing a fluid fraction from whole blood. The preferred glass fiber paper comprises glass fibers such that there are a plurality of short fibers (6) having large diameters and long fibers (2) with smaller diameters. The preferred glass fiber paper also exhibits partial ordering. There are many more of the long fibers (2) with smaller diameters than of the short fibers (6) having large diameters. Also disclosed are several blood separator device designs for efficiently separating the fluid fraction of blood from whole blood using the composite.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coating composition consisting of an oxide compound. The invention also relates to a method for producing a coating composition consisting of an oxide compound and to a method for coating substrates composed of metal, semiconductor, alloy, ceramic, quartz, glass or glass-type materials with coating compositions of this type. The invention further relates to the use of a coating composition according to the invention for coating metal, semiconductor, alloy, ceramic, quartz, glass and/or glass-type substrates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filter, comprising a filter medium (10), which during operation is used to clean fluid, particularly in the form of hydraulic fluid, wherein the filter medium (10) is made of a material the potential difference to the fluid to be cleaned is low. The invention further relates to filter solutions, wherein parts of the filter medium (10) have different potentials with respect to each other and/or the fluid to be cleaned such that they cancel each other at least partially, or wherein specific dissipation is aspired, or wherein a return of electric charge to the associated filter medium (10) is provided, using a charge equalization situation.

Abstract: A method for removing contaminants from a fluid-material comprising: providing at least one substrate comprising a three-dimensional knit in an initial configuration made of knitted polymeric fiber which substantially resumes the initial configuration after it is released from stretching or compressing force; and submerging said at least one substrate in a fluidic material for treatment of the fluidic material.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel water membranes comprising lipid bilayers incorporating functional aqua-porins. The lipid bilayers are arranged in sandwich structures including hydrophilic or hydro-phobic support materials. Also disclosed are water purification devices/systems, including reverse osmosis filtering devices that include membranes having functional aquaporins. Methods of water purification and methods of preparing the membranes are also disclosed. Further, the invention provides for a new type of perforated, hydrophobic polymer film and to membranes containing lipid bilayers having other transmembrane proteins than aquaporins introduced.

Abstract: Transgenic microbes with an altered electrogenic efficacy, biofilms comprising such microbes, and microbial fuel cells comprising such microbes are provided. The microbial fuel cells can be operated as monitors, filtration devices, and sensors.

Abstract: According to the invention, by preparing a solution of an aromatic copolyamide obtained by copolymerization of a specific third component, a spinning solution is stabilized even without using an alkali metal salt and a uniform aromatic copolyamide nanofiber can be obtained stably by an electrospinning method. Further, according to the invention, a fiber structure obtaining laminating a salt-free aromatic copolyamide nanofiber can be stably formed. Therefore, it can be applied to a product having no preference for ionic contamination of an alkali metal salt or the like, for example, a filter for gas or liquid filtration or an electronic component separator, and is useful in the textile industry.

Abstract: An integral molded part of a plastic material for the analysis and preparation of substances, having at least one surface region and an interior region, wherein said at least one surface region is an open-pore three-dimensional network.

Abstract: A fiber construct for treating biological components, including fibers having an average diameter of less than 50 ?m, wherein at least some of the fibers are crimped.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions for applying to honeycomb substrates. The compositions comprise an inorganic powder batch composition; a binder; and a liquid vehicle. The inorganic powder batch composition comprises a ceramic forming glass powder. The compositions are well suited for use as plugging compositions for forming ceramic diesel particulate wall flow filters. Also disclosed herein are end plugged wall flow filters comprising the disclosed plugging compositions and methods for the manufacture thereof. The glass powder forms crystalline cordierite.

Abstract: The invention provides novel methods for the separation of charged molecules such as proteins according to the isoelectric points (pI's) and includes the systems and buffering compositions employed for isolating charged molecules. The invention further provides for modifications to the above described chromatographic methods that enable the separation of charged molecules exhibiting virtually identical pI's by shifting both the buffer's pKa and the pI's of the eluted charged molecules while they are traversing the ion exchange column.

Abstract: A filter for the removal of substances from blood product has a porous element of a polymeric material consisting of a polyether-ester copolymer or of a polymer blend comprising said copolymer.

Abstract: Use of a material comprising a first polylactic acid and a first non-polylactic acid polyester as a filter base material (2) for a fluid cleaning filter. Furthermore, a method for fabricating a filter base material (2) as well as a filter base material (2) obtainable by the method and a filter comprising the filter base material (2) are provided.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, microbial, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as food products and amino acids.

Abstract: A membrane structure is provided. The membrane structure includes a first layer having a plurality of interconnected pores; and a second layer disposed on the first layer. The second layer has a plurality of unconnected pores. Each of the unconnected pores is in fluid communication with at least one of the interconnected pores of the first layer. A method of making a membrane structure is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a first layer having a plurality of interconnected pores; and disposing a second layer on the first layer. Disposing a second layer includes depositing a conducting layer on the first layer; and anodizing the conducting layer to convert the conducting layer into a porous layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polymeric membrane composition utilizing the non-hazardous compound 4-aminophenyl disulfide (“APD”), a method of making the polymeric membrane, and a process for separating components of a feedstream utilizing the polymeric membrane. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this invention relates to utilizing the polymeric membrane composition in a process for the separation of aromatics from a hydrocarbon feedstream containing aromatics and aliphatic compounds.

Abstract: A nano-scale filter (10) includes a porous supporting component (14) and a carbon nanotube filtration membrane (12) sintered on a top surface of the porous supporting component. The porous supporting component has a number of micro-scale pores. The filtration membrane is configured as a network formed by aggregating a number of multi-junction carbon nanotubes. The multi-function carbon nanotubes are selected from the group consisting of two-dimensional junction carbon nanotubes (30, 40, 50, 60), three-dimensional junction carbon nanotubes (20) and an admixture thereof. A method for making the nano-scale filter is also provided.

Abstract: A filtration appliance for wastewater purification, preferably for a sewage treatment plant, in particular for a small sewage treatment plant, including at least one ceramic-based membrane for separating off microorganisms, to a sewage treatment plant having such a filtration appliance, a method of purifying wastewater, in particular in a sewage treatment plant, wherein microorganisms present in the wastewater are separated off by means of at least one ceramic-based membrane, and also to the use of a ceramic-based membrane as filter for separating off microorganisms and, if appropriate, fine solids, from wastewaters.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved synthetic polymer hydrogel permeation layers for use on active electronic matrix devices for biological assays. The present invention includes methods for forming a permeation layer on an array of microelectrodes including the steps of attaching a linker to the surface of the array and providing a polymerization solution that includes a porogen. The surface of the array is then contacted with the polymerization solution and the polymerization solution is then polymerized on the surface of the array to form a permeation layer that is attached o the surface of the array through the linker. The porogen is then removed from the permeation layer, thereby creating void spaces in the permeation layer.