Abstract: An asymmetric membrane comprising a tubular polymer film in combination with a tubular braid on which the film is supported, requires the braid be macroporous and flexible, yet sufficiently strong to withstand continuous flexing, stretching and abrasion during use for microfiltration (MF) or ultrafiltration (UF). The specifications for a braid of a long-lived membrane are provided. A membrane is formed by supporting a polymer film in which particles of calcined &agr;-alumina are dispersed, on the defined tubular braid.

Abstract: This invention relates to catalytic reactor membranes having a gas-impermeable membrane for transport of oxygen anions. The membrane has an oxidation surface and a reduction surface. The membrane is coated on its oxidation surface with an adherent catalyst layer and is optionally coated on its reduction surface with a catalyst that promotes reduction of an oxygen-containing species (e.g., O2, NO2, SO2, etc.) to generate oxygen anions on the membrane. The reactor has an oxidation zone and a reduction zone separated by the membrane. A component of an oxygen containing gas in the reduction zone is reduced at the membrane and a reduced species in a reactant gas in the oxidation zone of the reactor is oxidized. The reactor optionally contains a three-dimensional catalyst in the oxidation zone. The adherent catalyst layer and the three-dimensional catalyst are selected to promote a desired oxidation reaction, particularly a partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a permeable composite material, a method for producing said composite material, and the use of the composite material. The inventive composite material contains essentially a porous, permeable support, another constituent having been solidified on and in or on or in said support. Said other constituent essentially contains metallic compounds with elements of the 3rd to the 6th main group. The constituent is solidified to, on or in the support by heating a suspension of the constituent suspended in a metal oxide sol applied on and in or on or in the support. The invention hereby provides a means of producing a permeable composite material in very mild conditions, either by heating strongly for a short period or by heating more moderately for a longer period.

Abstract: A bacterial fluid filter includes a filter element supported by a backing member. The filter element and backing member are sealed, e.g., with one or more o-ring seals, in a housing to provide a filter assembly capable of filtering fluid under relatively high pressure. In one embodiment, a filter element, backing member, and seal are disposed in a removable and disposable housing that is sized to fit within a filter housing.

Abstract: The ceramic porous membrane comprises ceramic particles and ceramic sol particles (with the exception of TiO2 sol particles). The ceramic particles and the ceramic sol particles are kneaded to obtain a kneaded product or a slurry, and the kneaded product or the slurry are sintered at a lower temperature. The ceramic sol particles have an average particle diameter of ⅕ or less of an average particle diameter of the ceramic particles, and the ceramic sol has a solid content of 1 to 30% by weight based on the weight of solid content of the ceramic particles.

Abstract: Aqueous streams containing organic and/or inorganic contaminants are purified by the removal of the contaminant by contacting the aqueous stream with a membrane formed from a porous, crystalline titanium silicate.

Abstract: A gas filter, a process for producing a gas filter and the use of the gas filter. The filtration of gases, in particular of gases which are contaminated by solids, e.g. automobile exhaust gases, is difficult since the solids which have been filtered out block the filter over the course of time. The gas filter of the invention can be used over relatively long periods of time since it is regenerable. The improvement achieved by the invention compared to conventional gas filters is that the filter comprises a composite material which can be heated in a simple manner by application of a voltage to the electrically conductive support material of the composite material and thermally decomposable substances which can block the filter can be decomposed. The filter of the invention can be used wherever gases which are contaminated by thermally decomposable solids have to be cleaned.

Abstract: A metallic fabric for manufacturing a hollow body is welded at two edge areas and according to the present invention a metallic strip is welded on in the vicinity of the welded seam, whereby the width of the welded seam is narrower than the width of the metallic strip. An elastic material which flattens out vibrations of the hollow body and ensures protection of the welded seam is arranged between the metallic strip and the metallic fabric.

Abstract: An improved fluid separating device for filtering a second fluid from a first fluid. The improved fluid separating device comprises a first layer of filter media comprising a sintered matrix of first fibers. A second layer of filter membrane comprises a matrix of second fibers. A third layer of filter media comprises a sintered matrix of third fibers. The first, second and third layers are formed into a lamination with the second layer being interposed between the first and third layers. The second layer has a pore size substantially less than the pore size of the first and third layers for enabling the second fluid to pass through the second layer and for inhibiting the first fluid from passing through the second layer for separating the second fluid from the first fluid. The improved fluid separating device is suitable for separating a gas from a liquid as well as separating a gas from a dissimilar gas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a permeable composite material, a method for producing said composite material, and the use of the composite material. The inventive composite material contains essentially a porous, permeable support, another constituent having been solidified on and in or on or in said support. Said other constituent essentially contains metallic compounds with elements of the 3rd to the 6th main group. The constituent is solidified to, on or in the support by heating a suspension of the constituent suspended in a metal oxide sol applied on and in or on or in the support. The invention hereby provides a means of producing a permeable composite material in very mild conditions, either by heating strongly for a short period or by heating more moderately for a longer period. The resulting permeable composite material is excellently suited to applications in filtration and membrane technology.

Abstract: A micro/ultrafiltering element (10) and method for making a filter element are provided. The filtering element comprises a multi-level support (26) having a filtering membrane layer (12) formed thereon comprising sintered particles (14) of uniform diameter. The filtering membrane preferably has an average pore size of from about 0.005-10 micrometers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalytically active, permeable composite material, a method for producing said composite material, and the use of the composite material. The inventive composite material can be used for separating mixtures of materials. The fact that various catalytically active substances can be incorporated into the material in various ways makes it highly flexible in terms of possible applications with properties which can be adapted to the particular purpose of an application. The inventive composite material can be used as a catalytically active membrane electrode, for example. According to the invention, the material is obtained by solidifying a suspension on and in a porous, permeable support. The production of the material requires either a very short period of heat treatment at temperatures of around 400° C. or treatment for a longer period at very mild temperatures of below 100° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-volatile facilitated transport separation membrane prepared by using a solid state polymer electrolyte, characterized in that it has good stability and improved permeance and selectivity of alkene-series unsaturated hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A filtering medium and method for removing contaminants from an organic-based feed stream which includes the use of a layer of ceramic filter units having a plurality of elliptical or trisoidal openings extending therethrough to filter organic-based feed streams and to provide liquid distribution upstream of the catalyst beds.

Abstract: A filter media system, which is capable of operating in the microfiltration regime, offers: low cost, durability, high temperature and chemical resistance, no particulation, mechanical strength, separation efficiency, and biocompatibility. A filter media system is comprised of a carbon or ceramic composite substrate which contains a carbon or ceramic matrix reinforced with carbon or ceramic fibers. The composite has an array of carbon or ceramic fiber whiskers grown onto its surface or in its bulk. A process is provided for manufacturing the filter media system wherein a carbon fiber is disposed in a matrix deposited by a CVI or LPI process, at temperatures of about 900 to about 1200° C. to achieve a weight gain of about 10 to 200% (the ceramic matrix is deposited by a CVI process from an aqueous slurry or by use of a preceramic polymer). This composite is treated with an aqueous solution of metal catalyst salt and is then heated in hydrogen at elevated temperatures to reduce the metal salt to metal.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the separation of a metal complex catalyst and any free ligand which may be present, from a homogeneous organic synthesis reaction mixture using sub-nanoporous, chemically stable membranes having discrete pores which allow organic products and by-products to pass through the membrane as permeate while retaining substantially all of the metal complex catalyst and free ligand, if any, as retentate.

Abstract: The invention concerns an inorganic nanofiltration membrane with a detachment threshold between 100 and 200 daltons and comprising: a multichannel ceramic monolith support consisting of a mixture of Al2O3 and of TiO2, a microfiltration membrane separating layer, an ultrafiltration membrane separating layer, preferably consisting of ZrO2, a nanofiltration membrane separating layer, preferably consisting of ZrO2, and obtained by a sol-gel type method. This inorganic nanofiltration membrane is designed for use in the sugar industry, more particularly for treating saline effluents derived from the regeneration of ion exchanging resins used if the refining of cane sugar.

Abstract: A process for production of synthesis gas employing a catalytic membrane reactor wherein the membrane comprises a mixed metal oxide material.