Abstract: Methods and devices for isolating nucleic acids from a mixture containing such nucleic acids and extraneous matter are provided. In one embodiment, the method of the invention comprises passing the mixture through a glass frit under conditions effective to separate the nucleic acids from the extraneous matter. In a more specific embodiment, the glass frit is a sintered glass frit.

Abstract: A structure including a support defining an opening, and a tensilely stressed thin-film membrane disposed to occlude the opening, the membrane contacting at least a portion of the support. The stressed membrane includes a material having a characteristic crack spacing greater than one-half of a minimum dimension of the membrane and less than ten times the minimum dimension. A structure including a support defining a opening having a minimum opening dimension, and a compressively stressed thin-film membrane disposed to occlude the opening, the membrane contacting at least a portion of the support. The stressed membrane includes a membrane material having a critical aspect ratio for buckling that is greater than a ratio of one-half of the minimum opening dimension to a thickness of the membrane, and the critical aspect ratio for buckling is less than a ratio of ten times the minimum opening dimension to the thickness of the membrane.

Abstract: Fluid filter devices include at least one porous body. In one example, the fluid filter device can be incorporated as part of a fluid filter apparatus. The fluid filter apparatus can include a container defining an interior area wherein the filter device is positioned within the interior area. Particulate can be positioned within the interior area to cover the porous body to enhance the filter capabilities of the fluid filter apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ceramic filter device for molten metal filtration comprising a major ceramic phase and a minor carbon phase bonded by phosphate bond, a method for producing such filter devices, and the use of such filter devices for the filtration of molten steel.

Abstract: A packing composition (110) for inserting into a fluidic device (100), the packing composition (110) comprising a packing material (114) adapted for separating different components of a fluid and an elastic network (115) in which the packing material (114) is embedded.

Abstract: A filter is made of a rubber having magnetism to attract metal paricles in a fluid for filtering impurities. The filter can be used in a hydraulic transmission system or even an air filter used in a semiconductor production.

Abstract: A porous grog with a body composition of water, clay and combustible material. Further, an earthenware water purification filter utilizing the porous grog in the body composition of the filter. Further, an earthenware filter utilizing silver chloride treatment for water disinfection is disclosed. A water purification system incorporating said filter, said water purification system capable of removing about 99% of all particles not less than 1.0 micron is size, and removing virtually 100% of fecal coliform indicators. In other embodiments, methods of disinfecting pottery toilet liners including various open surfaces using silver chloride treatment are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in the treatment of contaminated fluid is provided. The apparatus includes a body portion, made from a mixture of a waste adsorbent material and a binder material, for use in the removal of contaminants. The adsorbent material may be a nanosorbent material manufactured from self-assembled monolayers on mesoporous supports (SAMMS). The binder material, on the other hand, may include any thermoplastic material capable of binding the adsorbent material together to subsequently provide a composite material that can be shaped into a block. A method for treatment of contaminated fluid is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluid filter comprising a magnetic substrate configured to allow passage of fluid therethrough, with the substrate manufactured from sintered powdered metal. Preferably, the filter has a porosity of at least 10%, and a magnetic flux density of at least 5 gauss. The substrate may include iron, aluminum, barium, cerium, cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, nickel, oxygen, praseodymium, platinum, samarium, and/or strontium. The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing a fluid filter by sintering powdered metal to form a magnetic substrate configured to allow passage of fluid therethrough. The method may further include shaping the magnetic substrate for use within a desired application.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of activated clays and cement additives from contaminated drill cuttings is provided. The substrate can be mixed with a mineral acid in a first reactor. The acidified substrate is then mixed with alkaline earth in a second reactor. The reactions are exothermic and provide heat to vaporize the contaminants, reaction products, and water. Recoverable constituents in the vapor can be condensed in a vapor collection system. The treated substrate can be heated and/or further reacted with acid, resulting in the formation of activated clays. For production of cement additives, the treated substrate can then be heated in a kiln and combined with cement clinker material for the preparation of cement and/or concrete.

Abstract: A method of creating a cationic molecularly imprinted polymer bead that can bind inorganic target compounds is disclosed and described. The cationic molecularly imprinted polymer bead can be formed by complexing a target compound with a cationic ligand, polymerizing the cationic ligands to form the bead, and then extracting the target compound from the bead. The cationic ligand complex can have an octanol water partition coefficient of about 1 to about 10. The cationic molecularly imprinted polymer bead can have a porous structure containing a plurality of complexing cavities for selectively bind specific target compounds for removal from potable water, mine effluent, industrial effluent, or other fluids.

Abstract: A media in the form of a multilayered semi porous composite membrane containing a strong positive electrical charge with a highly porous surface consisting of 60 to 90 percent void volume and pore size of about 2 micron capable of retaining negatively charged protozoa, bacteria, and virus as well as di-pole particulate matter as a result of the attraction of the positive charge. A housing is a portable adaptive housing containing and supporting the composite membrane. A low pressure stream of water is within the housing and passes through the media. A composite membrane is positioned within the adaptive housing in the path of the low pressure stream of water. The composite membrane is adapted to treat the low pressure stream of water under from 0.3 to 10 psig pressure delivering 5 to 30 ml/sec.

Abstract: New silica gel materials and novel methods of producing such are provided. The method itself entails a manner of mixing the reactants together in a one-pot process such that the time required for aging is reduced without compromising the ability to target pore size production. In such a way, the pH of the reaction drives pore size development, thereby permitting a more efficient process to be followed in terms of expensive drying/heating steps being reduced timewise, if not altogether. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the resultant gel materials exhibit a certain pore size minimum while simultaneously exhibiting a degree of softness heretofore unavailable. As such, not only is this novel method more efficient in silica gel manufacture, but the resultant materials are completely novel as well. The gel materials made therefrom may be utilized in a variety of different end uses, such as cooking oil filtration, soft skin cleansers, dental abrasives, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an environmental control unit for use in air handling systems that provides highly effective filtration of noxious gases (such as ammonia). Such a filtration system utilizes novel undoped precipitated silica or silicon-based gels to temporarily trap and remove such undesirable gases from an enclosed environment and permit recycling of such gases subsequently thereto. Such precipitated silicas need to exhibit specific pore sizes, pore volumes, pore diameters, and particles sizes to be effective for such a purpose. The combination of these particular properties permits highly effective noxious gas filtration such that excellent uptake and breakthrough results are attained, particularly in comparison with prior media filtration products. Methods of using and specific filter apparatuses are also encompassed within this invention.

Abstract: A separation system has a distillation column, an overhead vapor supply pipe connected to the top of the distillation column, first and second branch pipes branching from the overhead vapor supply pipe and a superheater connected to the first branch pipe. A separator downstream of the superheater has a separation membrane for separating overhead vapor from the top of the distillation column into permeable vapor and nonpermeable vapor by allowing only a selected portion of the overhead vapor to permeate the separation membrane. A reflux unit has a condenser connected to the second branch pipe for cooling a portion of the overhead vapor into a liquid and a gas-liquid separator for separating gas from the liquid produced by cooling and returning the separated liquid into the top of the distillation column.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus with a filter device. The filter device contains a ceramic filter equipped with a heating device. The heating device serves for thermal sterilisation of the ceramic filter, by which allergenic substances are destroyed.

Abstract: The filter 1 of the present invention has at least two filter elements 2 contained in the casing 4, which are connected in series in such a state as interposing the first sealer 5 between them.

Abstract: A filter membrane, methods of making such filter membrane and apparatus employing such filter membrane are disclosed, in which the filter membrane is a monolithic polymeric membrane that includes a polymeric filter layer including a micron-scale precision-shaped pores and a polymeric support layer that has a precision-shaped porous support structure for the filter layer. Several methods are disclosed for making such a membrane using micromachining techniques, including lithographic, laser ablation and x-ray treatment techniques. Several filter apparatus employing such a membrane are also disclosed.

Abstract: A cartridge for treating water, the cartridge capable of releasably engaging a water treatment device. The cartridge includes a housing, an inlet for introducing untreated water into the cartridge, an outlet port for egress of treated water from the cartridge, and a treatment media for treating untreated water The treatment media is in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet port. The cartridge further includes a first tube having an inside surface, an outside surface, a proximal end, and a distal end, where the inside surface and/or the outside surface is a sealing surface. The cartridge further includes a second tube having an inside surface, an outside surface, a proximal end, and a distal end, where the inside surface and/or the outside surface is a sealing surface. The first tube extends from the housing and surrounds the outlet part. At least a portion of the first tube or the second tube surrounds the other such that a gap is formed between the first tube and the second tube.

Abstract: A method for forming a diesel particulate filter is presented. The method includes provided an extruder for receiving material to be extruded such extruder being configured to converting such material into a honeycomb structure having a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion has a bottom surface and a pair of vertically extending sidewalls terminating along outer edges of the bottom surface. The upper portion has a pair of opposing, pitched, sidewalls having lower edges terminating along upper edges of the vertically extending sidewalls and upper edges terminating along a common edge.

Abstract: Multi-core solid profile filter media blocks include multiple sub-blocks, which may be formed by providing a block with multiple interior cavities extending deep into the block, to allow water to flow deep inside the filter block to access the media of the sub-block (in the case wherein the cavities are at the inlet to the block) or that allows water to be collected from each filtration sub-block (in the case wherein the cavities are at the outlet from the block). One or more indentations/spaces/gaps in the exterior surface of the block also may be provided to separate and extend between portions of the sub-blocks, so that substantially all of the filter media of a sub-block is accessible to fluid for filtration. This way, a filter block may include a large amount of media in a small cartridge or package volume, and the filter block may exhibit good flow distribution and low pressure drop.

Abstract: A porous object comprising a three-dimensional network skeleton of a cured epoxy resin and having interconnecting pores, characterized in that the three-dimensional network skeleton forms a non-particle-aggregation type porous object constituted of a three-dimensional branched columnar structure, the proportion of aromatic-ring-derived carbon atoms to all the carbon atoms as a component of the cured epoxy resin is 0.10-0.65, and the porous object has a porosity of 20-80% and an average pore diameter of 0.5-50 ?m.

Abstract: A fuel supply for a fuel cell including a fuel container and an impurity removal cartridge connected to the fuel container, where both the fuel container and the impurity removal cartridge are integrated into a single unit.

Abstract: A filter cartridge for use in gravity-fed water treatment systems wherein filter elements include a dome-shaped hydrophilic porous particulate carbon powder block filter in a polymeric binder. The filter has a closed upper end and an open lower end with sidewalls extending there between, additional filter media and includes ion exchange resins and a fine mesh hydrophilic filter sheet to reduce contaminant content of water for drinking purposes.

Abstract: The invention is a device for purifying drinking water that has at least one fibrous structure. Preferably, there is an upstream and downstream fibrous structure. Each fibrous structure is a mixture of nano alumina fibers and second fibers arranged in a matrix to create asymmetric pores and to which fine, ultrafine, or nanosize particles are attached. Preferably, the device has an upstream antimicrobial for sterilization of retained microbes. The device is substantially more efficient at removing soluble contaminants such as halogens from a fluid stream than those previously available and is also able to retain turbidity, bacteria, and virus.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a filtration system may include one or more of the following features: (a) a housing having a bottom portion, a middle portion coupled to the bottom portion and an upper portion, and a cap coupled to the upper portion, (b) a sediment storage area within the bottom portion, (c) a separator area within the middle portion, (d) a porous filter within the upper portion, (e) an access hatch within the cap, (f) an inlet pipe for allowing storm water within a middle chamber, (g) an outlet pipe for allowing filtered water to be discharged from the filtration system, and (h) a central pipe being a passageway through the porous filter.

Abstract: A gravity fed carbon block water filter includes activated carbon particles; a binder material interspersed with the activated carbon particles; and a lead scavenger coupled to at least one of the activated carbon particles and binder material, the lead scavenger being for removing lead from water, where a lead concentration in a final liter of effluent water filtered by the filter is less than about 10 ?g/liter after about 151 liters (40 gallons) of source water filtration, the source water having a pH of 8.5 and containing 135-165 parts per billion total lead with 30-60 parts per billion thereof being colloidal lead greater than 0.1 ?m in diameter, and where the water has an average flow rate of at least 0.1 liter per minute through the filter with a head pressure of between approximately 0.1 and 1.0 psi.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide an anisotropic porous material for a fluid filter which can perform a separation process of a large amount of fluid with high accuracy, which can achieve high flux, and which can improve detergent properties. The anisotropic porous material includes a plurality of pores. Each of the pores has an anisotropic shape in which a major axis and a minor axis can be defined. An arrangement of the pores has an orientation.

Abstract: The invention relates to filtration media having nanocrystals of metal oxides, encapsulated in or impregnated into a binder matrix, which binds together particles of activated carbon. The filtration media can be compressed into a filtration block, has low pressure drop, and has excellent microbial removal properties.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to porous composite materials comprised of a porous base material and a powdered nanoparticle material. The porous base material has the powdered nanoparticle material penetrating a portion of the porous base material; the powdered nanoparticle material within the porous base material may be sintered or interbonded by interfusion to form a porous sintered nanoparticle material within the pores and or on the surfaces of the porous base material. Preferably this porous composite material comprises nanometer sized pores throughout the sintered nanoparticle material. The present invention is also directed to methods of making such composite materials and using them for high surface area catalysts, sensors, in packed bed contaminant removal devices, and as contamination removal membranes for fluids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a porous polycrystalline diamond structure that may be employed as a separation device in a separation apparatus for separating at least one reaction product of a chemical reaction, as a stationary phase support and/or stationary phase in chromatography or separation apparatuses, or as a chemical reaction apparatus for conducting a chemical reaction therein. A separation device includes a body of sintered diamond particles. The body includes a proximal inlet end, a distal outlet end, and an intermediate region therebetween. The body further includes a plurality of at least partially interconnected pores that extend between the proximal inlet end and the distal outlet end. The at least partially interconnected pores are capable of communicating fluid from the proximal inlet end to the distal outlet end. Separation apparatuses that utilize the separation device, such as gas or liquid chromatography apparatuses, and chemical reaction apparatuses are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved particulate filtration system has an inlet, for the fluid to be filtered, connected to a housing containing a filter medium such that the fluid passes through the filter medium, and an outlet for the filtered fluid to exit. The filtration system's improvement is the filter medium being comprised of a porous ceramic of fused platelet grains. In a particular embodiment, the porous ceramic is a celsian porous ceramic, where the celsian grains have a hexagonal morphology and display a continuous volume thermal expansion coefficient from 100° C. to 1000° C.

Abstract: Separation device comprising a feed channel including a shear region, permeate passage(s) extending perpendicular to the direction of the feed flow and a porous medium positioned between the shear region of the feed channel and the permeate passage(s). Separation process comprising generating a shear layer in a feed fluid and passing permeate into the permeate passage(s).

Abstract: A filter block having a permeability of greater than about 3.0*10?9 cm2, and a F-VLR of greater than about 99% is provided. The filter block may be made of filter particles having a median particle size of less than about 50 microns and having a particle span of about 1.4 or less. The filter blocks of the present invention can be used to make a filter for filtering liquids and more specifically, for providing potable water. The filter particles may be mesoporous. Kits comprising filters and information relating to the killing or removal of bacteria, viruses, and microbials are also provided.

Abstract: A filter comprises at least one filtration unit with a filtration passage having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the filtration unit includes at least one groove formed in an inlet side surface of the filtration unit, said at least one groove extending to the inlet and dimensioned to hold back substances which may clog the filtration passage, by means of upper edges of said at least one groove. According to the present invention, by forming at least one groove in an inlet side surface of the filtration unit, the filtration passages of the filter can be effectively prevented from being clogged.

Abstract: The invention is a filter for gaseous media in which nano alumina fibers and second fibers are arranged in a matrix to create asymmetrical pores. The filter is a high efficiency, high capacity particulate filter that intercepts pathogens and other particulate matter from gaseous media, including vapor-suspended particles. The new filter has an improved retention of water-aerosolized particles as compared to conventional HEPA filters and may be used as a pre-filter that extends the life of HEPA filters by about five to ten times. The invention is also a method of manufacturing and using the filter.

Abstract: A porous ceramic support for a gas separation membrane formed by sintering a green body containing grains of a refractory ceramic oxide with a high coefficient of thermal expansion and grains of a reactive binder precursor. Upon sintering, the reactive binder precursor reacts with at least one gaseous, liquid or solid reactant to create a reaction bond that binds the refractory ceramic oxide grains. The support configuration can be a tubular, flat plate, hollow fiber, or multiple-passageway monolith structure.

Abstract: Water treatment devices that include filtration media with specified grain size distributions are provided. In one arrangement, the device contains a volume of grains such that between about 1 and 15 vol % of the grains have a grain size in a range between a first grain size and a second grain size, a first portion of the grains have grain sizes smaller than the first grain size, and a second portion of the grains have grain sizes larger than the second grain size. The first grain size can be between about 50 and 100 ?m and the second grain size can be between about 100 and 150 ?m. In other arrangements, the first grain size can be between about 70 and 90 ?m and the second grain size can be between about 100 and 130 ?m. The difference between the first grain size and the second grain size can be at least 20 ?m. In other arrangements, the difference between the first grain size and the second grain size can be at least 10 ?m.

Abstract: Provided are a porous sintered compact suitable for a filter, a power feeder in a polymer electrolyte membrane type water electrolyzer, a current collector in a solid polymer fuel cell and in addition a liquid dispersion plate, especially an ink dispersion plate for an ink jet printer ink and the like. A titanium powder sintered compact made of a plate-like porous compact is obtained by sintering spherical powder made of titanium or a titanium alloy produced by means of a gas atomization method. A void ratio in the range of from 35 to 55% is realized by filling without applying a pressure and sintering without applying a pressure.

Abstract: A ceramic filter is provided including a substrate, a separation layer comprising titania and having an average pore size in a range of 0.08 to 1 ?m and a thickness in a range of 5 to 20 ?m, and an intermediate layer formed between the substrate and the separation layer. The intermediate layer includes aggregate particles that are bonded together with glass frits, and aggregate particles of the intermediate layer are smaller than aggregate particles of the substrate and larger than aggregate particles of the separation layer.

Abstract: There are disclosed a honeycomb structure which is preferably usable as a filter, for example, for trapping particulates in an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, boiler or the like or for filtering liquids such as city water and sewage and in which an increase of a pressure loss at a use time is inhibited. A honeycomb structure 1 comprises: two end surfaces 5 consisting of first and second end surfaces; a porous body 2 in which a plurality of fluid channels 3 extending to a second end surface 5b from a first end surface 5a are formed; and plugging members 4 for plugging end portions 6 on end surfaces 5 side of the fluid channels 3.

Abstract: A crossflow membrane device that receives a feedstock at a feed end face and separates the feedstock into permeate and retentate. The device has a membrane support containing at least one monolith of porous material defining a plurality of passageways extending longitudinally from the feed end face of the monolith to a retentate end face of the monolith through which the feedstock flows to pass retentate from the device. A permselective membrane coating of finer pore size than that of the porous material is applied to the passageway wall surfaces of the monolith. At least one permeate conduit is formed within the monolith, the conduit containing a plurality of longitudinal permeate chambers communicating with a means of permeate introduction at or near the feed end face and permeate withdrawal at or near the retentate end face.

Abstract: Provided are liquid filtration systems and filter elements. An aspect of the invention provides a filter element comprising: a filter block having an inlet and an outlet; an end cap having a handle and a passage, the passage operatively connecting the outlet of the filter block with an end location; and a housing comprising a shroud and an opening, the housing being adjacent to the end cap, wherein the inlet of the filter block is directly operatively connected to the opening of the housing. Another aspect of the invention provides a filtration system comprising the filter element and a pressure vessel. The pressure vessel comprises an inlet port that is adjacent to the shroud such that upon fluid flowing through the inlet port, the fluid contacts the shroud and the direction of flow changes, and wherein the inlet port is in fluid communication with the inlet of the filter block.

Abstract: The invention relates to filtration media having nanocrystals of metal oxides, encapsulated in or impregnated into a binder matrix, which binds together particles of activated carbon. The filtration media can be compressed into a filtration block, has low pressure drop, and has excellent microbial removal properties.

Abstract: Monolithic cartridges including a plurality of nominally aligned polymer fibers can be used as stationary phase materials for liquid chromatography separations. Bundles of fibers are packed together so as to form capillary channels between the fibers. Different polymer compositions permit the “chemical tuning” of the separation process. The fibers can be physically or chemically bonded at spaced locations throughout the cartridge or can be packed together under pressure by use of an encasing wrap to form the capillary channels. Use of fibers allows a wide range of liquid flow rates with very low backpressures. Applications in HPLC, cap-LC, prep-scale separations, analytical separations, waste remediation/immobilization, extraction of selected organic molecules/ions from solution, purification of liquid streams (process waste, drinking water, pure solvents), selective extraction of cell matter and bacteria from growth media, and immobilization of cell matter and bacteria are envisioned.

Abstract: A method and system for separating a particulate contaminate from a contaminated liquid medium involves filtering the contaminated liquid medium with a filter element having an afflux surface made of plastic particles that are sintered together. The contaminated liquid medium is introduced into a vessel, brought into contact with the filter element, where the liquid medium is separated from the particulate contaminant, and the separated liquid medium withdrawn from the filter element.

Abstract: The gutter foam filter elements are generally triangular, four-foot lengths of flexible plastic open-cell foam material placed in and extending the full length of a conventional “K” type or similar roof gutter. The foam filter elements may be inserted within the gutter below gutter spikes. The foam material is an open-pore polyether foam of 10–20 cells per square inch which allows rainwater to travel through the filter while excluding leaves. The foam is generally in the form of a right triangle and so disposed in the gutter as to have one side extending along the back of the gutter and the other side of the triangle spanning the open space across the upper open portion of the gutter. The sloped wall defines a void in the lower front portion of the gutter for rainwater flow to a downspout. The lower corner of the element is truncated forming a lower support wall.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to composite materials and to devices which may alter fluid parameters. Devices incorporating the composite materials of the invention are used to deliver, remove, and generate, fluid treatment agents, and combinations thereof. These materials and devices are applicable to many different fluid processing situations including drinking water treatment, wastewater treatment, emission treatment, pollution cleanup, and sensing fluid composition. In its more particular aspects, the invention relates to the field of composites that may be widely tailored for many different treatment applications.

Abstract: An internal filter includes a lower substrate and an upper substrate. Fluid passages are formed by etching grooves into the surfaces(s) of the upper and/or lower substrates and/or in one or more intermediate layers. The filter pores extending between the fluid passages are formed by etching second grooves that fluidly connect the fluid passages. Two or more sets of the one or two intermediate layers can be implemented to provide additional filter passages and/or pores. Each set can be connected to a separate fluid source and/or a separate microfluidic device. In another internal filter, the inlet and outlet passages and the filter pores are formed on the same upper or lower substrate. The inlet and outlet passages are partially formed in a first step. In a second step, the inlet and outlet passages are completed at the same time that the filter pores are formed.

Abstract: A multi-channel modular device (10) processes between two fluid streams of different compositions. The device (10) includes a porous body (150) having a first plurality of feed-flow pathways (110) disposed in the body (150) for transporting a first stream (180). A pathway wall (114) surrounds each of the first plurality of feed-flow pathways (110) for processing the first stream (180) into a first composition (1852) and a second composition (1802). At least one feed-flow inlet (1101) is disposed in the body (150) for introducing the first stream (180) into the first plurality of feed-flow pathways (110). At least one feed-flow outlet (1102) is disposed in the body (150) for discharging the remaining first stream containing the second composition (1802). At least one second pathway (210) is disposed in the body (150) for transporting a second stream (280) having a second inlet (2101) and a second outlet (2102).