Including Cleaning Or Sterilizing Of Apparatus Patents (Class 210/636)
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Patent number: 10118850Abstract: In order to treat a flow of waste water, there is applied to this flow, after at most an optional pre-treatment of screening/degritting or deoiling, a filtration treatment by means of microfiltration or ultrafiltration membranes, by causing the flow to circulate tangentially to the membranes at a velocity of at least 0.1 m/s, in the presence of an organic sequestering agent composed based on organic phosphate at a concentration that is effective for sequestering metal ions contained in the flow and minimizing the formation of calcium carbonate, with a differential pressure on either side of the membranes that is less than or equal to 5 bar.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2015Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies SupportInventors: Abdelkader Gaid, Catherine Daines-Martinez, Sebastien Logette, Christophe Amiel
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Patent number: 10106440Abstract: A membrane separation device is provided with membrane modules comprising multiple membrane elements, a frame body accommodating the membrane modules stacked in multiple stages, a stopper for closing an end portion of the frame body to prevent the membrane modules accommodated in the frame from being released, and elastic members which, arranged in a state of elastic deformation in the vertical direction in the frame with the end portion of the frame being closed, suppress vertical vibration of the membrane modules accommodated in the frame, whereby making it possible to avoid vibration of the membrane modules inside the frame body even if the volume of the membrane modules accommodated in the frame body varies.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2013Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Hidetoshi Masutani, Yasunobu Okajima
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Patent number: 10099180Abstract: Provided is a seawater desalination system including reverse osmosis membrane modules each including: a reverse osmosis membrane; and a pressure vessel installing the reverse osmosis membrane, and configured to obtain permeated water and concentrated water using the reverse osmosis membranes housed in the reverse osmosis membrane modules by supplying seawater to the reverse osmosis membrane modules. The seawater desalination system includes a module group including the reverse osmosis membrane modules connected together in parallel. The seawater is supplied to each of the reverse osmosis membrane modules by being supplied to the module group through first and second seawater supply routes. The first and second seawater supply routes are each provided with a liquid transport pump configured to supply the seawater flowing through the seawater supply route to the module group.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2016Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kotaro Kitamura, Shinichi Yoshikawa, Masayuki Matsuura, Takanori Oshikiri, Yusuke Okawa
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Patent number: 10099952Abstract: A method for treating organic wastewater includes: proceeding with anaerobic fermentation on organic wastewater to obtain a fermentation liquid; nitrifying a portion of the fermentation liquid to obtain a first fermentation liquid containing nitrate nitrogen, and separating the remaining portion of the fermentation liquid to obtain a second fermentation liquid containing propionic acid; mixing the first and second fermentation liquids to obtain a mixture; and removing nitrogen and phosphorus from the mixture and then proceeding with sedimentation to obtain a sediment and a supernatant discharged as purified water. An organic wastewater treating system includes an anaerobic fermentation reactor, an aeration tank, a fermentation liquid separating equipment, a biological removal reactor for removing nitrogen and phosphorus, and a sedimentation tank.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2016Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignees: Tongji University, Nanjing UniversityInventors: Yinguang Chen, Hongqiang Ren, Xiong Zheng, Haining Huang, Hui Liu
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Patent number: 10098993Abstract: A sensing and storage system for fluid balance during dialysis is provided. The sensing and storage system has flow sensors on either side of a dialyzer in a controlled volume dialysate flow path. The sensors are positioned so that no fluid can be added to or removed from the dialysate flow path between the sensors except for that which is added or removed by action of a control pump. The sensing and storage system can have a fluid removal line for the removal of fluid from the dialysate flow loop.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2014Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Thomas E. Meyer, William P. Hajko, Thomas P. Hartranft
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Patent number: 10098345Abstract: A disinfestation sheet includes a carrier layer with a first and second surface with active pesticidal particles formed therein. The active pesticidal particles contain pesticidal ingredients selected from pyrethroid family or the like. The carrier layer has channels formed therein. The channels form one or more paths between one or more pesticidal particles and at least one of the first and the second surfaces to allow diffusion of the active pesticidal ingredient from the pesticidal particles to at least one of the first and the second surfaces of the carrier layer. The disinfestation sheet may further comprise antioxidant compounds. The disinfestation sheet may also have a base layer attached to the second surface of the carrier layer, an adhesive grip layer attached to the base layer and a support layer attached to the grip layer, where in the support layer is detachable. The carrier layer may also comprise ridges extending outwardly from the second surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2016Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Inventor: Dong Lin Eugene Tan
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Patent number: 10082452Abstract: A filter arrangement with a top element and a bottom element and a filter element therebetween captures oversized particles on the upper surface of the filter element and tangentially rinses these particles using an elution fluid to provide a concentration of particles in a relatively low volume of fluid for further analysis. In an intermediate step, the particles captured by the filter may be rinsed with a rinsing fluid such as water to pass additional undersized particles through the filter, thereby providing a purer sample. To improve efficiency, check valves may be used for passageways with one-way flow. Additionally, a configuration of three-way stopcocks may also be utilized. Finally, a sandwich arrangement is possible, wherein a single bottom element is sandwiched between two opposing top elements.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2014Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: POCARED Diagnostics LTD.Inventor: Gal Ingber
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Patent number: 10065153Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a water treatment system in which explosions can be prevented even when filtering water to be treated that is able to generate flammable gas. A water treatment system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a water-to-be-treated tank which stores water to be treated, a crossflow-type filtration membrane module which filters the water to be treated, a supply passage through which the water to be treated is supplied to the filtration membrane module from the water-to-be-treated tank by using a supply pump, and a recirculation passage through which the water to be treated is recirculated from the filtration membrane module to the water-to-be-treated tank. The supply passage is provided with an aspirator which mixes a gas with the supplied water to be treated, the gas being recirculated through the recirculation passage to the water-to-be-treated tank together with the water to be treated.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2015Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventor: Hideki Kashihara
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Patent number: 10052591Abstract: Disclosed are system and method for filtration which can minimize the contamination of the filtering membrane through a pretreatment and perform the pretreatment and the filtration with a filtering membrane in a single filtering unit so that any need for separate and additional space and facility for the pretreatment can be obviated. The system for filtration of the present invention comprises a fine bubble supplier for providing fine bubbles into the feed water. The pretreatment is performed by supplying the feed water to be treated into the filtering unit through a dynamic filtration layer which is formed in the filtering unit as the fine bubbles rise.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2011Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignees: KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC., KOLON ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE CO., LTD.Inventors: Kwang-Jin Lee, Ah Reum Lee, Yong-Cheol Shin, Joon Yul Yang
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Patent number: 10029213Abstract: A system for separating solids from fluid including a solid-laden fluid may include a base fluid, a first separator configured to receive the solid-laden fluid and separate the fluid into a solids portion and an effluent, and a membrane separator configured to receive the effluent and separate the effluent into a permeate and a concentrate. A method for separating solids from fluid may include obtaining a solid-laden fluid, wherein the solid-laden fluid comprises a base fluid, feeding the solid-laden fluid through a centrifuge, removing at least a portion of high gravity solids from the solid-laden fluids, flowing the solid-laden fluid through a membrane separator, removing at least a portion of low gravity solids from the solid-laden fluid, and collecting a permeate from the membrane separator.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2011Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: M-I L.L.C.Inventors: Rahul Dixit, Mukesh Kapila, Yanling Wu
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Patent number: 10010831Abstract: A disposable filtration system can include a disposable filter housing having an ultrafiltration filter contained therein. The disposable filtration system can further include a feed inlet and retentate outlet in fluid communication on one side of the filter and a permeate conduit on the other side of the filter for withdrawing permeate that passes through the filter. The system can include at least one disposable pressure control valve in fluid communication with either the retentate outlet or the permeate conduit and configured to regulate the pressure within the housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2011Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: GE HEALTHCARE BIO-SCIENCES CORP.Inventors: Scott A. Mangiacotti, Parrish M. Galliher, Joseph J. Arduino, Michael Fisher, John J. Vicalvi, Jr., Joseph Makowiecki
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Patent number: 9987377Abstract: A method of targeting bacterially-derived, intact minicells to specific, non-phagocytic mammalian cells employs bispecific ligands to deliver nucleic acids efficiently to the mammalian cells. Bispecific ligands, comprising (i) a first arm that carries specificity for a bacterially-derived minicell surface structure and (ii) a second arm that carries specificity for a non-phagocytic mammalian cell surface receptor are useful for targeting minicells to specific, non-phagocytic mammalian cells and causing endocytosis of minicells by non-phagocytic cells.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2015Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: EnGeneIC Molecular Delivery Pty LtdInventors: Himanshu Brahmbhatt, Jennifer MacDiarmid
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Patent number: 9950088Abstract: A system and method for disinfecting hard surfaces in an area such as a hospital room including a light source emitting UV light and a reflector mounted behind the light source for concentrating and directing the light toward a target. The light source and reflector rotate to direct the concentrated beam around a room, thereby making more efficient use of the energy being emitted.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2016Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Surfacide, LLCInventors: Michael Scott Garner, Thomas Smigelski, Timothy Mathew G. Escolin, Waldemar John Lyslo
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Patent number: 9950103Abstract: A combination kidney and liver dialysis system and method provides a portable, lightweight hemodialysis device that removes uremic toxins, hepatic toxins, water, and impurities from the blood. The method comprises separating the blood into a plasma portion and a cellular portion, immediately returning the cellular portion to the body, providing large volumes of replacement fluids, diluting the plasma portion with replacement fluids, and then manipulating the plasma portion of the blood to pass through hemoperfusion membranes, hemodiafiltration membranes, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation membranes. Dialysis is performed on the plasma portion of the blood with an albumin dialyzer against an albumin dialysate and a high molecular weight cut off membrane. Dialysis is performed on the plasma portion of blood with a lipid dialysate comprising 10-30% lipid composition, and a high flux dialyzer.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2016Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Inventor: Saeid Mordechai Nosrati
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Patent number: 9901883Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a porous hollow-fiber membrane having high strength while maintaining high pure-water permeation performance. A porous hollow-fiber membrane of the present invention is a porous hollow-fiber membrane including a fluororesin-based polymer, in which the porous hollow-fiber membrane has a columnar texture oriented in a longitudinal direction of the porous hollow-fiber membrane, and a molecular chain of the fluororesin-based polymer is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the porous hollow-fiber membrane.Type: GrantFiled: December 25, 2015Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Masayuki Hanakawa, Kenta Iwai, Toshiyuki Ishizaki, Tamotsu Kitade, Masahiro Kimura
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Patent number: 9890228Abstract: Cross-linked tetrapolymers made up of different diallyl zwitterionic diallyl quaternary ammonium salt monomers, with one of them functioning as a cross-linking monomer. The cross-linked terpolymers include a repeating unit with multiple ligand centers that different metal ions can bind to. The cross-linked tetrapolymers are cationic, zwitterionic and anionic, and can be in either an acidic form or a basic form. A method of removing metal ions from an aqueous solution with these cross-linked tetrapolymers is also described.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2017Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsInventors: Shamsuddeen Abdullahi Haladu, Shaikh Asrof Ali, Tawfik Abdo Saleh
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Patent number: 9833744Abstract: Provided are processes of removing particulate fouling from a filtration membrane or for preventing membrane fouling by particulate matter. A process capitalizes on reversal of a naturally occurring diisophoretic particle deposition to actively move particulate material away from a membrane. A process includes placing a microparticle including a salt in proximity to a membrane such that the microparticle creates a gradient generated spontaneous electric field or a gradient generated spontaneous chemiphoretic field in the solvent proximal to the membrane that actively draws charged particles away from the membrane thereby removing charged particulate matter away from the membrane or preventing its deposition.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: The Penn State Research FoundationInventors: Darrell Velegol, Abhishek Kar, Rajarshi Guha, Manish Kumar
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Patent number: 9815028Abstract: A method is disclosed for scaling control in a membrane system operation. The method can be performed by a model in the control system of a plant. The method can include selecting one or more antiscalants corresponding to one or more components of the scale, based on one or more of feed water condition, membrane material, membrane fouling status and a kinetic study relating to a reaction between the antiscalants and the components of the scale. The composition of one or more selected antiscalants can be estimated based on an overall scaling rate constant.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2013Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Inventors: Senthilmurugan Subbiah, Srinivas Mekapati, Mohan S. Kumar
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Patent number: 9790296Abstract: Cross-linked tetrapolymers made up of different diallyl zwitterionic diallyl quaternary ammonium salt monomers, with one of them functioning as a cross-linking monomer. The cross-linked terpolymers include a repeating unit with multiple ligand centers that different metal ions can bind to. The cross-linked tetrapolymers are cationic, zwitterionic and anionic, and can be in either an acidic form or a basic form. A method of removing metal ions from an aqueous solution with these cross-linked tetrapolymers is also described.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2015Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsInventors: Shamsuddeen Abdullahi Haladu, Shaikh Asrof Ali, Tawfik Abdo Saleh
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Patent number: 9782768Abstract: Cross-linked cyclocopolymers made up of one or more quaternary ammonium salts and sulfur dioxide as monomers. One of the quaternary ammonium salts is also an aspartic acid derivative. The cross-linked copolymers include a repeating unit with multiple chelating centers that different metal ions can bind to. The cross-linked copolymers are zwitterionic or anionic, and can be in either an acidic form or a basic form. A method for removing metal ions from an aqueous sample with these cross-linked copolymers is also described.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2016Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsInventors: Zakariyah Abdulkareem Jamiu, Tawfik Abdo Saleh, Shaikh Asrof Ali
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Patent number: 9758393Abstract: Provided is a fresh water generation system which filters biotreated water produced by microbiologically treating waste water via a primary semi-permeable membrane (8), and then mixes concentrated water rejected by the filtration with seawater, thereby to filter the mixed water via a secondary semi-permeable membrane (14). This system enables frequencies of chemical cleaning and replacement of the secondary semi-permeable membrane to be reduced. The fresh water generation system comprises: a primary semi-permeable membrane apparatus (9) which separates microorganism treating waste water into permeated water and concentrated water; a secondary semi-permeable membrane apparatus (13) which filters mixed water prepared by mixing the concentrated water into seawater. In the fresh water generation system, the primary semi-permeable membrane (8) has an equal to or a higher microorganism adhesive property than the secondary semi-permeable membrane (14).Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2012Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignees: HITACHI, LTD., TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Kazuhiko Noto, Kotaro Kitamura, Yusuke Okawa, Hiroo Takabatake
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Patent number: 9751742Abstract: In a sterilizing method for a drink filling system provided with a drink supply pipe line (7) for feeding drink into a filling machine (2) through a heating sterilizing section (18), wherein hot water or heated steam is fed to the drink supply pipe line (7), F-values are calculated while detecting temperature at a plurality portions of the drink supply pipe line at every predetermined time interval, and a sterilizing process is ended at a time when a minimum F-value reaches an aimed value. According to such method, a working time till the starting of drink filling work or a producing interval time can be shortened.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2013Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.Inventors: Atsushi Hayakawa, Shuta Ito
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Patent number: 9713670Abstract: A method for temporarily interrupting an extracorporeal treatment of blood of a patient by use of a blood treatment apparatus includes activating or controlling a control device which is provided and configured to bring the blood treatment apparatus into a state in which the blood treatment session of the patient can be interrupted with the intention to continue the blood treatment session. The present invention further provides a control device, a blood treatment apparatus, a digital storage means, a computer program product as well as a computer program.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2010Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbHInventors: Uwe Herrmann, Sabine Kipp, Christine Nachbaur-Sturm, Thomas Pusinelli, Martin Gruendken, Georg Verch
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Patent number: 9687787Abstract: Periodically operating a forward osmosis (FO) semi-permeable membrane element in reverse osmosis (RO), to yield product extraction on a feed side of the membrane, to flush out a concentration polarization (salt concentration of the feed side and dilution of draw solution on the draw side) across the membrane. Utilizing treated waste water to generate the flushing solution of low osmotic pressure, and gauge pressurizing the flushing solution to the gauge pressure of the draw solution to keep a constant gauge pressure of the solutions. FO process is interrupted every 5-20 minutes for a 10-60 seconds long flushing RO process, thereby increasing the FO throughput five fold and recovering power from the increased throughput, i.e. from the osmotic pressure of the brine.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2010Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: I.D.E. TECHNOLOGIES LTD.Inventor: Boris Liberman
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Patent number: 9592330Abstract: A dialysis apparatus has a dialysate circuit 4 which is cleaned after dialysis by both opening/closing valves V101 and V102 being closed after a dialysate in the dialysate circuit 4 is replaced with a cleaning liquid. The opening/closing valve V12 is opened, and the cleaning liquid is circulated by pumps P1 and P4 while being heated by a heater H1, to clean the inside of the dialysate circuit 4. A deaeration tank 31 is provided downstream of the pump P1. Air bubbles generated from the cleaning liquid serving as hot water are deaerated by the deaeration tank 31 and are then discharged into a gas storage tank 48 via a deaeration passage 32. The pumps P1 and P4 can be reliably prevented from being unable to operate with the air bubbles generated from the cleaning liquid.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2013Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: SHIBUYA KOGYO CO., LTD.Inventors: Takashi Mishima, Shingo Saito
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Patent number: 9555144Abstract: A system and method for disinfecting hard surfaces in an area such as a hospital room including a light source emitting UV light and a reflector mounted behind the light source for concentrating and directing the light toward a target. The light source and reflector rotate to direct the concentrated beam around a room, thereby making more efficient use of the energy being emitted.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: SURFACIDE, LLCInventors: Michael Scott Garner, Thomas Smigelski, Timothy Mathew G. Escolin, Waldemar John Lyslo
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Patent number: 9539379Abstract: An enclosure for containing a portable hemodialysis unit includes a housing suitable to support components for performing hemodialysis including a dialyzer, one or more pumps to circulate blood through the dialyzer, a source of dialysate, and one or more pumps to circulate the dialysate through the dialyzer. The housing may have a front panel at which blood circuit connections and dialysate fluidic connections are located, e.g., blood line connections for patient blood access, connections for a reagent supply, dialyzer connections for both blood flow and dialysate, etc. The enclosure may also include a pair of vertical, side-by-side doors hingedly mounted to the housing. With the doors in the closed position, access to the patient access and dialysate fluidic connections may be blocked, and the doors may allow for the retention of heat in the housing suitable for disinfection during a disinfection cycle.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: DEKA Products Limited PartnershipInventors: Kevin L. Grant, Jason A. Demers, James D. Dale, Arun D. Chawan, David E. Collins
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Patent number: 9481859Abstract: A method of preparing yeast fermented beverage is provided, comprising (a) fermenting wort with yeast to produce a fermented liquid containing yeast, alcohol, polyphenols and protein; (b) optionally removing the yeast; (c) combining the fermented liquid with polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) particles to bind at least a fraction of the polyphenols and/or proteins, wherein at least 80 wt. % of the PVPP particles have a diameter of 5-300 ?m; (d) removing a slurry containing the PVPP particles; (e) filtering the slurry over a filter having a pore size of 0.1-80 ?m to produce a PVPP-enriched retentate and a PVPP-depleted filtrate; (f) regenerating the PVPP particles in the PVPP-enriched retentate by desorbing and separating the polyphenols and/or protein from the PVPP-particles; and (f) optionally, further refining and recirculating the regenerated PVPP particles to step (c). The method can be operated with single use PVPP or regenerable PVPP and does not require capacious filter hardware.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2011Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Heineken Supply Chain B.V.Inventors: Tom Reinoud Noordman, Marcel Van Der Noordt, Anneke Richter
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Patent number: 9480979Abstract: Cross-linked cyclocopolymers made up of one or more quaternary ammonium salts and sulfur dioxide as monomers. One of the quaternary ammonium salts is also an aspartic acid derivative. The cross-linked copolymers include a repeating unit with multiple chelating centers that different metal ions can bind to. The cross-linked copolymers are zwitterionic or anionic, and can be in either an acidic form or a basic form. A method for removing metal ions from an aqueous sample with these cross-linked copolymers is also described.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsInventors: Zakariyah Abdulkareem Jamiu, Tawfik Abdo Saleh, Shaikh Asrof Ali
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Patent number: 9476021Abstract: A method of preparing a yeast fermented beverage is disclosed, comprising: (a) fermenting wort with yeast to produce a fermented liquid; (b) optionally removing the yeast; (c) mixing the fermented liquid with polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) particles; (d) filtering the fermented liquid over a first membrane filter without employing a filter aid; (e) combining a first retentate with an aqueous regeneration liquid to desorb polyphenols and/or protein from the PVPP particles, wherein the aqueous regeneration liquid has a pH of at least 10.0; (f) filtering the combination retentate and regeneration liquid over a second membrane filter without employing a filter aid; and (g) after, optional further refining the regenerated PVPP particles from the second retentate, and recirculating the particles to step (c); wherein macromolecular components contained in the first retentate and/or retained on the second filter are degraded using a degradative agent selected from oxidants, enzymes and combinations thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2011Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Heineken Supply Chain B.V.Inventors: Tom Reinoud Noordman, Marcel Van Der Noordt, Anneke Richter
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Patent number: 9463402Abstract: A method of detecting clogging of a fluid filter is disclosed. The method includes measuring, at successive sampling instants, the pressure difference ?P from upstream to downstream across the filter, calculating the first time derivative {?P}? of the pressure difference ?P at different instants, and sending a clogging signal Sc representative of the filter being clogged when the first derivative {?P}? is equal to zero.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2009Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: SNECMAInventors: Baptiste Benoit Colotte, Valerio Gerez, Gilles Claude Gabriel Massot
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Patent number: 9457320Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to a process and apparatus for cleaning and/or regeneration of permeable or semipermeable membranes comprising modulating pressure of a feed stream feeding the permeable or semipermeable membrane and providing intermittent pressure pulses for cleaning and/or regeneration of the permeable or semipermeable membrane.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2012Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: King Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyInventors: Thomas M. Missimer, Kim Choon Ng, Gary Amy
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Patent number: 9410210Abstract: A method of filtering a liquid sample that includes passing a sample comprising at least one biological organism through a filter membrane at a passive water volume flux of at least 10 L/m2·h·psi, wherein the filter membrane comprises a Bubble Point pore size of no more than 1.0 ?m, thereby retaining at least one biological organism on the surface of the membrane; and detecting the at least one biological organism retained on the surface of the filter membrane.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2011Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Inventors: Patrick A. Mach, Raj Rajagopal, Wensheng Xia, Jinsheng Zhou, Chunmei Guo, Guoping Mao
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Patent number: 9358505Abstract: A gas sparger produces an intermittent flow of bubbles even if provided with a continuous gas flow. The sparger has a housing to collect a pocket of gas and a conduit to release some of the gas from the pocket when the pocket reaches a sufficient size. Optionally, a cover over an outlet from the conduit may break up or distribute the released gas. A large sparger for use with a commercial membrane module can comprise a plurality of smaller units.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2009Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Jeff Cumin, Henry Behmann, Youngseck Hong, Reid Bayly
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Patent number: 9309336Abstract: A zwitterionic monomer and corresponding cyclopolymerized polyzwitterion (±) (PZ) containing, on each repeating unit, both phosphonate and sulfonate functionalities. Phosphonate ester hydrolysis in PZ gave a pH-responsive polyzwitterionic acid (±) (PZA). The PZA under pH-induced transformation was converted into polyzwitterion/anion (±?) (PZAN) and polyzwitterion/dianion (±=) (PZDAN).Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2013Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignees: King Fahd University Of Petroleum and Minerals, King Abdulaziz City for Science and TechnologyInventors: Shaikh Asrof Ali, Shamsuddeen Abdullahi Haladu
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Patent number: 9302039Abstract: A dialysis system includes a dialyzer, a sorbent cartridge configured to clean used dialysate from the dialyzer, a dialysate pump actuator configured to pump dialysate to the dialyzer, and a conductivity sensor located adjacent to a temperature sensor. The dialysis system also includes a disposable cassette configured to carry dialysate pumped by the dialysate pump actuator. The disposable cassette includes a combined conductivity and temperature sensor fluid chamber separate from the conductivity sensor and the temperature sensor and located so as to operate with the conductivity sensor and the temperature sensor, respectively, when mounted for operation.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2014Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Bexter Healthcare S.A.Inventors: Thomas Kelly, Robert W. Childers, Don Busby, Rodolfo Roger, Waleed Mutasem El Sayyid, Shahid Din
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Patent number: 9302920Abstract: Integrated controller and method for a water filtration system. The system can include a membrane filter, a valve coupled to the membrane filter, and a water softener and/or a media filter. The filtration system can include a controller coupled to membrane filter and coupled to the water softener and/or the media filter. The controller can include a flow meter and a switch. The flow meter can be coupled to the membrane filter and the water softener and/or the media filter. The switch can be electrically connected to the valve. In some embodiments, the controller can cause the switch to flush the membrane filter only when the water softener and/or the media filter is not being regenerated.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2006Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Pentair Residential Filtration, LLCInventors: Daniel Scott Elko, David J. Averbeck
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Patent number: 9302036Abstract: Monitoring of the performance of a blood fluid removal medium of a blood fluid removal device includes monitoring of condition, such as fluid flow rate or concentration of blood waste product, downstream of the medium. Upstream monitoring of the condition may also be performed to enhance the ability to determine whether the blood fluid removal medium is performing within predetermined ranges.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2012Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Martin Gerber, Suping Lyu, Bryant Pudil
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Patent number: 9259686Abstract: A water producing system which is provided with a semi-permeable membrane treatment process A100 to produce membrane permeate A3 and concentrate A, a semi-permeable membrane treatment processB200 which is equipped with a treatment target water B branching means for branching treatment target water B2 into two or more to produce a membrane B5 and concentrate B6, and a semi-permeable membrane treatment process C300 which is equipped with a first water mixing means for mixing one of the treatment target water B with at least part of the concentrate A, and subjects the mixed water to the semi-permeable membrane treatment to produce membrane permeate C7 and concentrate C8, thereby producing fresh water from a plurality of kinds of raw water which differ in osmotic pressure.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2010Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Wakako Ogiwara, Hiroo Takabatake, Masahide Taniguchi
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Patent number: 9216917Abstract: Improved systems and processes for forward osmosis water purification or desalination are herein disclosed. According to one embodiment a process for purifying contaminated water is provided wherein a contaminated feed solution stream comprising water and with a first osmotic pressure is passed through a semipermeable membrane to a draw side having a draw solution stream with a second osmotic pressure on a draw side of the semipermeable membrane. The diluted draw solution stream is heated, agglomerated and cooled to produce a cooled single phase water rich stream that is purified to produce a water product stream.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2012Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: TREVI SYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Gary Carmignani, Steve Sitkiewitz, John Wilfred Webley
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Patent number: 9212071Abstract: A filtering method using a filtering system is disclosed, which is capable of accomplishing a first water bath into which a first membrane cassette and a first membrane cassette for concentrate are submerged, a second water bath into which a second membrane cassette and a second membrane cassette for concentrate are submerged, a first pump for supplying a first negative pressure to the first membrane cassette, a second pump for supplying a second negative pressure to the second membrane cassette, and a common pump for supplying a third negative pressure to the first and second membrane cassettes for concentrate, stopping an operation of the first pump; interrupting the third negative pressure supplied from the common pump to the first membrane cassette for concentrate; and cleaning the first membrane cassette and the first membrane cassette for concentrate.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2015Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: Kolon Industries, Inc.Inventor: Kwang-Jin Lee
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Patent number: 9187354Abstract: A scale inhibition method for injecting an alkaline agent and a chelating agent into a fluid containing at least silica and calcium ions, and inhibiting generation of scale, includes feeding the chelating agent and the alkaline agent into piping channeling the fluid, mixing the fluid while causing the fluid to flow in a chemical-mixing part provided in the piping, and when either a pressure difference between the pressures or a flow rate difference between the rates of fluid flow at an inlet and an outlet of the chemical-mixing part exceeds a preset upper threshold, increasing the amount of the chelating agent fed, and feeding the chelating agent at an increased feed amount until the pressure difference or flow rate difference falls below a preset lower threshold.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2012Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Kohei Inoue, Shinya Ui, Yoshitaka Kawahara, Ichiro Myougan, Yasuyuki Hishi, Daisuke Fukuda
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Patent number: 9164062Abstract: A method of early detection of scaling on internal surfaces of conduits of water processing equipment, is provided herein. The method includes: transmitting ultrasonic signals through the wall of the conduits; deriving data samples from received ultrasonic signals or reflections thereof; calculating a moving average of the scatter of the ultrasonic signals, over time, based on the data samples; applying a statistical operand to the moving average, to yield a statistical distribution metric; determining a dynamic window defined by: (i) an upper boundary being the moving average plus at least a fraction of the statistical distribution metric and (ii) a lower boundary being the moving average minus the at least a fraction of the statistical distribution metric; generating a trend line being a smooth fitting of the derived samples; and monitoring the trend line within the window to detect a crossover of the trend line at either of the boundaries.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2011Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignees: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, A BODY CORPORATE, BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITYInventors: Alan R Greenberg, Jack Gilron, Keith D Cobry, Elmira Kujundzic, Xiao Yun Lu, Guy Mizrahi, Michael Peterson
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Patent number: 9149744Abstract: A filtration method, that includes: (A) filtering a liquid having particles with a resin media filter; and (B) applying ultrasonic waves at a frequency of at least 30 kHz to the resin media filter during the filtering (A) or after completion of the filtering (A) to regenerate the resin media filter, where: i) a material of the resin media filter is nylon, polycarbonate, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polysulfone, polyether sulfone, and/or cellulose, ii) for the regeneration of the resin media filter, the applying results in a filter regeneration ratio of at least 0.40; iii) on a surface of the resin media filter, a support material comprising a mesh resin layer is disposed; and iv) the resin media filter is present in a filter housing having a three-dimensional shape and an ultrasonic vibrator, which generates the ultrasonic waves, is present on a lateral side of said filter housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2009Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: FUJIMI INCORPORATEDInventors: Hitoshi Morinaga, Shinji Furuta, Kazusei Tamai
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Patent number: 9149570Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes a logic implementer configured to: (i) generate a number of peritoneal dialysis therapy regimens that meet at least one therapy target input; (ii) accept a filter input; and (iii) filter the generated therapy regimens according to the filter input to refine the number of therapy regimens available for selection.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2012Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.Inventors: Anping Yu, Robert W. Childers, Edward F. Vonesh, Borut Cizman, Michael Niemann
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Patent number: 9138548Abstract: A fluid warmer for tempering a medical fluid guided in a fluid line includes a first and second resistance heating element for alternating voltage and a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the two resistance heating elements and includes a holder for the fluid line. Each resistance heating element has a first and second electrical line connector, respectively, for connection of the resistance heating element to an alternating voltage source. Each electrical line connector has a respective drivable first switch. A respectively inversely phased alternating voltage or in-phase alternating voltage is applied to each resistance heating element during the tempering mode, wherein a compensation alternating voltage which is substantially inversely phased with respect to the heating alternating voltage is additionally applied to the heat exchanger using a compensation circuit.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2014Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Stihler Electronic GmbHInventor: Axel Stihler
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Patent number: 9131724Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods of removing contaminating microcystins toxins from preparations of blue-green algae. It also relates to methods of purifying phycocyanin from blue-green algae extracts.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2013Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Cerule, LLCInventors: Axel Ehmann, Jesse Guthrie
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Patent number: 9044733Abstract: The invention provides a novel apparatus and method for preparing a solution of a shear sensitive material.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2009Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.Inventors: Royal D. Hathaway, Jr., Joseph R. Sclafani, Jr.
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Publication number: 20150144555Abstract: A filtration apparatus (10) for treating a fluid comprises a vessel (12), a first partition plate (18) dividing the vessel into first and second chambers (22, 26) and defining a through hole (40), and a filtration module (30) located within the second chamber (26) and including a body section (32) defining an outer diameter which is greater than the diameter of the through hole (40) in the first partition plate (18). The apparatus (10) further comprises a reducing connector (36) having a first end secured to the body section (32) of the filtration module (30) and a second end sealed relative to the through hole (40) in the first partition plate (18) to permit communication between the filtration module (30) and the first chamber (22). In a disclosed embodiment the apparatus (10) includes a second partition plate (20) such that the vessel is divided into first, second and third chambers (22, 24, 26), wherein the filtration module (30) is mounted between the partition plates (18, 20).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2013Publication date: May 28, 2015Applicant: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies SupportInventor: Neville Ernest Lange
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Publication number: 20150136695Abstract: Systems and methods for cleaning a membrane filtration system using cross-flow geometry.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventor: Kevin Lucas