Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for accurately measuring the concentration of a substance within a filter housing. A concentration sensor and a communications device are coupled so as to be able to measure and transmit the concentration of a particular substance within the filter housing while in use. This system can comprise a single component, integrating both the communication device and the concentration sensor. Alternatively, the system can comprise separate sensor and transmitter components, in communication with one another. In yet another embodiment, a storage element can be added to the system, thereby allowing the device to store a set of concentration values. The use of this device is beneficial to many applications. For example, the ability to read concentration values in situ allows integrity tests to be performed without additional equipment.

Abstract: The process includes operation as follows: putting ozone generated by an ozone generator into raw water, in a normal mode, to subject the raw water to ozone treatment; injecting a flocculant into the raw water before or after the ozone treatment; filtering the raw water by a separation membrane after the ozone treatment and the injection of the flocculant; and intermittently setting cleaning mode to put a larger quantity of cleaning ozone than that in the normal mode into the raw water so as to intermittently increase the concentration of dissolved ozone, thereby cleaning the filtration membrane.

Abstract: Nanofilms useful for filtration are prepared from oriented amphiphilic molecules and oriented macrocyclic modules. The amphiphilic species may be oriented on an interface or surface. The nanofilm may be prepared by depositing or attaching an oriented layer to a substrate. A nanofilm may also be prepared by coupling the oriented macrocyclic modules to provide a membrane.

Abstract: A rapid one-pass liquid filtration system efficiently concentrates biological particles that are suspended in liquid from a dilute feed suspension. A sample concentrate or retentate suspension is retained while eliminating the separated fluid in a separate flow stream. Suspended biological particles include such materials as proteins/toxins, viruses, DNA, and/or bacteria in the size range of approximately 0.001 micron to 20 microns diameter. Concentration of these particles is advantageous for detection of target particles in a dilute suspension, because concentrating them into a small volume makes them easier to detect. Additional concentration stages may be added in “cascade” fashion, in order to concentrate particles below the size cut of each preceding stage remaining in the separated fluid in a concentrated sample suspension. This process can also be used to create a “band-pass” concentration for concentration of a particular target size particle within a narrow range.

Abstract: A pre-treatment method for cleaning and maintaining reverse osmosis membrane filters by injecting sulfurous acid into waters with suspended solids in a liquid fraction to be filtered to form sulfurous acid (H2SO3) to acid leach heavy metals into the liquid fraction, reduce alkalinity and mineral scaling, add sufficient SO2 as a biocide to attack bacteria and other micro organisms to prevent membrane fouling, reduce iron to prevent iron deposit build-up, scavenge and remove dissolved oxygen prior to filtration to prevent membrane oxidation, and then sequentially filtering the acidified water through membrane filters to create a metal free permeate and a brine retentate, which can be pH adjusted to remove the heavy metals as metal hydroxide precipitates.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a filtration system having one or more apparatuses for filtering gases, liquids, or fluids (e.g., water) to remove particulate matter, and methods of making and using the apparatus. More particularly, embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods for applying centrifugal force(s) to push a fluid or gas to be filtered through a porous membrane or filter within the apparatus to separate particulate matter therefrom. The present invention takes advantage of the Coriolis effect within a cylindrical filter radiating out from a rotating central body. The filtration apparatus provides an energy efficient system for microfiltration (or other filtration process) to remove contaminants from gases and fluids, such as waste water.

Abstract: Water treatment systems and methods are provided to minimize membrane fouling and the required maintenance that results therefrom. A water treatment system includes a pressure vessel with a plurality of spaced-apart membranes disposed therein, and an impeller or other means for circulating feed water through the interior of the vessel and past the membranes. Antifouling particles (such as diatomaceous earth or activated carbon) and/or pellets can be added to the feed water inhibit membrane fouling and extend the useful life of the membranes. A pressure differential across the membranes can be periodically reduced or eliminated, for example by closing a permeate valve, while the feed water continues to circulate.

Abstract: A membrane system is disclosed. The membrane system may include a treatment process wherein both at least a portion of a permeate output of the membrane system and a concentrate output of the membrane system are recirculated back to an input of the membrane system. The membrane system may include a treatment process wherein a higher level permeate is used to treat the membrane system. The membrane system may include a storage reservoir to store at least a portion of the concentrate output of a purge cycle of the membrane system.

Abstract: A desalination apparatus according to the present invention includes: a pretreatment device having a pretreatment membrane that filters a turbid content contained in raw water; a reverse osmosis membrane device having a reverse osmosis membrane that reduces a salt content contained in filtrate water supplied from the pretreatment device to produce permeated water; a first control valve that is provided between a high-pressure pump mounted on a filtrate water line through which the filtrate water is supplied from the pretreatment device to the reverse osmosis membrane device and the reverse osmosis membrane device, and temporarily decreases a supply pressure of the filtrate water; and the control device that operates the first control valve to perform suck-back control by which a pressure at the entrance of the reverse osmosis membrane device is decreased in a pulse-like manner during operation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a versatile multi-use high water recovery process that integrates the use of water purification membranes including reverse osmosis and nanofiltration with ion exchange water softening resins in a number of configurations that optimize operation and achieve maximum membrane permeate recoveries while eliminating the use of fresh water, sodium chloride and other chemicals needed to regenerate the IX resin. The invention provides process mobility and flexibility that enable selection of optimum process configurations and features to address variability in the Influent Water quality.

Abstract: The present invention describes a system for accurately measuring the concentration of a substance within a filter housing. A concentration sensor and a communications device are coupled so as to measure and transmit the concentration of a particular substance within the filter housing while in use. This system allows the operator to certify the integrity of the filters within the filter housing at the customer site without additional equipment. In one embodiment, a tracer gas, such as helium or hydrogen, is added to a carrier and injected into the system. The concentration of tracer gas at a specific operating transmembrane pressure is indicative of bubble pointing specific pores in the filter. This test will give a more sensitive indication of the bubble point and the presence of defects than a standard diffusion test. In a second embodiment, two gasses, in a known ratio, are introduced into the filter housing.

Abstract: A desalination apparatus, and a method of using same, comprising a porous inorganic molecular sieve membrane including a retentate side and a permeate side and a salty water inlet to direct salty water to the retentate side of the porous inorganic membrane wherein water passing through the membrane, from the retentate side to the permeate side, is removed as a vapour from the permeate side of the membrane to maintain the permeate side of the membrane at a low water vapour pressure. The present membranes allow the desalination of water at relatively high flux rates without the need for large applied pressures.

Abstract: A filtration device is provided for withdrawing permeate essentially continuously from a multicomponent aqueous substrate containing growing microorganisms in a reservoir. A vertical skein of fiber is scrubbed with coarse bubbles which emanate from a conversion baffle positioned under the skein. The substrate is aerated with fine bubbles in a size range small enough to transfer oxygen to the substrate efficiently. The baffle traps the fine bubbles and converts them to coarse bubbles which are effective to scrub the fibers. In the most preferred embodiment, the finished headers of the skein are derived from composite headers comprising a fixing lamina of resin in which the fibers are potted near their terminal ends, and a fugitive lamina of fugitive powdery material in which the terminal ends of the fibers are potted. The fugitive lamina is removed, preferably by dissolving the powder, e.g. finely divided common salt in water.

Abstract: The present invention is characterized in that a base material comprises ester groups in the main chain and/or in the side chain(s), and comprises a polymer having hydrophobic groups. Particularly, the hydrophobic groups can be introduced by irradiating the base material with a radiation during the base material contacts an aqueous solution of a monohydric alcohol or an aqueous solution of an alcohol having not less than 2 hydroxyl groups, which is a monomer or a polymer, and which has one or more carbon atoms between the carbon atoms to each of which the hydroxyl group is bound in the monomer or in each monomer constituting the polymer.

Abstract: Metal oxide particles heated while immersed in water in a closed container are combined with membrane filtration to remove contaminants from water. The use of the heated particles reduces fouling of the membrane typically encountered when membranes alone are used to remove contaminants from water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for managing the plugging of membrane modules and of filtration membranes, in particular for nanofiltration, ultrafiltration or reverse osmosis for desalinating water, which comprises carrying out consecutive rinsing operations for controlling clogging, in particular biological clogging: evaluating the thickness of the biofilm; starting a rinsing operation at the latest when the evaluated thickness of the biofilm exceeds a first predetermined setpoint value for the biofilm thickness and stopping the rinsing operation not before the biofilm thickness has become lower than a second predetermined setpoint value lower than the first one for the biofilm thickness.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for purifying or softening water comprising: passing a specific volume of feedwater through at least one service column comprising a strong acid cationic exchange resin capable of binding divalent cations that are present in the feedwater, wherein the loading of the divalent cations on the resin is restricted to about 1 to 25% of the available ion exchange sites on the resin, and the total dissolved solids in the feedwater is greater than 100 mg/l; feeding the water exiting the service column to a reverse osmosis membrane or a nanofiltration membrane to produce permeate water stream and a reject water stream; and passing all or some of the volume of the reject stream corresponding the specific volume of feedwater through at least one off-line column capable of binding monovalent cations; wherein the chemical equivalent ratio of monovalent to divalent cations in the water exiting the service column is greater than 20 to 1; wherein no external source of regenerant salt is

Abstract: A solid-liquid separation system for chemically-precipitated heavy metal wastewater having a membrane module disposed in a filter zone of a chemical reaction tank, a water outlet pipe of the membrane module, a pressure gauge with electric contact, a suction pump, a water inlet pipe of the suction pump, a backwashing pump, and a backwashing pipe. The membrane module, the water outlet pipe of the membrane module, the pressure gauge with electric contact, the water inlet pipe of the suction pump, and the suction pump are directly connected in sequence to form a membrane module water production system. The water outlet pipe of the membrane module, the pressure gauge with electric contact, the backwashing pipe, and the backwashing pump are directly connected in sequence to form a backwashing system. A method for treating chemically-precipitated heavy metal wastewater using the separation system is also provided. The separation effect is very good.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nanofibrous coatings on medical devices such a surgical mesh or stent, wherein the coating is mechanically attached to the device. The principal mechanism for attaching the coating is through causing the fibers to permeate and entangle with the substrate.

Abstract: A module of vertical membranes has a lower header with integral air holes. Modules are mounted in line on upper and lower beams. A skirt is formed under the cassette. Adjustable side members between the beams allow for membrane slack adjustment and bottom beam levelling. A flat aerator assembly can be inserted into spaces between the cassettes and provide bubbles into the skirts, the spaces between cassettes, or both. An aeration method involves producing bubbles primarily or only to one side of the module, alternating from one side of the module to the other, while also producing bubbles within the module or between the membranes, optionally continuously. A cleaning method involves flowing a chemical cleaning solution by force of gravity through a membrane module, optionally by injected a concentrated solution into a vented portion of a permeate withdrawal system located above the water level in a tank holding the module.

Abstract: A method of assessing biofilm thickness in a membrane supported biofilm reactor (MSBR) of the type comprising a lumen containing a gas phase, a liquid phase, and a gas permeable membrane providing an interface between the gas and liquid phases, the method comprising the steps of charging the lumen with an inert gas, closing the lumen to establish an initial elevated pressure in the lumen, measuring the rate of change of pressure within the lumen, and correlating the rate of change of pressure (dP/dt) with biofilm thickness. The step of correlating dP/dt with biofilm thickness involves correlating dP/dt with the rate of diffusion of the inert gas (dn/dt), correlating dn/dt with an overall mass transfer coefficient (K), correlating K with the mass transfer coefficient of the biofilm (ICB), and correlating k? with the biofilm thickness.

Abstract: High shear separations of suspensions and colloid suspensions may be preformed using a fouling reduction agent to optimize the separations. The fouling reduction agents are solids. Exemplary of such solids are powdered cellulose, clays, diatomaceous earth and the like. Process streams which may treated include refinery process waste water, chemical process waste water, food processing waste water, power generation waste water, chemical product streams, and chemical intermediate streams.

Abstract: The present invention has the technical effect of disinfecting an EDI device of a water purification system. The present invention may be applied to an EDI device having an internal chamber comprising ion exchange components. The internal chamber may also comprise a plurality of ion selective membranes positioned between the anode and the cathode compartments. As illustrated and described herein, embodiments of the present invention seek to sanitize the EDI device without sanitization chemicals or a water supply. Embodiments of the present invention disinfect the EDI device by applying electrical power. Here an electrical supply device heats the EDI device, through resistive heating of the internal chambers, to a sanitization temperature. The resistive heating is a result of ionic movement through the internal chamber. The friction that is created through the ionic movement increases the temperature within the internal chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing fouling materials from the surface of a plurality of porous membranes (9) arranged in a membrane module (4) by providing, from within the module, by means (10) other than gas passing through the pores of said membranes, gas bubbles in a uniform distribution relative to the porous membrane array such that the bubbles move past the surfaces of the membranes (9) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. The membranes (9) are arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted to prevent excessive movement therebetween. The bubbles also produce vibration and rubbing together of the membranes to further assist removal of fouling materials.

Abstract: A water or liquid substance filtration device is disclosed which removes microorganisms and organic contamination and sterilizes the containers and water lines after the unit. The unit is portable, or can be mounted stationary. The unit has a five-stage filtration and sterilization system controlled by an independent onboard computer system that can link to a central computer system to keep track of all independent units. The unit will physically filter out of the water contaminants that can be reused, destroyed, or flushed down a safe drain. It can also be modified to filter for a certain size of particulate, making recovery of certain substances possible. The unit has a self-diagnostic system that can determine if the unit is operating properly and can shut down a part thereof if one of the capillary units fails. The system is hydrophilic, can run at low pressures and can be designed from low to extremely high volumes. The unit uses ozone to disinfect containers and water lines.

Abstract: A system and method for filtering is disclosed, which is capable of accomplishing a filtering operation at a high recovery rate of 96% or more, and realizing a compact and simplified system structure, the system comprising a water bath including an inlet and a discharging hole, wherein feed water to be treated is supplied to the inside of the water bath through the inlet, and concentrated water is discharged out through the discharging hole; and plural membrane cassettes including first and second membrane cassettes submerged into the feed water contained in the water bath, wherein the first membrane cassette is positioned nearest to the inlet, and the second membrane cassette is positioned nearest to the discharging hole, wherein the first membrane cassette treats the feed water with a first impurity concentration; the second membrane cassette treats the feed water with a second impurity concentration; and the first impurity concentration is smaller than the second impurity concentration.

Abstract: Intermittent gas flow and membrane separation apparatus and methods of use including an internal gas chamber including an upper wall; at least one inlet for supplying gas to the internal gas chamber; a column pipe that extends above the upper wall of the internal gas chamber, the column pipe including a lower end portion including a lower end portion opening in the internal gas chamber, the column pipe linking the internal gas chamber to an area external to the internal gas chamber for fluid flow between the internal gas chamber and the external area; an auxiliary pipe including one end portion connected to the column pipe for fluid flow between the auxiliary pipe and the column pipe, and another end portion branched off from the column pipe, the another end portion including an opening located in the internal gas chamber at a position higher than the lower end portion opening of the column pipe by a predetermined height; and an auxiliary pipe external tubular member including a closed end, the auxiliary pipe

Abstract: Included is a high-pressure pump P1 that increases the pressure of raw water 11 to a predetermined high pressure, a high-pressure reverse osmosis device 13 including a high-pressure reverse osmosis membrane 13a for concentrating a salt content in high-pressure feed water 12 whose pressure is increased, a first drain valve 21 that is mounted on a permeated water line L2 for supplying the permeated water 14 downstream and temporarily drains permeated water 14 of an initial start-up from a discharge line L6, a low-pressure pump P2 that is mounted on a permeated water line L3 provided downstream of the first drain valve 21 and reduces the pressure of the permeated water 14 to a predetermined low pressure, a low-pressure reverse osmosis device 16 including a low-pressure reverse osmosis membrane 16a for concentrating a salt content in low-pressure feed water 15 whose pressure is reduced by the low-pressure pump P2, and a second drain valve 22 that is mounted on a discharge line L5 at the concentrated water side of

Abstract: An agent for increasing the rejection with a permeable membrane which comprises an ionic macromolecule having a weight-average molecular weight of 100,000 or greater; a process for increasing the rejection with a permeable membrane which comprises treating a permeable membrane with the agent; a permeable membrane which is treated in accordance with the process; and a process for water treatment which comprises using the permeable membrane are disclosed. By using the above agent, an increased rejection of inorganic electrolytes and organic compounds soluble in water can be maintained for a long time easily and safely at the location of the use of the membrane without extreme decrease in the flux of permeation in the membrane separation using a selective permeable membrane such as a nano filtration membrane and a reverse osmosis membrane.

Abstract: A process for purification of fluids, for example, desalination of seawater or brackish water, using organic solutes in a concentrated water solution for use in a forward osmosis process, to extract fresh water out of salt water through the forward osmosis membrane, and subsequently separating the organic solutes out of the diluted forward osmosis permeate by cloud point extraction, thereby regenerating a concentrated organic solution for recycling to the forward osmosis process, and fresh water for potable water use.

Abstract: Disclosed is a filtering system and method which facilitates to maximize cleaning efficiency, minimize heat energy consumption for cleaning, and shorten cleaning time by a concentrated heating only in a filtering membrane for a maintenance cleaning or recovery cleaning, wherein the filtering system comprises a membrane module including a filtering membrane; an air supplying means for cleaning the filtering membrane; and a heater for heating air supplied from the air supplying means.

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

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method(s) of improving flux in a membrane bioreactor by adding an effective amount of catonic, amphoteric, and zwitterionic polymers, or a combination thereof. The membrane bioreactor impacted by the addition of these polymers is made up of a combination of anaerobic reactors, anoxic reactors, and aerobic reactors and anaerobic digesters.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for separating particles and dissolved matter from an untreated fluid stream. Specifically, the present invention includes a first pressure source which transports untreated fluid or contaminated aqueous fluid into a separator annulus with a filter element disposed therein. The untreated fluid is placed under appropriate pressure sufficient to produce turbulent flow, increased particle kinetics and/or cavitation allowing the desired fluid to penetrate and pass into and through the filter media. The treated fluid is then transported to a collection tank. The contaminant matter retained by the filter media may be removed by the nearly instantaneous reverse pressurization of the separator annulus by a second pressure source thereby removing the contaminant particles away from contact with the filter media, and which may then be transported to a waste collection tank or a separator for further treatment.

Abstract: A method includes performing at least two of the following three treatments to produce at least two types of treated water: reverse osmosis, alkalinization, and carbon filtration. The types of treated water are individually dispensed at different times from a common spout. A method includes individually cooling the types of treated water at different times in a common cold tank prior to dispensing. The common cold tank is purged prior to cooling a different type of treated water. A method includes treating water by electrolysis to produce alkaline water and acidic water and producing at least one additional type of treated water by reverse osmosis or carbon filtration. Consumer containers are rinsed with the acidic water. A system includes: a dispensing unit, a treatment unit remotely located from the dispensing unit, treated water supply lines connecting the treatment unit to the dispensing unit, and a process control unit.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane surface immersed in a liquid medium with a fluid flow, including the steps of providing a randomly generated intermittent or pulsed fluid flow along the membrane surface to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. A membrane module is also disclosed comprising a plurality of porous membranes (6) or a set of membrane modules (5) and a device (11) for providing a generally randomly generated, pulsed fluid flow such that, in use, said fluid flow moves past the surfaces of said membranes (6) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.

Abstract: Method for disinfecting a filtration works (F) for the pretreatment of salt water, particularly seawater, upstream of a water desalination unit (1) using a reverse osmosis membrane, whereby an operation of disinfecting the filtration works is carried out periodically by adding a bactericidal agent to the water that is to be pretreated, the filtration works being periodically subjected to a declogging operation; the operation of disinfecting the filtration works (F) is carried out during a declogging operation, and the liquid used for the declogging is formed of an aqueous declogging solution the salt content of which differs from the content of the water being pretreated; the bactericidal agent is added (14) to the declogging solution upstream of its injection into the filtration works (F).

Abstract: Water treatment systems and methods are provided to minimize membrane fouling and the required maintenance that results therefrom. A water treatment system includes a pressure vessel with a plurality of spaced-apart membranes disposed therein, and an impeller or other means for circulating feed water through the interior of the vessel and past the membranes. Antifouling particles (such as diatomaceous earth or activated carbon) and/or pellets can be added to the feed water inhibit membrane fouling and extend the useful life of the membranes.

Abstract: A porous membrane with the membrane wall constructed of a hydrophobic polymer and a hydrophilic polymer, wherein when the membrane wall is divided into 3 sections in the film thickness direction to form region “a” containing one wall surface A of the membrane wall, region “c” containing the other wall surface C and region “b” between region “a” and region “c”, the hydrophilic polymer content ratio Ca in region “a” is greater than the hydrophilic polymer content ratio Cc in region “c”, and the mean pore size of the wall surface C is larger than the mean pore size of the wall surface A.

Abstract: There is proposed a separation method for mixtures of materials, using a cellulose hydrate membrane having a porous double structure which consists of micropores having a diameter in the range from >100 nm to 20 ?m and ultrapores which have a diameter of <100 nm and which are not accessible to Blue Dextran having an average molecular weight Mw of 2 000 000, wherein the fraction of the volume of the ultrapores is more than 15% of the entire pore volume accessible to water, and wherein, in a preferred embodiment, sulfonic acid ligands are bonded to the membrane.

Abstract: A method and system for performing maintenance on a membrane having semi-permeable properties and is used in a pressure retarded osmosis PRO, the membrane having a high pressure first side and second side of lower pressure. A time controllable first valve or pump (31; 41; 51; 61; 71; 81; 91) is connected between an input (12) to the low pressure side of the membrane (13?) and an input (11) to the high pressure side of the membrane (13?), said first valve or pump operable to selectively deliver a plug (21) of a second type of water (FW) to the first side of the membrane to lower concentration of dissolved substance (s) in water of a first type (SW) thereat, thereby creating a PRO pressure backwash function with the water of the second type (FW) from the first to the second side of the membrane pressurized on said first side by high pressure supply of water of the first type (SW) upstream of said plug (21) of water of the second type (SW).

Abstract: A method of backwashing a membrane filtration system comprising at least one permeable membrane, preferably a hollow fibre membrane, the method comprising the step of applying a pressurised gas at a variable pressure to permeate remaining present in the system when filtration process is stopped or suspended to provide liquid for backwashing pores of the permeable membrane during a backwashing process. Also provided are methods of filtering solids from a liquid suspension using alternating liquid backwash pressures.

Abstract: A filtration arrangement including one or more membrane modules (5) positioned vertically within a feed tank (6), each membrane module (5) having one or more membranes positioned therein. An aeration hood (10) having an upper wall (11) and one or more downwardly extending side walls (12, 13) is configured to at least partially shroud the membrane modules (5) within the tank (6). The aeration hood (10) includes a number of open-ended tubes (14), each extending downwardly from the upper wall (11) and forming a respective opening (15) therein. Each tube (14) is adapted to have at least one of the modules (5) mounted therein and extending through the respective openings (15) in the upper wall (11) so as to at least partially surround an outer periphery of an associated module or modules (5). One or more aeration openings (17) are provided in each tube (14) at a location spaced from a proximal end of the tube (16).

Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane surface immersed in a liquid medium with a fluid flow, including the steps of providing a randomly generated intermittent or pulsed fluid flow along the membrane surface to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. A membrane module is also disclosed comprising a plurality of porous membranes (6) or set of membrane modules (5) and a device (11) for providing a generally randomly generated, pulsed fluid flow such that, in use, said fluid flow moves past the surfaces of said membranes (6) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process and a device for saving diafiltrate by partial regeneration using adsorbers. An object of the invention is to decrease the requirement of dialysate and/or substituate in the depletion of a substance of class X by means of special microstructured adsorption/filtration devices. An object of the invention is also to enable control of the concentration of a substance group X by hemodialysis and/or hemofiltration, such that by partial recirculation of the diafiltrate in the regeneration circuit, the net throughput of diafiltrate can be kept lower.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ceramic dead-end filter for filtration of liquid. The ceramic dead-end filter comprises at least one ceramic filter membrane having a first side with a front surface and a second side. The ceramic membrane comprises a selective front layer providing said front surface and the selective front layer comprises a maximum pore size diameter of about ?m or smaller, for example between about 0.5 nm and about 25 ?m. The ceramic dead-end filter of the invention provides an effective filtration with a high flux and a long durability. The filter can furthermore be regenerated in a simple way. The invention also relates to filtration system comprising such ceramic dead-end filter, a method of performing the filtration process as well as a method of producing the filter.

Abstract: A patient end of a venous blood line (26) is connected to a discharge of a dialysis liquid preparation circuit by means of an auxiliary connector (23), and the patient end of an arterial blood line (25) is connected to a service line (32) located at the top of a venous expansion chamber (31). The filling and/or rinsing liquid is removed from the preparation circuit by backfiltering through a membrane (5) of a high-flux dialysis filter (2). The invention enables a blood circuit to be primed simply and rapidly.

Abstract: To provide a membrane separation method capable of attaining reduced adsorption of a membrane-fouling substance contained in treatment water onto the surface of a separation membrane during membrane separation of the treatment water, to thereby lead retarded deterioration in membrane separation performance, and a membrane separation apparatus for performing the method. In the membrane separation method, to treatment water, a particulate cationic polymer which swells in water but does not substantially dissolve therein is added, and the treatment water is subjected to membrane separation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a regeneratable filtering and adsorbing system, combining the properties of membrane filtration with those of particle-based adsorption in a closed housing.

Abstract: A gas-scrubbed vertical cylindrical skein of “fibers” has their opposed terminal portions held in headers unconfined in a modular shell, and aerated with a cleansing gas supplied by a gas-distribution means which produces a mass of bubbles serving the function of a scrub-brush for the outer surfaces of the fibers. The skein is surprisingly effective with relatively little cleansing gas, the specific flux through the membranes reaching an essentially constant relatively high value because the vertical deployment of fibers allows bubbles to rise upwards along the outer surfaces of the fibers. The effectiveness is critically dependent upon the length of each fiber in the skein. That length is in the range from at least 0.1% more than the fixed distance between opposed faces of the skein's headers, but less than 5% greater than the fixed distance.