Abstract: A separation method includes (a) providing a heterogeneous separation system, the heterogeneous cleaning system comprising CO2 in a first phase and an oil in a separate second phase; (b) entraining a material to be separated in the second phase; (c) wholly or partially solubilizing the second phase in the first phase to produce a separation system in which said material to be separated is insoluble; and then (d) separating the material from the system. The separating step is preferably followed by the step of (e) recovering at least a portion of the oil. The system is useful in a variety of applications, including cleaning (particularly metal cleaning), polymerization, extraction, coating, and particle formation and treatment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel multi-layered, composite microporous membrane comprising in at least one layer a highly electropositive hydrophilic material distributed throughout wherein the material is capable of irreversibly binding nucleic acid and, optionally, at least one layer where the material is associated with sequence-specific peptide nucleic acids, permitting the simultaneous or sequential capture, amplification and/or identification of specific nucleic acid sequences of interest. Also disclosed herein are methods of use of the composite membranes of the invention in applications based on the sequence-specific capture and/or amplification and identification of nucleic acid from complex biological samples.

Abstract: A wet cleaning apparatus can remove trace heavy metals, colloidal matter or other impurities contained in ultra-pure water to be used as rinse water in semiconductor cleaning processes and suppress deposit of trace impurities such as heavy metals or other particles that would otherwise cause characteristics of such devices to deteriorate. A wet cleaning apparatus for rinsing with ultra-pure water as a rinse liquid by supplying ultra-pure water through a piping to a rinse location inside the apparatus. The rinse location is a point of use of the ultra-pure water. The wet cleaning apparatus includes a module filled with porous film in which polymer chains having at least one of an anion exchange group, a cation exchange group, and a chelating group are held in the middle of the piping positioned inside the apparatus. The wet cleaning apparatus further includes a means for adding hydrogen gas to the rinse liquid.

Abstract: Alum, used as a coagulant in water treatment, is recovered from clarifier sludge by adjusting the pH of the sludge downward to produce an aqueous clarifier sludge solution, and contacting the aqueous clarifier sludge solution with one side of a semi-permeable cation exchange membrane while contacting the other side of the membrane with an acidic sweep solution. By virtue of the Donnan co-ion exclusion phenomenon, aluminum ions, which are trivalent, pass readily through the membrane, in preference to divalent and monovalent cations, and consequently heavy metal carryover is relatively low. Organic matter carryover is substantially excluded, and consequently, the recovered alum can be reused without the potential for trihalomethane formation. The reactor is preferably in the form of a stack of spaced membranes, with the aqueous clarifier sludge solution and the acid sweep solution flowing through alternate spaces. The same process can be used for recovery of ferric iron coagulants.

Abstract: There is disclosed a co-oxidation method and a reagent system of co-oxidation agents for removing from a contaminated zone below the ground surface a water-immiscible organic compound having a density greater than that of water from a contaminated zone below the ground surface, comprising the steps of (a) injecting into the contaminated zone a solution of at least one inorganic permanganate salt, (b) injecting into the zone a cosolvent compatible with the inorganic permanganate salt, (c) causing reaction of the permanganate salt with the water-immiscible organic compound, and (d) extracting co-oxidant from the contaminated zone, thereby diminishing the level of water-immiscible organic compound present in the contaminated zone.

Abstract: This invention relates to gas- or liquid-permeable materials that seal when exposed to water and methods of making such materials. In general, materials of this invention comprise a hydrogel adhered to pore walls of a porous substrate.

Abstract: Provided is a method for washing an impurities-containing polycarbonate/organic solvent solution with an aqueous washing solution, which comprises monitoring the viscosity of the mixture dispersion of the polycarbonate/organic solvent solution and the aqueous washing solution, and controlling the blend ratio of the aqueous washing solution in the system on the basis of the relation between the phase condition and the viscosity of the mixture dispersion. In the method of washing a polycarbonate/organic solvent solution with an aqueous washing solution, the amount of the washing solution to be used is reduced, and the mixture dispersion of the two solutions is stabilized at a high level of washing efficiency. The washing method is economical in practical use.

Abstract: The invention is related to a method for separating enantiomers in a supported liquid membrane module by contacting the liquid membrane which may contain a carrier and a phase transfer agent with a feed fluid containing a racemic mixture whereby an enantiomer is transported into the liquid membrane and thereafter contacting the liquid membrane with a sweep fluid whereby an enantiomer is transported from the liquid membrane into the sweep fluid. The enantiomer is then recovered from the sweep fluid. The liquid membrane module is constructed in such a way that the feed fluid and the sweep fluid are adjacent to, but on opposite sides of, the liquid membrane and the feed and sweep fluids have a substantially continuous interfacial contact along the length of the liquid membrane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for extracting toxins from biological tissues. The system comprises a lixiviator, an ion-exchange column, a diatomaceous silica-active carbon column, and a vacuum concentrator. Twenty to one hundred kilograms of raw material can be processed at one time when puffer fish ovaries are used as the starting material.

Abstract: Methods, compositions and devices for purifying polypeptides and/or proteins using metal loaded ligand bound membranes by metal ion affinity chromatography are described.

Abstract: Unique ultrapure water produced by reverse osmosis equipment. The high purity or ultrapure water is characterized by extremely low levels of Total Organic Carbon that are achieved after a single pass reverse osmosis process step. The feedwater to the reverse osmosis process is preferably pretreated to remove hardness and non-hydroxide alkalinity by simultaneous removal in a weak acid cation exchange resin. The process includes ionization of sparingly ionizable components, such as silica, by adjusting the pH up to about 10.5 or higher. The passage of boron, silica, and TOC is therefore significantly reduced. Consequently, the high purity water is produced with high recovery rates from the entering feedwater. Therefore, a unique ultrapure water product is provided that significantly reduces costs for post-treatment in downstream polishing steps.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing water containing dissolved ozone which comprises (A) a piping for supplying ultrapure water through which ultrapure water is supplied, (B) a catalytic reaction portion which is connected with the piping for supplying ultrapure water and in which the ultrapure water is brought into contact with an oxidation-reduction catalyst, (C) a filtration apparatus by which the ultrapure water treated in the catalytic reaction portion is filtered and (D) an apparatus for dissolving ozone in which ozone is dissolved into the ultrapure water discharged from the filtration apparatus; and an apparatus for producing water containing dissolved ozone which comprises an apparatus for producing ultrapure water which is equipped with an apparatus for irradiating with ultraviolet light, an apparatus for dissolving ozone in which ozone is dissolved into the ultrapure water produced in the apparatus for producing ultrapure water and a catalytic reaction portion which is packed with an oxidation-reduction cat

Abstract: A method is provided for producing porous hydrophilic materials whereby nonporous materials are subjected to ester hydrolysis to generate site-specific perforations. Processes for separating aqueous phase from organic and aqueous mixtures utilizing the invented materials also are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is an economical single stage membrane process intended to provide very high overall water recoveries from natural sources or wastewater containing high concentrations of hardness and other inorganic scale-forming compounds while preventing scale formation on the membrane and prolonging the useful life of the membrane. The water is first pre-treated in order to separate all suspended matter using a suitable oil separation device, dissolved air flotation, coagulation, flocculation, clarification, single or multi-media filtration, ultra-filtration, micro-filtration or a suitable combination of these pre-treatment steps. The pre-treated water is then purified using a simple, economical single stage membrane system operating at a suitable pressure depending on the water TDS and desired permeate recovery. In order to prevent scale formation on the membranes, the membrane concentrate is softened using a “low-cost” ion exchange softening resin with high selectivity for hardness precursors.

Abstract: The invention uses the electro-kinetic principle for a method for the cleaning of materials contaminated with heavy metals, whereby use is made of an apparatus comprising two charge-selective ion-exchange membranes with different charges combined with an inner and an outer electrolyte solution chambers which are separated by the membranes which serve a blocking function. A surprisingly good degree of removal is achieved, particularly in relation to the current consumption, and at the same time the heavy metals can be precipitated in a separate vessel such that they can be reused.

Abstract: Improved methods are disclosed for the efficient and cost-effective recovery of zinc metal from zinc-containing brines. Zinc is first bound to an anionic ion exchange resin (IX) which has been equilibrated with a solution containing a reducing agent, washed, and eluted with an elution solution. A reducing agent can be added to the brine prior to loading on the IX and can optionally be added to the IX after the washing step. The eluted zinc is extracted with a water-immiscible cationic organic solvent (SX), which is scrubbed, then stripped with concentrated acid. Substantially pure zinc is recovered by electrowinning the zinc-loaded concentrated acid solution.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for deionizing water are disclosed. A condensate in the secondary cooling water system in a PWR nuclear power plant is passed through a mixture of an anion exchange resin and a cation exchange resin having a crosslinking degree of about 12 to 16%. The cation exchange resin has an improved, ion exchange capacity. thereby decreasing the frequency of changing the condensate.

Abstract: A method for the separation of a predetermined compound comprising i) partitioning the compound in a two-phase (system A) in which at least one of the phases is rich (phase 1) and the other is poor (phase 2) in a thermoseparating polymer (I), ii) collecting one phase (phase 1 or phase 2) containing said compound, and iii if desired, further working up said compound from the phase collected in step ii, characterized a) in that polymer (I) is a micell-forming thermoseparating polymer, and b) in that phase 2 possibly contains at least one agent that is cloud point-decreasing for thermoseparating polymer (I), such as a polymer (II) that is incompatible with polymer (I) or a salt.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for removing metallic ions and/or particulate material from an aqueous acid solution using particle removing membranes (e.g., ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) having immobilized ligand groups (e.g., macrocycle or other similar chelating ligands) that possess high equilibrium binding constants for ion and particulate removal. The method is particularly useful for simultaneously filtering/purifying aqueous hydrofluoric or hydrochloric acid.

Abstract: A process for treatment of water via memhrane separation to remove hardness and nonhydroxide alkalinity by simultaneous removal in a weak acid cation exchange resin. The process includes ionization of sparingly ionizable componients, such as silica, by adjusting the pH up to about 10.5 or higher. Their separation by the membrane is significantly increased. The passage of boron, silica and TOC is reduced by a factor of ten or more. Recovery of 90% or higher is achievable with most brackish feedwaters, At hue substantial reduction in cleaning frequency is simultaneously achieved.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for simultaneously removing metallic ions and particulate material from a pH neutral solution using particle-removing membranes (e.g., ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) having immobilized ligands that possess the capacity and high equilibrium binding constants for ion removal. The method is particularly useful for simultaneously filtering/purifying deionized water.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the treatment and purification of drinking water combines the use of an ion-exchange resin and a membrane filter (12) in a single process tank. The ion-exchange resin is removed from the process tank (14) and regenerated for reuse.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite material in which an active organic compound is dispersed, as well as to an effluent treatment process, especially a photographic effluent treatment process. The composite material comprises an aluminosilicate organic-inorganic polymer matrix in fiber form comprising at least on the surface an organic radical having a —SH or —S(—CH2)n—S— function with n between 0 and 4 and in which an active organic compound is dispersed.

Abstract: The object of the present invention relates to a simple, rapid and inexpensive process for effecting solid-liquid separations in the case of zeolites, also having small crystals. This process, which is particularly useful for the recovery of zeolite crystals in suspension in the crystallization water, comprises treating this suspension of crystals with an acid or one of its precursors and subjecting the resulting mixture to filtration or decanting. According to a particular aspect of the invention, the crystalline phase is separated in a mixture with oxides which can be used as ligands. Said oxides can be generated by the reagents of the zeolite preparation reagent mixture, not transformed into crystalline phase during the synthesis hydrothermal treatment, or they can be added to the suspension of crystals before the separation treatment, or again they can be generated by precursors suitably added to the crystallization slurry.

Abstract: An affinity matrix for use in affinity based molecular pull down and immunoprecipitation procedures. The affinity matrix comprises a polymeric support, a dye attached to a fraction of the polymeric support to enable optical detection of the polymeric support, and an affinity ligand other than the dye attached to a fraction of the polymeric support for the capture of a molecule.

Abstract: A process for removing contaminants from large volumes of wastewater is disclosed. The process involves treating a wastewater stream containing the contaminant with a coagulant that reacts with the contaminant to form a particulate or aggregate of particulates having a size greater than 10 &mgr;m. The treated wastewater is passed through a microfiltration membrane having a pore size in the range from 0.5 &mgr;m to 10 &mgr;m at low pressure (less than 20 psig) to remove the contaminant. Under such conditions, the treated wastewater flux rate is greater than 200 gallons per square foot of membrane per day (“GFD”), and typically from 200 to 1500 GFD.

Abstract: A process using a hydrophobic membrane separation process for making an enhanced flavor fluid, particularly a low-alcohol brew, having improved flavor is disclosed.

Abstract: A polymer article having structure (I), where P comprises the basic polymer and groups —L—CH(—X(R1)p)—CH2(—Y(R2)p); L is a part of a pending group utilized for introducing —X(R1)p and —Y(R2)p; X and Y are halogen, N, S and O; R1 is hydrogen, alkyl, acyl or R2 when X is N, O or S; R2 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkylaryl or arylalkyl in which the alkyl part may contain 1-18 carbons, or —R3(—NH—CR4═O)q or —R3(—NH2)q, —CR4═O or poly alkyloxy that may have been terminally acylated or alkylated; p is an integer 0-3, with the provisos a) p depends on X being halogen, O, S or N, and b) that if several groups R2 are present they may be identical or different; R3 is alkyl, —O-alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, phenylalkyl, with up to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl part, and R4 is C1-18 alkyl. q is an integer>O representing that one or more hydrogens in R3 may have been replaced with —NH2 or —NH—CR4═O.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use a of resin trap device to remove large resin particles from water in a water purification system to thereby protect downstream ultrafiltration equipment. The present invention includes a resin trap device which comprises a housing and a resin strainer disposed within the housing. The resin strainer includes a plurality of openings having a particle pass size of between about 100 &mgr;m and about 250 &mgr;m, and thus allows water and small particles to pass through the resin trap device and large particles to be retained in the resin trap device. The present invention also includes a water purification system including a water source, a resin bed and the resin trap device, and a method of purifying water using the resin trap device of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of recovering a copper component or a manganese component from a cleaning agent containing copper oxide, a cleaning agent containing basic copper carbonate, a cleaning agent containing copper hydroxide, or a cleaning agent containing copper oxide and manganese oxide, the cleaning agents having been used for removing, through contact with a harmful gas, a phosphine contained as a harmful component in the harmful gas. Also, the invention provides a method of recovering a copper component or a manganese component from a cleaning agent containing basic copper carbonate, a cleaning agent containing copper hydroxide, or a cleaning agent containing copper oxide and manganese oxide, the cleaning agents having been used for removing, through contact with a harmful gas, a phosphine contained as a harmful component in the harmful gas.

Abstract: A process for separation of an oil-containing aqueous emulsion includes mixing the oil-containing aqueous emulsion with carbon-dioxide and subjecting the emulsion and carbon dioxide for a specified time within an autoclave to an elevated pressure and an elevated temperature. A rising stream of bubbles is formed within the autoclave by suddenly relieving the pressure within the autoclave with the rising stream of bubbles serving to separate the oil-containing aqueous emulsion into an oil-rich phase and an oil-depleted emulsion. The oil depleted emulsion is transferred to a segrating tank. At least a fraction of the oil-depleted emulsion within the segregated tank is subjected to ultrafiltration to separate the fraction into a permeate and a retentate.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for separating outer birch bark from inner birch bark. The invention also provides methods for isolating betulin; lupeol; betulinic acid; 9,10-epoxy-18-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid; 9,10,18-trihydroxyoctadecanoic acid; polyphenolic polymers and fatty acids from birch bark.

Abstract: A process for treating aqueous waste comprising a copper plating waste stream, a copper rinse stream containing organic carbon and solid particles, and a copper chemical mechanical planarization stream (CMP) containing solid particles is provided. This process includes electrowinning the copper plating waste stream to remove copper and create a blow down stream, filtering the rinse stream to remove solid particles, adding the blow down stream to the CMP stream, treating the blow down stream and the CMP stream with a flocculant or coagulant to form larger solid particles, removing the larger solid particles from the CMP stream and separating the resulting stream into a liquid containing copper, a concentrated regenerant, and a dilute regenerant, adding the concentrated regenerant to the waste stream before the electrowinning step, adding the dilute regenerant to the rinse stream before filtering to remove solid particles, and adding the liquid containing copper to the CMP stream during the treating step.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for decoloring liquids, in particular ground water, by means of a membrane filtration unit, wherein the following steps are carried out: i) subjecting the ground water to a biological treatment in a bioreactor; ii) feeding the effluent from the bioreactor of step i) to the membrane filtration unit, in which membrane filtration unit a separation between biomass and decolored ground water takes place; followed by iii) feeding back the biomass from step ii) to the bioreactor. The invention also relates to decolored ground water and to a device for decoloring liquids.

Abstract: This invention is related to a method for recovery of aqueous wash in a phosphate chemical conversion of a shaped metal product involving carrying out chemical conversion and subsequent cleaning with water, wherein said cleaning with water is performed in one or more stages and comprises a step of withdrawing aqueous wash from a first cleaning stage and adjusting the pH of the wash with at least one acid selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid, hydrosilicofluoric acid and fluoroboric acid, a step of treating said pH-adjusted aqueous wash with a first reverse osmosis membrane to separate it into a first filtrate and a first concentrate, and a step of neutralizing said first filtrate with an alkali and treating the alkali-neutralized filtrate with a second reverse osmosis membrane to separate it into a second filtrate and a second concentrate, said first concentrate being recycled for said phosphate chemical conversion, said second filtrate being recycled as a

Abstract: A process for utilizing the material of ammonium-containing effluent which contains further soluble constituents and, possible additional solids, comprising: a) optionally separating off the solids, b) concentrating the substantially solids-free ammonium-containing effluent to give an aqueous concentrate having an increased content of ammonium and additional soluble constituents, with simultaneous recovery of substantially ammonium-free pure water, c) precipitating ammonium as magnesium ammonium phosphate from the ammonium-containing aqueous concentrate, and d) separating off precipitated magnesium ammonium phosphate with recovery of substantially ammonium-free residual concentrate which at least partially contains the additional soluble constituents.

Abstract: An adsorbent or bradykinin comprising styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer having sulfonic acid groups and a method for adsorbing and removing bradykinin comprising contacting the adsorbent with a fluid containing bradykinin are provided. An adsorber for adsorbing bradykinin in which the adsorbent is charged in a vessel having an inlet and an outlet for a fluid is also provided.

Abstract: Preparative-scale separations of chiral compounds were achieved by high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) using a multilayer coil planet centrifuge equipped with a 325 mL capacity column. The separations were performed by two different procedures both utilizing a set of N-(3,5-dintrobenzoyl)-D,L-amino acids as test samples with N-dodecanoyl-L-proline-3,5-dimethylanilide as a chiral selector (Cs). The HSCCC separations were carried out with a two-phase solvent system composed of hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water where the chiral selector was added to the organic stationary phase. A second procedure using pH-zone-refining CCC yielded characteristic fused rectangular peaks in which the two isomers were resolved with less than 5% of overlap.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ion exchange membrane having a porous polymeric support grafted with an organic moiety to which is covalently bonded at least one ion exchange group, and methods for preparing the ion exchange membrane. A method for treating a fluid containing ions wherein ions are removed by contacting the fluid with an ion exchange membrane of the present invention is also provided. In addition, the present invention provides a filtration apparatus for removing ions from a fluid, which filtration apparatus utilizes an ion exchange membrane of the present invention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for treating produced water to lower the total dissolved solids of the water for safe discharge to the environment. The produced water is passed through a weak acid cation resin in H+ form to remove cations in the produced water and then preferably through a decarbonator to remove formed CO2 and to provide a first discharge stream. The cation loaded resin is then regenerated using a dilute acid, preferably diluted with produced water, to regenerate the resin to the H+ form. The resultant acid regenerated waste stream is discharged to a reject deep well. The acid regenerated resin is then rinsed, preferably with produced water, to remove residual salts to form a residual salt containing rinse stream. This salt stream is passed into a reverse osmosis unit to form a high salt containing reject stream which is discharged to a waste deep well and a low salt containing product discharge stream which may be safely discharged to the environment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mincing a gel includes a gel mincing tube and a mesh material. The mesh material extends across the end of the tube. To subdivide a gel using the mincing apparatus, a gel is placed upon the mesh material in the mincing tube, the mincing tube, mesh material and the gel are spun in a centrifuge, forcing the gel through the mesh material so that the gel is subdivided into generally uniform smaller fragments. The mesh material may be secured to a tube in the form of a nesting tube. The nesting tube nests within the opening of a recovery vessel. The mesh material may be placed in series with a conditionally porous membrane in the nesting tube. Centrifuging the nesting tube and the recovery vessel subdivides gel material into fragments by forcing the gel through the mesh material. The gel subsequently falls upon the membrane, and may be treated on the membrane to extract or otherwise treat analytes in the gel material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the production and isolation of D-chiro-inositol (DCI) from plant extracts. Specifically the present invention provides a method to produce D-chiro-inositol from a precursor moiety by conversion in concentrated hydrochloric acid. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for the efficient production of DCI by a process involving the extraction of D-pinitol from soy hulls followed by conversion thereof to DCI.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for treating the heavy hydrogen isotope content of the contaminated water by contacting the contaminated water with a molecular separation material including a support medium carrying a plurality of hydration sites having associated waters of hydration, whereby a portion of the waters of hydration are replaced with heavy hydrogen isotope water molecules from the contaminated water. The hydrogen isotope water molecule content of the contaminated water is thus decreased. The molecular separation material is preferably a polymer, such as a polystyrene/divinyl benzene cross-linked polymer, having hydration sites with associated waters of hydration. Preferred hydration sites are obtained by reacting the polymer, which has been sulfonated or phosphonated to create reactive sites, with a salt of, for example, aluminum, sodium, magnesium, copper, zinc, cobalt, iron, nickel, manganese, potassium and chromium.

Abstract: An improved inclusive method for purifying a polar solvent such as water includes the re-suspension of finely divided layered materials within which contaminants have been captured, wherein the re-suspension is in a solvent selected primarily on the basis of its ability to re-suspend the finely divided layered materials and/or for its effect on the included contaminant material, and within which additional materials may or may not be intentionally dissolved, mixed, or suspended, in order to recover and reuse the finely divided layered material and/or to selectively recover a specific included contaminant or several specific included contaminants in series. The process is useful in the rapid and efficient recovery of the finely divided layered materials, and in the removal of suspended particles, dissolved materials, immiscible liquids, and living organisms from the polar solvent.

Abstract: A process for removing toxins from fluids, such as bodily fluids or a dialysate solution, is disclosed. The process involves contacting the fluid with a microporous ion exchanger to remove toxins in the fluid.

Abstract: A method of monitoring advanced separation and/or ion exchange processes through the collection of localized data. The data is manipulated to generate preconfigured performance, maintenance, quality assurance, quality control, regulatory, cost reports, performance graphing and historical trends. The data is collected from sensors located at an equipment site and transferred to a remote located by use of the Internet, further all data received and used for generation of reports is also accessible by Internet connection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the current efficiency of suppressor and suppress-like pretreatment devices is disclosed for the purpose of suppressing a high concentration of eluent without the detrimental effects of excess heat generation. The method and apparatus may be used in ion chromatography.

Abstract: A process to purify and classify a dispersion containing stabilized particles having counterions and ions as well as free species is disclosed. The solution may comprise an aqueous media, a solvent media, or a combination of both and can include more than one type of aqueous and/or solvent solutions. The process includes at least the steps, in any order, of substantially removing the particles having sizes above about 1 micron, preferably above 0.5 micron; substantially removing the free species; and exchanging at least a portion of the counterions that are a part of the stabilized particles. The process disclosed is especially useful in purifying dispersions where the ionic stabilized colloidal particles are carbon black having attached organic groups comprising at least one ionic group, or at least one ionizable group, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for removing metallic ions and/or particulate material from a pH neutral solution using particle-removing membranes (e.g., ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) having immobilized ligands that possess the capacity and high equilibrium binding constants for ion removal. The method is particularly useful for simultaneously filtering/purifying deionized water.

Abstract: The invention involves a process for separating actinides and lanthanides by liquid-liquid extraction by means of calixarenes. These calixarenes have the formula: with R1 and R2 being alkyl groups or o-nitrophenoxy alkyl groups and R3 and R4 being aryl groups, and they are used in an organic liquid phase containing an organic diluent. The diluent and the calixarene concentration of the organic phase are chosen so as to ensure an enrichment of the organic phase with the actinide(s) and/or lanthanide(s) to be separated from an aqueous acid or saline solution.