Abstract: A chiral two-phase system for resolution of racemic mixtures, or for separation of diastereomers, is disclosed. The system comprises two immiscible liquid phases and one or more enantioselectively binding chiral components, each of which is substantially in one of said phases.Also disclosed is a method for chiral resolution of racemic mixtures, or for separation of diastereomers. Use is here made of the fact that different enantiomers are partitioned differently between the phases in the above-mentioned two-phase system in that one of the enantiomers is selectively bound to one of the chiral components which is substantially in one of said phases.

Abstract: A reverse osmosis membrane having improved rejection of sulfuric acid and/or isopropanol is described. The membrane is prepared by treating a crosslinked, polyamide discriminating layer with an amine-reactive reagent selected from a carboxylic acid ester, a carboxylic acid anhydride, an amine-reactive organic halogen compound, an ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon, or a 1,3-propane sultone, at conditions whereby the passage of sulfuric acid in a 2 percent aqueous solution at a transmembrane pressure of 400 psi is reduced by at least 30 percent.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for treatment of solid and fluid materials contaminated by at least predominantly lipophilic harmful substances, in particular hydrocarbons and the like, especially for oil-infested grounds and waters, as well as suitable systems and emulsifier substances for carrying out the method. The contaminated materials, for microdispersed emulsifying of the harmful substances, is intimately mixed with at least one emulsifying substance as well as possibly with water. Subsequently, the emulsion is separated from the material while adding water, and preferentially biologically decomposed.

Abstract: A process for increasing the salt passage of polyamide reverse osmosis membranes and the resulting membrane is disclosed. The process involves treating the membrane with a dilute aqueous solution of an alkali metal permanganate followed by a stabilization treatment with a dilute aqueous solution of sodium bisulfite or hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for recovery of amino acids from aqueous mixtures. In particular, it relates to a treatment of said amino acid containing aqueous mixture prior to extraction of the amino acid with a water immiscible organic solution containing a water insoluble extractant for said amino acid. The overall process of the invention which includes the pretreatment and extraction, also includes optional methods of recovering said extracted amino acid from the water immiscible organic solution. Accordingly, the invention also relates to a process for recovery of the amino acid by stripping of the amino acid from the organic solution and precipitation of the amino acid.

Abstract: An object of the invention are macroporous polymeric membranes, suitable above all for the separation of polymers, which consists of the copolymer of a monovinyl monomer, selected from the group comprising acrylates, methacrylates, vinylpyridine, N-vinylpyrrolidone, vinyl acetate, and hydroxystyrene, with a divinyl monomer, selected from the group comprising alkylene and hydroxyalkylene diacrylates and dimethacrylates, divinylbenzene, and divinylpyridine, at the ratio of monomers of both types ranging from 5:95 to 95:5 wt. %. The membranes are formed from polymeric globular entities which have the size 0.05 to 0.5 .mu.m and are interconnected by covalent bonds, whereas communicating voids--pores occur between the globuli.The total thickness of membranes is 0.2 to 15 mm. and their specific surface area, which is measurable also in the dry state, may attain 400 m.sup.2 /g. Glycidyl methacrylate is advantageously used as the monovinyl monomer in the amount 5-80 vol. % related to the total volume of monomers.

Abstract: A system and method for cleaning contaminants from shed blood to enable reinfusion of a cell concentrate in the patient employs successive rotary membrane filtering stages in which Taylor vortices are generated. Shed blood led into the first rotary membrane stage is filtered to a hematocrit in the range of 50-60 with some of the waste matter being removed. The intermediate cell concentrate is passed to the second filter stage where further waste matter is initially extracted. At any intermediate region, however, a major amount of wash solution is fed into the concentrate and effectively mixed by the Taylor vortices. In the remaining length of the second filter stage waste matter is entrained in wash solution and both waste and wash solution are filtered out to provide a cell concentrate from which the great majority of contaminants have been removed.

Abstract: A simplified, single component resin bed is coupled with a permeation tube and bottle. The permeation bottle contains an ionic species and a dissolved gas. The apparatus makes unnecessary a multi-component resin ion exchange column for solvent pH control in electrolytic conductivity detection as applied to gas chromatography.

Abstract: A process for separation of multicomponent mixtures of dicarboxylic acids, especially, mixtures of C.sub.8 -C.sub.24 saturated and unsaturated acids is derived from a fermentation process, in which an aqueous feed solution containing the mixture of dicarboxylic acids is adjusted in pH value depending on the permeability of the component to be separated and over 95% of the saturated component is separated from the unsaturated material by passing the mixture is content with a membrane filter.

Abstract: A process for recovering the scandium present as a trace constituent in a mixture of iron, manganese and other oxides comprise bringing the scandium into solution along with much of the other base metals, reducing the dissolved iron to the ferrous state, adjusting the pH of the resulting solution to a value of about 2.0 and selectively extracting the scandium with an organic extractant consisting of thenoyltrifluoroacetone dissolved in an aromatic solvent. The scandium values are recovered quantitatively from the organic extractant by treating it with a dilute acid. The process effects a complete separation of the scandium from the base metals resulting in a scandium product of high purity.

Abstract: An environmentally safe method is provided for the removal and disposal of residual water soluble polymers, particularly polyethers, from aqueous waste streams, wherein a pretreated inert inorganic substrate is contacted with the waste stream and the polymer contained therein adsorbed onto the substrate. Thereafter, the polymers are removed from the substrate as CO.sub.2 and water by combustion and the substrate subjected to regenerative conditions for recycling.

Abstract: A method for recovery of metal and cyanide from plating baths and rinse waters includes formation of hydrogen cyanide by acid treatment of such solutions, followed by HCN removal through diffusion across a microporous membrane. The method is applicable in a system wherein soluable metal cyanides and metal cyanide complexes are concentrated through use of a basic anion exchange system. Free hydrogen cyanide is released from the anion exchange system by means of an acid regenerant. In a preferred application of the invention, HCN, once having diffused through the microporous membrane, is neutralized with sodium hydroxide, to form a sodium cyanide solution that can be returned to a plating bath.

Abstract: Aqueous fluids, such as chemical reaction solutions or effluents from chemical production plants or dye houses, containing organic compounds and salts of polyvalent inorganic acids, prefereably sulfates, are adjusted to a pH value in the range below about 4, concentrated by a membrane treatment and separated into an aqueous retentate concentrated with respect to the organic compounds and an aqueous permeate substantially free of organic compounds. Under these strong acid conditions an effective concentration of the organic compounds without the disturbing increase of the osmotic pressure caused by the presence of said salts can be reached. The concentrates can be easily disposed of and the permeates, for example effluents substantially free of any organic compounds can be discharged into a waste water plant for further treatments and purification.

Abstract: A process for the cross-flow filtration of a liquid comprising circulating the liquid tangential to a charge modified organic polymeric microporous filter membrane. Preferably, the membrane comprises an organic polymeric microporous filter membrane which has a micro-structure throughout the membrane and an amount of a charge modifying agent bound to substantially all of the membrance micro-structure without substantial pore size reduction or pore blockage.The process may be used for the filtration of liquids, particularly parenteral or biological liquids contaminated with charged particulate and for plasmapheresis, particularly in the form of hollow fiber tubes.

Abstract: Composite inorganic microporous or ultrafiltration membranes are formed by depositing a film of inorganic particles on a porous inorganic substrate. In a second step, the particles comprising the film are bonded or joined together by passing a supersaturated solution of the particle composition through the particle film, thereby to effect crystal growth on the particles, and to find tune the film pore size. The entire process is conducted at low temperatures, generally less than 90.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for removing color from the caustic effluent produced during kraft pulping and bleaching is characterized by heating the caustic effluent to a temperature and under a pressure sufficient to cause an alteration in the chemical structure of the lignin chromophores in the effluent. The cooked effluent is cooled and has its pressure reduced to near atmospheric pressure. An acid material, such as chlorine extract from the bleaching process, is added to the effluent to lower the pH of the effluent to between 2.6 and 3.8 to initiate flocculation of the altered chromophores of the effluent. During flocculation, the chromophores are continuously separated from the effluent in order to produce a relatively clean and color-free liquid which may be deposited in the sewer system of the pulp mill.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing at least a portion of salts contained in whey or a liquid based on whey by means of electrolysis while producing an acid mixture and a base mixture useful in food industries. In the process a four-compartment electrolytic cell is used in the electrolysis of the whey or the liquid based on whey. The four compartments between an anode and a cathode are separated from each other by means of ion exchange membranes and an independent liquid recirculation is connected with each one of the four compartments of the electrolytic cell.

Abstract: We disclose a process for removing water-soluble organics from produced water. The process comprises: acidifying the produced water with acid; contacting the acidified with a free oil to form a mixture; agitating the mixture to produce a thoroughly mixed phase; and separating the phase to produce a free oil phase and a clean water phase.

Abstract: A method for using alkali for recovering amine used in a process for breaking emulsions and sludges. The amine has an inverse critical solution temperature with water. The process breaks a sludge into a water component containing residual amine and oil component if oil is present in the original sludge, and a solid matter component. The present invention uses alkali to minimize the amount of amine lost in the water component and in the solid matter component.

Abstract: The invention involves a method for making uniformly sized particles from water-insoluble drugs or other organic compounds. First, a suitable solid organic compound is dissolved in an organic solvent, and the solution can be diluted with a non-solvent. Then, an aqueous precipitating liquid is infused, precipitating non-aggregated particles with substantially uniform mean diameter. The particles are then separated from the organic solvent. Depending on the organic compound and the desired particle size, the parameters of temperature, ratio of non-solvent to organic solvent, infusion rate, stir rate, and volume can be varied according to the invention.

Abstract: Oil well production fluid composed of oil and water and containing in excess of 100 ppm water soluble petroleum carboxylates in anionic form dissolved in the water is treated by acidifying the fluid to a pH of 6.0 or lower with a strong acid and then is intimately mixed. The oil and water are separated one from the other. The content of the water soluble organics in the water is thereby substantially transferred to the oil phase. In a second aspect of the invention, water used to extract corrosion compounds to render the oil suitable for fueling gas turbine power plants is acidified to a pH of 6.0 or lower and is thereafter intimately mixed with fuel oil.

Abstract: Manganese is removed from an aqueous waste stream by adding a water-soluble lignosulfonate salt to the waste stream and passing the lignosulfonate-treated waste stream through an ultrafilter thereby producing a purified effluent stream.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a method of reducing a bacterial endotoxin contaminant in a biologically useful macromolecule. AN aqueous medium containing an endotoxin-contaminated macromolecule is admixed with a dialyzable surfactant, and the admixture so formed is contacted with an endotoxin sorbant to form a solid-liquid phase admixture. The contacting is maintained until the endotoxin is bound to the sorbant. The surfactant is dialyzed out of the aqueous liquid phase at a time no earlier than the maintenance step. The liquid phase containing the macromolecule is separated and recovered.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for removing corrossive contaminants from a hydrocarbon including the steps of mixing water with a hydrocarbon contaminated with corrossive ions into a mixture and conducting the flow of the mixture tangentially relative to a surface of a plurality of microporous hydrophobic hollow fiber membranes and separating a permeate flow of decontaminated hydrocarbon from retentate mixture. An apparatus (10) is provided for this separation process which includes a mechanism for removing resistance to flow through the hollow fiber membrane (16) aiding in increased uniform tangential flow through the membrane (16).

Abstract: A process for purification of crude glyceride oil compositions which comprises diluting a crude glyceride oil composition containing gum material and wax as main components of impurities with an organic solvent, bringing the diluted crude glyceride oil composition into contact with a semipermeable membrane composed of polyimide consisting essentially of a repeating unit represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a divalent organic group, under pressure to obtain a semipermeable membrane permeable liquid in which the gum material in the glyceride oil after removal of said organic solvent is 100 ppm or less, carrying out bleaching of the glyceride oil obtained from said semipermeable membrane permeable liquid with at least one kind of an adsorbent selected from the group consisting of clay, activated clay, activated carbon and bone black, and then carrying out deodorizing to obtain a purified glyceride oil.

Abstract: There is provided management of a photoresist resin containing waste solution discharged from printed circuit boards manufacturing process, printing industries, a semiconductor manufacturing industry and the other industries using photoresist materials. The photoresist resin containing waste solution is subjected to an ultrafiltration of the specified characteristics so as to separate definitely organic waste materials having relatively higher molecular weight which should be disposed from an effective and useful components contained in a permeate to be recycled or recovered resulting very efficient processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying and/or separating fluids including passing such fluid from a feed side of a reverse osmosis unit to the product side of such unit and to an ultimate user during a purifying cycle and recirculating residual fluid back to the feed side in bypass relation to the reverse osmosis unit during a treating cycle to introduce suitable treating fluids into the system for disinfecting and rejuvenating the system.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the recovery of a compound, for example, a peptide-containing compound, from a solution containing contaminants through combined affinity-chromatographic purification and ultrafiltration. The process comprises contacting the solution containing the compound and impurities with a first complex of ligand bound to a carrier so as to form a second complex of the compound, the ligand and the carrier, wherein the carrier is comprised of a macromolecular solid material; subsequently splitting off of the compound from the second complex to reform the compound and first complex; and separating of the compound from the first complex. An arrangement for the recovery of a compound from such a solution containing impurities is also disclosed.

Abstract: Biological macromolecules are separated from liquid mixtures in which they are contained, in substantially pure form, by a process involving tangential flow ultrafiltration of the liquid mixture in the presence of an affinity gel which binds selectively to the biological macromolecule to be recovered in pure form, in either the positive affinity absorption mode or the negative affinity absorption mode. Thus a mixture containing the biological macromolecule of interest, such as hemoglobin or (oxy)hemoglobin is first mixed with an affinity gel, such as agarose-ATP, which selectively binds to the hemoglobin or (oxy)hemoglobin and then the liquid is subjected to tangential flow ultrafiltration, so that all components of the mixture except the gel-bond hemoglobin pass through the filter.

Abstract: Amine extractants useful in extracting metallic anions are modified with Lewis bases, having substantial organic solubility, such as tributyl phosphate, to improve the extraction capability of such amines. Generally, addition of Lewis bases to weakly basic amines increases the basicity of such amines.

Abstract: A scrubbing process for high feed concentrations of different materials in liquid streams.

Abstract: Waste from a nuclear power plant, containing organic ion-exchange resin containing radioactive metals, is decomposed to form volatile substances by means of oxidation in an acid, aqueous liquid (8). Radioactive metal ions thus dissolved in the liquid, which are precipitable with hydroxide, are then caused to precipitate by the addition of a hydroxide (10) at a pH value of at least 9, and the metal compounds thus precipitated are separated from at least most of the liquid. Radioactive caesium and strontium ions in this liquid are removed therefrom. The liquid (24) separated from precipitated metal compounds and freed from caesium and strontium ions is released to a recipient, with the remaining substances still dissolved in it, and the precipitated metal compounds (11k, 11s) are solidified in a deposition container (22). The ion-exchange resin preferably consists at least partially of sulphonated ion-exchange resin and the hydroxide preferably of sodium hydroxide or some other alkali metal hydroxide.

Abstract: A suitable member formed from sintered, powdered, stainless steel is contacted with a nitrate solution of a soluble alkali metal nitrate and a metal such as zirconium in a pH range and for a time sufficient to effect the formation of a membrane of zirconium oxide on the stainless steel support, the membrane preferably including an organic polymeric material such as polyacrylic acid.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for purifying/decolorizing dyeing wastewaters that have been adjusted in a pretreatment step to a pH in the range from 4 to 9 by addition of acid or alkali by means of a membrane separation process. The concentrate obtained after the first step is further decolorized and deionized in the second step. The permeate of the second step is recycled to the pretreatment step, while the permeate of the first step and the concentrated wastewater obtained after the second step are disposed of in conventional manner.

Abstract: Two kinds of hydrolyzed protein having different characteristics respectively are obtained by hydrolyzing soy protein with protease and separating the mixture of hydrolyzed products using their solubilities in a 5% trichloro acetic acid aqueous solution as the guidance of the separation.The hydrolyzed protein of the low solubility possesses excellent emulsifying properties, and the one of the high solubility possesses excellent foaming properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the separation of biotechnologically produced valuable materials form a cell suspension by crossflow microfiltration to obtain an high specific permeate flux while retention stays near 0% for long periods. To enable crossflow microfiltration to be carried out on an industrial scale in biotechnology in the separation of biotechnologically produced extracellular valuable materials from a cell suspension, particularly in the separation of alkaline protease for recovering enzyme, under economically acceptacle conditions, alkaline protease of relatively high molecular weight, more especially enzyme >20,000 daltons, is separated from a fermenter solution using polysulfone tubes having micropore diameters of from 0.3 to 0.5 .mu.

Abstract: Sour process water from an oil refinery is partially treated by oil extraction. The partially treated water can be biologically treated, upgraded and further purified in a cooling tower, trickle filter, and/or activated sludge tank.

Abstract: A separation means for a liquid medium containing undissolved constituents comprises a chamber (10) with dynamic membrane (11, 12) arranged therein, said membrane consisting of a porous support matrix (11a, 12a) or other support matrix with through holes, and a layer (11b, 12b) of a small-sized particle material generated thereon in the chamber. In such a separation means the flow of the liquid medium is split into two streams, one constituting the permeate stream which penetrates through the membrane and the other constituting the reject stream which flows past the membrane.

Abstract: Composition for use in a twophase or a multiphase system for extraction, purification, concentration and/or separation of biological substances. The composition is characterized in that it contains hydroxyalkyl starch with a degree of substitution in respect of hydroxyalkyl groups of more than 0.02 per glucose unit on an average and with an average molecular weight lower than 800000, preferably at most 400000 and most preferably at most 250000.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for substantially reducing the concentration of coal tar based contaminants in waste water streams. The method comprises first forming an intimate mixture of the waste water stream to be treated with at least one coal tar based extractant. The intimate mixture then is subjected to an extraction temperature sufficient to reduce the concentration of the contaminant in the waste water stream to its equilibrium concentration as the extraction temperature employed. Finally, the mixture is separated and a treated waste water stream recovered which is characterized by a substantially reduced and constant concentration of the contaminants and a substantially reduced biological demand.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is provided for separating whole blood from a patient into a cellular component and a plasma component and for separating the plasma component into a high molecular weight plasma fraction and a low molecular weight plasma fraction and wherein anticoagulant is added to the whole blood and a physiologically acceptable liquid diluent is added to the plasma component. The rate of addition of the diluent is governed by the following equation: ##EQU1## called Equation 1.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the separation and recovery of particulate matter having an average diameter of about 1 micron or less through the use of aqueous hi-phase systems and the modification of the surface properties of the particulate matter through use of a surfactant to modify its tendency to selectively migrate to one phase of the bi-phase system.

Abstract: A method for preventing fouling of an electrodialysis membrane when conducting desalting of an inorganic salt-containing aqueous solution containing electrodialysis membrane-fouling substances, which is characterized by adjusting the pH of the solution to the isoelectric points of the fouling substances.

Abstract: The overall mass transport efficiency of hollow fiber membrane separation cells is increased by introducing segmented flow into the bores of the fibers. The invention is preferably practiced by dispersing a gas segmentation phase into a continuous liquid phase and feeding the dispersion into the bores of the fibers to form alternating flowing segments of gas and liquid.

Abstract: Effluent acid from a non-evaporating chlorine dioxide-generating process is subjected to diffusion-dialysis across an anion-exchange membrane to preferentially transfer sulphuric acid from the effluent acid stream to a recipient aqueous medium while sodium sulphate remains in a waste stream. The sulphuric acid extracted from the effluent acid stream on this way may be recycled to the chlorine dioxide generator, after concentration, if desired.

Abstract: The quantity of an anionic material in a sample is determined by adjusting the pH of the sample to place the material in nonionic extractable form, extracting out the material, spectrophotometrically measuring the extracted material, and comparing the measured value to a standard in order to determine the quantity of the anionic material.

Abstract: A method for separating a basic amino acid from its fermentation broth, or the liquid resulting from the intermediate treatment of the fermentation broth, containing high-molecular weight contaminants which entails permeating the broth, or liquids resulting from the intermediate treatment of the broth, through a semi-permeable membrane, until the basic amino acid is separated from the high-molecular weight contaminants, by passing through the membrane in the permeate; contacting the permeate with a strongly acidic cation exchange resin; and eluting the adsorbed basic amino acid from the cation exchange resin.

Abstract: Dynamic membranes are obtained by coating on a porous polymeric substrate containing functional groups a chemically reactive hydrophilic polymer from a dilute aqueous solution under pressure and crosslinking said polymer present on the porous substrate as thin layer with low molecular polyfunctional compounds. The new membranes show good solvent and compaction resistance and resistance to separation of the individual layers. They can be used in ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis processes.

Abstract: This invention concerns the method of separation of Co from Ni in an aqueous solution containing Co from Ni salts, with an organic solvent containing 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester and/or 3,5,5-trimethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-3,5,5-trimethylhexyl ester and/or isodecyl phosphonic acid monoisodecyl ester as an effective extractant for the separation of Co from Ni, the method which requires fewer stages in the solvent extraction equipment and less organic solvent than the conventional method, and which can very effectively separate Co from Ni in high purity and in high yield. The continuous separation of Co from Ni according to this invention enables the separation of Co with purity above 99% in a yield above 99% and Ni with purity above 99% in a yield above 99%.

Abstract: A method of improving the separatory properties of membranes by the deposition of a fluorinated amphiphilic compound in an oriented Langmuir-Blodgett layer on the membranes surface so as to increase membrane selectivity and counteract membrane surface properties leading to fouling during liquid-liquid separations and enhance gas selectivities of membranes used for gas-gas separations. The use of a fluorinated long-chain pyridinium bromide is specifically disclosed.