Abstract: The present invention is directed to enantioselective polyelectrolyte complex films. Further, said films may be free or isolated membranes, or coatings on substrates such a porous substrates, capillary tubes, chromatographic packing material, and monolithic stationary phases and used to separate chiral compounds. The present invention is also directed to a method for forming such enantioselective polyelectrolyte complex films.

Abstract: A method for bulk separation of single-walled tubular fullerenes (100) based on helicity is provided wherein a solution or suspension of the single-walled tubular fullerenes (100) is flowed onto a crystalline or highly oriented substrate (30). The single-walled tubular fullerenes (100) that flow onto the substrate (30) have a respective longitudinal axis that is aligned with the flow direction (105). The direction of flow (105) is oriented at a predetermined angle with respect to a lattice axis (24) of the substrate (30) for energetically favoring adsorption of a respective plurality of single-walled fullerenes (100) having a tubular contour and a selected helicity. Subsequently, the adsorbed single-walled tubular fullerenes (100) of the selected chirality are removed from the substrate (30).

Abstract: Oxyanions of various contaminant elements, such as chromium, antimony, molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium and uranium, are removed from water and other aqueous feeds by treating the feed with (1) a sorbent comprising one or more rare earth compounds, usually mixed or supported on particulate solids having a cation exchange capacity less than 20 milliequivalents per 100 grams or (2) an aqueous solution of one or more soluble rare earth compounds.

Abstract: E and Z isomers of alkene alcohols and/or alkene alcohol derivatives are separated by substantially continuously contacting an ion exchange medium which is ion exchanged with silver and/or copper ions with the feed stream comprising the E and Z isomers of at least one alkene alcohol and/or at least one alkene alcohol derivative, then removing a product stream having a higher concentration of the E or Z isomer of at least one alkene alcohol or derivative of the alkene alcohol relative to the concentration of the E or Z isomer of the alkene alcohol or derivative of the alkene alcohol in the feed stream.

Abstract: A chemical distribution system having improved organic solvent fluid purity and consistency includes a vessel containing ion-exchange media positioned within a fluid flow pathway such that the organic solvent fluid passes through the ion-exchange media, thereby effecting removal of undesired impurities. Different embodiments of the invention position the vessel at varying locations within the fluid flow pathway. The chemical distribution system also preferably includes a return chemical flow pathway that recirculates purified organic solvent fluid through the ion-exchange media-containing vessel and thereby enables the system operator to conduct incremental adjustment of the solvent purity until a desired overall purity is attained.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sorbent comprising a disordered polyvalent metal oxide on the surface of an inert substrate. The substrate can be a layered silicate, such as vermiculite, an aluminosilicate such as montmorillonite, or a nonlayered silicate such as a zeolite. The sorbent removes ionic contaminants, such as arsenic, from process streams.

Abstract: A system and method to remove a polluting agent or contaminant, including but not limited to mercury, from the liquid phase of a process system using an adsorbent. In one exemplary embodiment, a magnetic or non-magnetic support with a chemisorbing or physisorbing sorbent is suspended in the liquid phase of a process system, under conditions in which the polluting agent binds to the adsorbent. The pollutant-bearing adsorbent may then be separated from the process system by either physical or magnetic means. The polluting agent may then disassociated from the adsorbent so the adsorbent is regenerated and capable of repeated use.

Abstract: A fuel filter for removing fuel impurities, particularly thiophenes, includes a hollow housing having a filter element therein. The filter element includes a substrate, which may include a nonwoven fiber web, a plurality of particles, or both of these. Where particles are used, the substrate may be homogeneous or may be a mixture of different particles. The substrate may include a sorbent selected from the group consisting of metals, metal oxides, metallic salts, organometallic compounds, catalysts, and oxidizing agents. Optionally, a sulfur-treating reactant may be operatively associated with the substrate to reduce the concentration of thiophenes in fuel passing through the filter.

Abstract: A method of treating wastewater, and more particularly stormwater runoff or domestic waste, wherein the wastewater is directed through a high carbon ash particulate. Contaminants such as phosphorus, nitrogen, BOD and COD can be removed. In addition, treatment of the stormwater runoff or domestic waste with ash will raise the pH of the wastewater, generally to above 10, killing bacteria contained in the wastewater.

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

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for removing biological pathogens using surfactant-modified zeolite (SMZ). A method for removing biological pathogens from a fluid or a fluid-based gel includes filtering the fluid or fluid-based gel using SMZs. A method for removing air-borne biological pathogens includes drawing air through a fluid layer or a fluid-based gel layer and filtering the fluid or the fluid-based gel layer using SMZs.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes and compositions for at least partially removing cations of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of caesium, strontium, lead, silver, transition metals, lanthanides and actinides from a liquid containing the cations. The process comprises contacting the liquid with a sorbent material in an amount and for a time sufficient to at least reduce the concentration of the cations, wherein the sorbent material is a metal oxide composition having the empirical formula Ax/n[ByM1-yO3+?]x.

Abstract: A device for transporting magnetic or magnetizable microbeads (25) in a capillary chamber (14) comprises a permanent magnet (10) or an electromagnet (11) for subjecting the capillary chamber to a substantially uniform magnetic field, to apply a permanent magnetic moment to the microbeads (25). At least one planar coil (22) and preferably an array of overlapping coils are located adjacent to the capillary chamber (14) for applying a complementary magnetic field on the microbeads parallel or antiparallel to said substantially uniform magnetic field, to drive the microbeads. An arrangement is provided for switching the current applied to the coil(s) (22) to invert the field produced thereby, to selectively apply an attractive or repulsive driving force on the microbeads (25). The device is usable to transport microbeads for performing chemical and biochemical reactions or assay, as is done for instance in clinical chemistry assays for medical diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: A removing agent for heavy metal ion in water which comprises synthetic zeolite, wherein 10 mol % or more of a total amount of exchangeable cation is substituted with magnesium ion and 60 mol % or more thereof is substituted with magnesium ion and calcium ion, and activated carbon at a weight ratio of 2:98 to 50:50 can effectively adsorb and remove heavy metal ions such as lead in water as well as residual chlorine and trihalomethane efficiently, particularly, in tap water, so as to allow delicious and healthful water without disturbing the balance between calcium ion and magnesium ion.

Abstract: A filter medium capable of removing microorganisms from a fluid such as water. The filter medium includes particles of activated carbon, particles of a substantially insoluble inorganic material having an isoelectric point greater than the fluid being filtered. A low melt index binder, preferably with a melt index of less than about 1 gram per 10 minutes, binds the particles of activated carbon and particles of inorganic material, such that the binder will become tacky at elevated temperatures without becoming sufficiently liquid to substantially wet the particles of activated carbon and inorganic material. An antimicrobial material can be incorporated into the filter to prevent biofilm growth. The use of a biocidal material in combination with the high isoelectric point material provides a trap-and-kill mechanism for microorganism removal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removing lipids from a fluid, such as plasma, or from lipid-containing organisms. A fluid is combined with at least one extraction solvent, which causes the lipids to separate from the fluid or from lipid-containing organisms. The separated lipids are removed from the fluid. The extraction solvent is removed from the fluid or at least reduced to an acceptable concentration enabling the delipidated fluid to be administered to a patient without the patient experiencing undesirable consequences. Once the fluid has been processed, the fluid may be administered to a patient who donated the fluid, to a different patient, or stored for later use.

Abstract: A hemofiltration system and method to treat an Inflammatory Mediator Related Disease in a mammal, including chronic and acute diseases, include a hemofilter and an adsorptive device. The hemofilter removes ultrafiltrate from a blood stream extracted from the mammal to create a filtered blood stream and an ultrafiltrate stream. The adsorptive device may include one or more adsorbent materials and may be used to adsorb inflammatory mediators from the ultrafiltrate stream received from the hemofilter to create a post adsorption ultrafiltrate stream. The post adsorption ultrafiltrate stream may be selectively combined with the filtered blood stream and together with the filtered blood stream may be returned to the mammal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring a level of silicon dioxide in a liquid and removing the silicon dioxide using polishers is disclosed. In an embodiment, two polishers that absorb carbon dioxide and silicon dioxide, but which have a greater affinity for carbon dioxide, are placed in series along a conduit containing the liquid for use in an immersion lithographic apparatus. The upstream polisher absorbs carbon dioxide and silicon dioxide until it is saturated, at which point it desorbs the silicon dioxide in preference for the carbon dioxide. Silicon dioxide continues down the conduit and is absorbed by the downstream polisher. Once the upstream polisher is saturated with carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide present in the liquid flows downstream where it is absorbed by the downstream polisher. A sensor between the polishers senses the presence of carbon dioxide and initiates a request for the one or more of polishers to be cleaned or replaced.

Abstract: The halogen dioxide, chlorine dioxide is produced from its chlorite reactant using ion exchange media in a stable reactant form, and then passing a known concentration of counter ions through the ion exchange media in a moist environment so that there is an exchange of ions, and the reactants that are released form activated chlorine dioxide within the ion exchange material. The ion exchange media both contributes reactants to and extracts contaminants from the moist environment via its ion exchange mechanism. The counter ions may be derived from one or more stable precursor solutions which themselves may contain reactants and/or soluble catalysts. The reactants of the precursor solutions cannot act as the counter ion, or ions, in the ion exchange mechanism, but the soluble catalysts can. The ion exchange media can be mixed or layered with one or more insoluble catalysts, to enhance the formation of the activated halogen dioxide, chlorine dioxide within the ion exchange material.

Abstract: The invention, in its various embodiments, relates to a medium for purifying fluids, particularly consumable fluids like air and water, by removing organic materials from the fluids by contacting the fluids with a combination of extremely small diameter transition metal oxide and an aluminosilicate having relatively large pores. In addition, contact of the fluids with the purification medium can also significantly reduce the level of microorganisms existing in the fluid, providing another purification benefit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for removing selenium from an aqueous stream by passing the aqueous stream, in combination with a quaternary amine compound, through a filter and recovering a treated aqueous stream which is depleted in selenium content relative to the untreated aqueous stream. The present method removes selenium from an aqueous refinery stream by passing the aqueous stream, in combination with a quaternary amine compound, through a filter that can include clay, cellulose, starch, activated carbon, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer gel having a surfactant-like micelle structure obtained by polymerization or condensation polymerization of an ionic surfactant and an organic or inorganic compound having polymerizable moiety, which is capable of adsorbing and separating specific compounds in an easy recyclable manner.

Abstract: A continuous ammonium removal system comprising generally an ion-exchange medium, a brine source, and an oxidative reactor. The reactor can operate with ozone as an oxidant and bromide as an oxidation catalyst. Brine recycles continuously from the reactor to the ion-exchange medium for further ammonium removal. Modular components for inline static mixing, degassing, heat exchange, flow control and electrocoagulation affect ammonium removal from waste water.

Abstract: The deacidification of citrus juice with ion exchange resin is described. Maintaining a high acid condition of the juice is achieved by passing the juice through regenerated resin that is preconditioned with an aqueous food-grade acid, preferably citric acid. Additionally or optionally, an early bed volume or multiple early bed volumes of juice flow are at a rapid flow rate. The products obtained also are described, and they may be any deacidified citrus juice or juice blend where the pH of the juice does not rise above that of an acid food pH for the juice during deacidification. In preferred embodiments, the juice product is orange juice. In another preferred embodiment, the conditioning process is used to provide a deacidified citrus juice product while avoiding raising the pH of any portion of the juice to 4.6 or above so as to control microbial growth of the juice.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing drinking water having a reduced cluster width and being capable of emitting FIR (Far Infrared Rays) energy by using a solution derived by chemical treatment of a charge generating material.

Abstract: The present invention features a method of making hydrous zirconium oxide having desirable properties, including resistance to moisture content, predetermined particle size, and developed porosity and surface area. The inventive material is suitable for use as an ion exchanger, a catalyst and a catalyst support. The process comprises providing a liquid comprising a zirconium compound and an alkali metal-containing reagent. The alkali metal-containing reagent may comprise a compound selected from the group consisting of MOH-M2SO4, MOH-M3PO4, and combinations thereof, where M is at least one of Li, Na and K. The zirconium compound may be treated with the alkali metal-containing reagent effective to form a mixture which achieves an uptake of alkali metal in an amount ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 meq/g. The mixture is reacted to form the hydrous zirconium oxide. A molar ratio of SO4/Zr and PO4/Zr in the mixture may range from 0.2-0.7:1. The mixture may be heated at a temperature ranging from 80 to 150° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for eliminating metal halides which are present in a liquid or gaseous, organic or non-organic effluent. According to the invention, the elimination is carried out by absorption of said metal halides on alumina agglomerates. The inventive method is characterised in that: the specific surface area of said agglomerates is between 50 and 350 m2/g, preferably between 70 and 300 m2/g and, better still, between 80 and 250 m2/g; and the V80? thereof is greater than or equal to 20 ml/100 g, preferably greater than or equal to 25 ml/100 g, better still greater than or equal to 30 ml/100 g and, optimally, greater than or equal to 35 ml/100 g.

Abstract: Process for treating lipophilic fluids employing filters, more particularly, multifunctional filters that are capable of removing as well as adding components to lipophilic fluids being filtered are provided by the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for processing a lipophilic fluid, more particularly to a system for processing a lipophilic fluid utilized in a fabric treating process, even more particularly to a system for processing a lipophilic fluid such that contaminants such as water, surfactants, water, body/food oils, fatty acids, and dyes can be removed from the lipophilic fluid. In other words, the present invention relates to the “cleaning up” of or purification of a lipophilic fluid such that it can be re-used in a lipophilic fluid system.

Abstract: Hydrophobic polymer particles (e.g., granules or fragments) employed as filter media, e.g., for filtering runoff water, include an antimicrobial compound on exterior surfaces and can reduce proliferation of microbial organisms as well as sorb chemical contaminants from the water. By employing this dual decontamination action, filter systems employing such particles can improve the quality of runoff water (or other contaminated water streams) and reduce the risk presented by potentially harmful organisms.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of distributing a liquid in the fluid bed of an up-flow or a down-flow fluid bed reactor. The invention provides efficient distribution and plug flow like fluid flow through the fluid bed where turbulence and/or back-mixing of the fluid are minimized. In accordance with the invention a fluid bed system for use in treating a fluid by contacting the fluid with a solid phase media is provided and the system includes a reactor chamber adapted to contain the solid phase media and at least one fluid distribution means adapted to distribute and/or deliver the fluid to be treated among the particles of the medium.

Abstract: A process for producing polyarylene sulfide includes: steps of reacting an aromatic dihalide compound and an alkaline metal compound in a polar organic solvent for polymerization under heating and cooling a system including the reaction mixture to recover particulate polyarylene sulfide (PAS). The system after the reaction is gradually cooled at an average cooling speed of 0.2 to 1.0 deg. C./min. selectively in a temperature range of from 1 deg. C. below to 1 deg. C. above a maximum system-viscosity temperature. As a result, the process can be operated at a relatively short polymerization cycle and yet provides the product PAS particles with a high and stable bulk density as to exhibit good processability in the transportation and storage, and excellent transportability in a hopper or a screw of an extruder or a molding machine.

Abstract: A process for reducing the content of alkali metal impurities (e.g., potassium) in ammonium metallate solutions is described. The process involves subjecting a feed solution containing ammonium metallate and alkali metal impurities to membrane filtration. The membrane filtration results in the formation of a retentate having a reduced level alkali metal relative to the feed solution, and a permeate containing substantially the balance of alkali metal. The permeate may also be further treated, to remove alkali metal there from, by passage through a cation exchange column, thereby forming a cation exchange treated permeate that may be combined with the retentate of the membrane filtration step.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing a positively charged substance from an aqueous liquid (I) by contacting the liquid with a cation-exchanger (1), possibly followed by a subsequent desorption of said substance. The cation-exchanger is selected to be capable of (a) binding to said substance by cation-exchange in an aqueous liquid reference (II) at an ionic strength corresponding to 0.3 M NaCl and (b) permitting a break through capacity for said substance 3200%, such as 3300% or 3500%, of the break-through capacity of said substance for a reference cation-exchanger (2) containing sulphopropyl groups —CH2CH2CH2SO2O—. The cation exchange ligands have an at least bimodal function by comprising a cation exchanging group and a separate hydrogen-bonding atom. The invention also relates to a method for testing the appropriateness of a cation-exchanger for removing a substance from a liquid and novel cation exchangers.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to hybrid organic-inorganic adsorbents for decontamination of fluids. Bridged poysilsesquioxanes are a family of hybrid organic-inorganic materials prepared by sol-gel processing of monomers that contain a variable organic bridging group and two or more trifunctional silyl groups. Specifically, the present invention relates to dipropylenedisulfide-co-phenylene-bridged polysilsesquioxane compositions, methods of making dipropylenedisulfide-co-phenylene-bridged polysilsesquioxanes, and methods of use of dipropylenedisulfide-co-phenylene-bridged polysilsesquioxanes. The present invention discloses properties of dipropylenedisulfide-co-phenylene-bridged polysilsesquioxanes that include high ligand loading, increased surface area, and increased porosity. These properties make dipropylenedisulfide-co-phenylene-bridged polysilsesquioxanes excellent adsorbents for decontamination of fluids for use in environmental and industrial processes.

Abstract: This invention is directed to systems and methods for removing lipids from a fluid or from lipid-containing organisms from a fluid, such as plasma. These systems combine a fluid with at least one extraction solvent, which causes the lipids to separate from the fluid or from the lipid-containing organisms. The separated lipids are removed from the fluid. The at least one extraction solvent is removed from the fluid or at least reduced to a concentration enabling the fluid to be administered to a patient without undesirable consequences. Once the fluid has been processed, the fluid may be administered to a patient who donated the fluid or to a different patient for therapy.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for determining a ratio of an amount of a glycated form of a protein to a total amount of the protein in a sample containing the glycated protein, the glycosylated protein, or the glycoprotein. The method incorporates lateral flow test strip or vertical flow test strip devices having negatively charged carboxyl or carboxylate groups and hydroxyboryl groups immobilized and interspersed on a solid support matrix. The solid support matrix may include derivatives of cellulose (e.g., carboxy cellulose) derivatized with carboxylic acid (e.g., carboxylate, carboxyl) groups and hydroxyboryl compounds including phenylboronic acid (e.g., phenylborate), aminophenylboronic acid, boric acid (e.g., borate), or other boronic acid (e.g., boronate) compounds. The present invention is usefi.il for monitoring glycation or glycosylation of hemoglobin or albumin for monitoring glycemic control (e.g., glycemia in diabetes).

Abstract: A process for removing soluble and insoluble inorganic, organic, and microbiological contaminants from a fluid stream employing a pretreatment module, a post-treatment module, a recycle stream module or any combination thereof, and a membrane module, is provided. The process provided reduces the problems associated with membrane fouling and increases contaminant removal capacity.

Abstract: Mesoscopically ordered, hydrothermally stable metal oxide-block copolymer composite or mesoporous materials are described herein that are formed by using amphiphilic block polymers which act as structure directing agents for the metal oxide in a self-assembling system.

Abstract: A method and test for field sample arsenic speciation in aqueous solutions, in particular, arsenic speciation in drinking water, is described. In particular, the method and test uses in series three columns wherein the first column removes interfering cations from water, the second column removes dimethylarsenate (DMA) from the water, and the third column removes As(V) (collectively H3AsO4/H2AsO4?/HAsO42?/AsO43?) and monomethylarsinate (MMA) while As(III) (collectively H3AsO3/H2AsO3?/HAsO32?/AsO33?) remains in the water effluent. The bound arsenic species are separately eluted from the columns in a laboratory and then each of the eluants and the effluent are tested for the arsenic species, preferably using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy.

Abstract: A process for the production of purified water from Fischer-Tropsch reaction water wherein the purified water is an aqueous stream having a COD of between 20 and 500 mg/l, a pH of between 6.0 and 9.

Abstract: A method for treating a fluid by providing a raw fluid to a process tank. The raw fluid may be water having varying degrees of contamination or another type of fluid. The method further consists of adding an ion exchange resin to the process tank to form a raw fluid/ion exchange resin mixture. After the fluid has been sufficiently contacted with the ion exchange resin, treated fluid is removed from the process tank through a membrane filter located within the process tank. The method is completed by regenerating the ion exchange resin within the same process tank.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for enhancing the metal contaminant sorption capacity of mineral compounds within a groundwater-bearing formation by manipulating the pH and the surface acidity of the mineral compounds. The process is useful in removing metal contaminants from groundwater within a groundwater-bearing formation, providing a backstop treatment for groundwater after previous water treatment, and for protection of water sources, for example well-head protection.

Abstract: System and method for purifying and recycling spent brine in a water softener are provided. The system may be made up of a cation exchange resin tank fluidly coupled for passing spent brine comprising monovalent and divalent ions. A fluid mixer valve is coupled to the resin tank and to a water tank to dilute the spent brine to a desired concentration of a regenerant salt, e.g., NaCl. An ion-separation device is fluidly coupled to the fluid mixer valve to receive the diluted spent brine and separate the diluted spent brine into first and second streams. The first of the streams comprises monovalent ions and the second of the streams comprises divalent ions.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of retentate chromatography for resolving analytes in a sample. The methods involve adsorbing the analytes to a substrate under a plurality of different selectivity conditions, and detecting the analytes retained on the substrate by desorption spectrometry. The methods are useful in biology and medicine, including clinical diagnostics and drug discovery.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to enantioselective polyelectrolyte complex films. Further, said films may be free or isolated membranes, or coatings on substrates such a porous substrates, capillary tubes, chromatographic packing material, and monolithic stationary phases and used to separate chiral compounds. The present invention is also directed to a method for forming such enantioselective polyelectrolyte complex films.

Abstract: A process for the production of dual-functional ion exchange resins from lignocellulosic agricultural material involving anionization of the lignocellulosic agricultural material with citric acid and then cationization of the lignocellulosic agricultural material with dimethyloldihydroxyethylene urea (DMDHEU) and choline chloride, or cationization of the lignocellulosic agricultural material with DMDHEU and choline chloride and then anionization of the lignocellulosic agricultural material with citric acid.

Abstract: A solid bed adsorptive process for separating a seed oil into two substantially pure triglyceride fractions. The process involves contacting a seed oil, such as castor oil, preferably as a concentrate, with an adsorbent in a bed, the adsorbent having a particle size greater than about 40 microns, and thereafter contacting the adsorbent with a desorbent material, preferably under minimal flow conditions, to obtain a raffinate output stream containing predominantly a second triglyceride and an extract output stream containing predominantly a first triglyceride. Purified fatty acid triglyceride esters obtainable from castor, vernonia, and lesquerella plant oils provide renewable, non-petroleum-based sources of chemical feedstocks.

Abstract: The invention provides a device containing an ion-exchange resin to which is chemically bound a fuel additive material which will gradually be released from the resin into a fuel in which the device is placed.

Abstract: A free radical solution producing apparatus, which comprises: a feed port (6) in which water is drawn, a dechlorination processing section (1) which produces first water by decomposing chlorine compounds in said water, a magnetic processing section (2) which produces second water by carrying out a process that applies a magnetic field to said first water, a radiation processing section (3) which produces third water by carrying out a process that irradiates a radiation to said second water, an ion exchange section (4) which produces fourth water by carrying out a process that performs an ion exchange for said third water, an electric field applying section (5) which produces fifth water by carrying out a process that applies a strong electric field to said fourth water, and a fifth water intake (7-5) from which said fifth water is obtained, produces water which has the effects of sterilizing and disinfection, and strong cleansing power.