Abstract: The invention relates to a process for extracting fixed and mineral oils, and/or essential oils, from materials using a process of solvent extraction which is performed under pressure. The solvent is iodotrifluoromethane or iodotrifluoromethane in combination with a co-solvent. The invention also relates to an apparatus for performing the extraction of fixed and mineral oils, and/or essential oils. Substantial reductions in or elimination of the normally high latent heat of solvent evaporation may also be achieved simply by raising or lowering the temperature of or simply by adding or removing “sensible” heat from the solvent at appropriate points during its re-circulation.

Abstract: In addition to health implications, trihalomethanes (THMs) poses a challenge to the electronic industry where such impurities cannot be tolerated. A process is provided for removing THMs from high-purity water used in the electronic industry. The method of the invention comprises contacting the high-purity water with a membrane degassifier, preferably operating at a temperature exceeding 45° C.

Abstract: A method for preparing a high-purity ionic liquid having a pH value of 7 and an elemental analysis deviation of less than 0.5 wt % between a calculated elemental analysis and a found elemental analysis for each of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, wherein the method comprises forming a monophasic or biphasic mixture of an ionic liquid and an inert liquid. When the monophasic mixture is formed, it is filtered to yield a filtrate from which the high-purity ionic liquid is recovered. When the biphasic mixtures is formed, it is separated into an aqueous phase and ionic liquid phase, whereby the ionic liquid phase is filtered to yield a filtrate from which the high-purity ionic liquid is recovered. Furthermore, the present purification procedure can be used for the clean-up of a contaminated ionic liquid by extracting it into a polar extractant to form an extract containing the ionic liquid. Water traces are removed from the extract.

Abstract: A method of purifying an electrolyte by bringing the electrolyte into contact with a first effective surface of a separating unit that is permeable to contaminants to be removed from the electrolyte, and bringing a purifying liquid into contact with a second effective surface of the separating unit. A concentration level of contaminants in the purifying liquid is maintained to maintain a contaminant driving force gradient between the electrolyte and the purifying liquid so contaminants transfer from the electrolyte into the purifying liquid. An apparatus for purifying an electrolyte having a first volumetric region for holding the electrolyte, a second volumetric region for holding a purifying liquid, and a separating unit that is permeable to the contaminants to be removed from the electrolyte and which fluidically separates the first and second volumetric regions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and device for collecting and concentrating a desired compound from a chromatographic column exit stream. The collection chamber can be heated or cooled and washed in a forward or backward direction for efficient removal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for isolating constituents from organic material, comprising the following process steps:

Abstract: A process for purifying removal of crystals from their suspension in mother liquor by means of a washing column having forced transport in which the process chamber is encased by a metal wall which, on its side facing away from the process chamber, is heated at least along the length of the pure melt zone.

Abstract: A system for processing supercritical and subcritical fluid capable of bringing the inside of at least one processing container (1) formed in a flow passage into a supercritical or subcritical high pressure field, wherein thermal operation is applied to process fluid to apply thermal expansion to the fluid to produce a pressure difference between the processing container (1) and the outside, whereby a specified temperature and the high pressure field suitable for the processing of the supercritical or subcritical fluid can be provided in the processing container (1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of separating a machining suspension into fractions including abrasive grains and attrition material, such as a suspension produced in the course of the mechanical machining of silicon, quartz or ceramic material, from a cutting fluid in which abrasive grains and the attrition material are dispersed that originates from the machined material and from the machining equipment. In the method, the suspension is separated by means of wet classification, with the liquid used for the sizing process being selected in such a way that it can be mixed with the used cutting fluid and with the mixture so formed, which contains the attrition material originating from the machined material in particular, forming a stable suspension.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus that can extend the normal storage period of fluids that naturally support microbiological growth. The method and device uses a two-stage method whereby certain microorganisms of a predetermined size (0.45 microns) are initially filtered out whereas other, smaller, microorganisms pass through the selected filter and are inactivated using other methods such as mild heat, electromagnetic (non-ionizing) waves, or chemical methods. This method improves will allow more practical commercial production runtimes without any negative impact on the sterility of the fluid in question.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for the recovery of 1,3-propanediol from an aqueous feed stream. The present invention involves contacting an aqueous feed stream that comprises water, 1,3-propanediol, and at least one contaminant with at least one solvent extractant to form a mixture. The mixture is separated into a first phase and a second phase. The second phase comprises a majority of the water from the aqueous feed stream. The first phase comprises solvent extractant and at least some of the 1,3-propanediol that was present in the aqueous feed stream. The weight ratio in the first phase of 1,3-propanediol to any one contaminant present is greater than the weight ratio of 1,3-propanediol to the same contaminant in the aqueous feed stream prior to the aqueous feed stream being contacted with the solvent extractant. The first phase can be removed from the separated second phase in order to recover the 1,3-propanediol.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for reducing or substantially eliminating chromium in non-volatile residue obtained from a certain processes, and particularly from cyclohexane oxidation processes.

Abstract: This invention concerns a process for removing carbonyl-containing impurities from impure extractive distillation solvent such as a glycol, comprising: contacting the impure extractive distillation solvent with an acidic ion exchange resin. The purified extractive distillation solvent can be recycled for use as a solvent in an extractive distillation process that removes impurities from alkylene oxide. The extractive distillation solvent can be ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) used to purify propylene oxide.

Abstract: A method and system (10) for selectively removing one component of a material thereby concentrating other components of the material are disclosed. The material is cooled to below the melting temperature of the material to form a supercooled liquid phase with heat transfer plate with cooling channels (20). Ultrasonic energy from ultrasonic drivers (42) is applied to the material to form solid phase crystals of the component to be removed. These crystals are removed to leave the concentrated products. The ultrasonic energy prevents the growth of dendrites on the crystals, resulting in the formation and removal of small crystals of the component to be removed without damage to or removal of the remaining components. Methods and apparatuses for cryoprecipilation and chromatography are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for separating impurities, such as large abrasive particles and foreign matter from an abrasive polishing slurry prior to a Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) procedure performed on a surface of a semiconductor wafer. Impurities greater than about 25 microns are removed by an initial filtration process. The filtrate is then introduced to a solid bowl, sedimentation-type centrifuge to remove particles greater than 0.5 microns thereby providing a polishing slurry for final utilization in a CMP procedure that reduces damage to the surface of the polished semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: A fuel-conditioning skid for an engine. The fuel-conditioning skid includes an inlet that is connectable to a source to receive a flow of fuel containing undesirable compounds. An outlet is connectable to the engine to deliver a flow of fuel that is substantially free of undesirable compounds. An inlet cleaner is in fluid communication with the inlet and is operable to remove a portion of the undesirable compounds. A compressor is in fluid communication with the inlet cleaner to receive the flow of fuel at a first pressure and discharge the flow of fuel at a second pressure. The second pressure is greater than the first pressure. A purifier is in fluid communication with the inlet cleaner to receive the flow of fuel. The purifier is operable to remove substantially all of the remaining undesirable compounds from the flow of fuel.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method of obtaining BHET of high purity efficiently from an EG (ethylene glycol) solution containing crude BHET (bis(2-hydroxyethyl)terephthalate), especially a decomposition product solution obtained by decomposing a polyester containing PET (polyethylene terephthalate) as a main component, by use of EG, while minimizing by-production of impurity components such as DEG (diethylene glycol), DEG ester and oligomers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing and treating septicemia in patient blood is provided. The extracorporeal system includes an antimicrobial device to inactivate at least 99% of bloodbome microorganisms, a hemoconcentrator/filtration unit to remove approximately 50-75% of target molecules from the patient blood and a filter unit to remove target molecules from patient blood from the sieved plasma filtrate. Target molecules are produced by microorganisms, as well as by the patient's cells. These molecules include endotoxins from Gram negative bacteria, exotoxins from Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria, as well as RAP protein mediator from Staphylococcus aureus, and cell mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin 1-beta, interleukin 6, complement proteins C3a and C5a, and bradykinin.

Abstract: A method for processing liquid animal plasma or serum into two products of albumin rich fraction and immunoglobulin rich fraction by adding less than 1% sodium hexametaphosphate at preferred pH range from 4.1 to 4.5 and using a settling or centrifuge process is provides in this invention. The immunoglobulin rich product is used for health purposes. The albumin rich product is used as a protein, binding or gelling ingredient. The novel process in the invention is feasible for commercial production.

Abstract: The process starts with an adjusted purified fibrinogen solution, the adjusted purified solution is frozen and then thawed at a temperature between 5 and 20° C., the undissolved materials associated with the fibrinogen are subsequently separated, the temperature is adjusted and the resultant solution is finally subjected to nanofiltration using filters to a pore size smaller than 35 nm.

Abstract: A method of and arrangement for continuous hydrolysis of organic material in the form of sludge with a dry solids content of 1-20% are described. The method includes the following steps: (a) heating a sludge containing the organic material with a low content of abrasive components and a dry solids content of 1-20%, to a temperature of approximately 100° C.; (b) mixing the sludge with steam at a pressure of 1-4 bar a; (c) leading the sludge/steam mixture to a preheating tank (4); (d) increasing the pressure of the sludge/steam mixture from 3 to 10 bar a; (e) leading the sludge/steam mixture to a reactor (7); (e) depressurising the sludge/steam mixture to 1-4 bar a in a depressurising tank (10); (f) separating sludge and steam, and possibly (g) cooling the sludge further.

Abstract: The invention discloses a process to recover oil from spent bleaching earth recovered from vegetable oil refining process. The process involve three sub-processes comprising of reacting the spent bleaching earth with a solvent selected from a group consisting of toluene, acetone, xylene, isopropyl alcohol or n-hexane at a temperature between 35° C. to 50° C.; separating the solids and liquid from slurry formed in the previous step; and extracting oil from the liquid fraction obtained in the previous step. The separation of the solids and the liquid from slurry can be formed in two steps. The slurry mixture of solids and liquid is first separated into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction. The solid fraction so separated still contains a significant portion of oil. Therefore the solid fraction is reacted with some solvent. The next slurry of solids and liquids is again separated into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction.

Abstract: A process is described for the removal of organic pollutants from sediments characterized by a water content ranging from 5% to the saturation of the sediment and with a prevalently fine particle-size content (<63 &mgr;m), which uses, as extractant, a lipophile solvent or a mixture thereof with a hydrophile cosolvent.

Abstract: A method of and system for purifying fluid of an internal combustion engine or hydraulic system utilizes an evaporation chamber separate from a filtering chamber. A metering valve may be oriented between the filtering chamber and the evaporation chamber to control the flow of fluid to the evaporation chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying water by employing steam generated by heating water in a lower section of a container to heat water in an upper section of the container. The lower section is separated from the upper section by a filter. A pressure differential is created across the filter such that a portion of the steam forms a steam pocket below the filter and the remaining portion passes through the filter to heat the water in the upper section. A microprocessor control system is operable to control heating of the water in the lower section and withdrawal of purified water from the upper section to maintain the size of the steam pocket between upper and lower limits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the purification of an &agr;-hydroxy acid on an industrial scale, in which the method involves: (a) subjecting an aqueous stream containing mainly &agr;-hydroxy (1) to an extraction step, with the formation of an aqueous place containing mainly &agr;-hydroxy acid (2), (b) concentrating the aqueous phase containing mainly &agr;-hydroxy acid (2) by means of evaporation of water under reduced pressure, with the formation of a concentrated &agr;-hydroxy acid solution in water (3), and (c) subjecting the concentrated &agr;-hydroxy acid solution (3) to a crystallization, with formation of pure &agr;-hydroxy acid (4), where (i) the concentrated &agr;-hydroxy acid solution (3) is directly cooled in a melting crystallization device, and/or (ii) the concentrated &agr;-hydroxy acid solution (3) is diluted with water and crystallization is brought about in one or more cooling crystallization devices and/or evaporative crystallization devices, and/or (iii) crystallization is b

Abstract: A system and method for removing a by-product from a chemical hydride solution is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (a) withdrawing the chemical hydride solution at a first temperature from the reactor; (b) cooling the chemical hydride solution to a second temperature below the first temperature, wherein a precipitate is formed from a portion of the by-product; (c) removing the precipitate from the chemical hydride solution; (d) heating the chemical hydride solution to a third temperature above the second temperature, to dissolve the remaining precipitate; and (e) delivering the chemical hydride solution back to the reactor.

Abstract: The invention concerns a cyclic method for separating at least one chemical element E1 from at least one chemical element E2 from an aqueous solution containing said elements, which employs a mixture of two extractants operating in non-overlapping chemical fields.

Abstract: A method of vacuum drying sludge or slurry input material comprises providing a closed-ended vacuum tunnel with at least two interior augers. The tunnel has an interior bed recessed with adjacent troughs separated by a low partition for accommodating the two augers in closely-spaced generally-horizontal side-by-side relation. The augers are driven counter-rotating such the input material re-circulates in an endless loop down one auger, over to the other and back again. The augers have screws formed with stubby flights to form a cut-and-fold arrangement and disintegrate the material. The chamber is heated up to or over 70° C. and a current of air is suctioned into the tunnel through inlets and out through ports in part pull a slight vacuum in the tunnel as well as to suction up and draw out disintegrating fractions of the material including gasified fractions, waftable finely divided particulate fractions and other waftable fractions.

Abstract: A process for working up a liquid reaction discharge of the cationic polymerization of isobutene, which substantially comprises polyisobutene, unconverted isobutene and, if required, an inert diluent, is described. Problems with foam formation when the unconverted isobutene is being distilled off are avoided if the heated reaction discharge is let down into a flash container and/or not more than 900 m3/h of vapor are expelled per square meter of liquid surface and/or the resulting foam is destroyed, for example in a wet cyclone.

Abstract: The reduced water of the present invention is obtained by dissolving hydrogen gas that has been cooled to between −180 and 60 degrees Celsius and pressurized to between 0.5 and 500 atmosphere pressure into water that has been cooled to between 0 and 50 degrees Celsius, then restoring the temperature and pressure of the water obtained to normal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the removal of hydrogen peroxide from spent pickle liquor used in a steel strip pickling process. The process utilizes an enclosed decomposition tank which includes a pickle liquor inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, at least one vent pipe, an internal baffle, and a heat source.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the physicochemical treatment of fluid media. The aim of the method is to modify the surface tension and the viscosity of the fluid, to mechanically reduce and eliminate organic and/or inorganic substances, micro-organisms, such as for example microbes, bacteria, fungi or algae and to chemically oxidise or reduce substances and material compounds entrained by the fluids. According to said method, energy is supplied to the fluid that is to be treated as follows: at least two volumetric flows of the fluid are guided at high speed, so that their surfaces intermingle or collide with one another in the form of a translational and/or rotational motion at a different speed, if the flows originate from the same direction, or at a selectable speed, or optionally an identical speed, if the flows originate from opposite directions.

Abstract: A solid bed adsorptive process for separating a seed oil into two substantially pure triglyceride functions. 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: A method of at least partly removing formic acid from an aqueous solution comprising formic acid, cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol comprises decomposing the formic acid over a basic metal oxide of metals of groups 2, 4, 5, 12 and/or 14 or over a noble metal of groups 8-11 on an oxidic support as decomposition catalyst.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for processing municipal waste starts with a biomass that has been treated in at least one steam autoclave and dilutes the resulting biomass in a dilution tank while agitating the resulting mixture a sufficient amount and at an effective temperature to cause cellulose fibers within the biomass that became twisted during processing within the autoclave to relax and straighten out. The biomass mixture is fed into a hybrid anaerobic digester having separate zones for digesting the solid portion of the biomass and the fluid portion of the biomass. The hybrid anaerobic digester is a vessel having an inner zone for digestion of the solid portion of the biomass and a concentric outer zone having attached growth media that retains methane producing organisms which produce biogas from the fluid portion of the biomass.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an apparatus enabling water-conditioning processes to be performed using a heater initially equipped with an aquarium tank for the purpose of supplying heat. Instead of allowing heat to propagate globally, reactor housing is introduced in the tank enclosing the heater so as to form a localized hot zone. The temperatures of the hot zone are maintained at high degrees sufficient to initiate various water-conditioning processes with efficiency, including alga control, ammonia control, water-hardness control, and sterilization. The construction of the reactor housing is simple and inexpensive, and its geometry is compatible to a heater which can be purchased commercially. In short, multiple functions are added to a heater installed in an aquarium, performing water-conditioning processes in addition to the basic task of supplying heat, allowing water quality of the aquarium to be improved and maintained.

Abstract: Method for treating non-gelatin colloidal encapsulation waste materials in which the waste is combined, optionally, with a solvent capable of dissolving the non-gelatin colloidal encapsulation material, and any softening agent contained therein, and then treating the solvent layer to remove contaminants such as residual oils and/or particulates which may be present, to provide a purified and usable encapsulating material containing stream.

Abstract: A system for pressurized liquid extraction and purification of solid samples includes a pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) module including a PLE cell, a heating element, a high-pressure source of an extraction solvent, a pressure regulator, and a cooling coil. The PLE module continuously performs high-pressure, high-temperature extraction on the solid sample to yield liquid sample. The liquid sample is concurrently provided to a purification module including one or more columns. The purification module yields a purified liquid sub-sample containing substantially all of a specific trace substance present in the solid sample. The sub-samples are transferred to a concentrator assembly through a collector inlet. The concentrated sub-sample can be used in subsequent analysis to determine the concentration of the trace substance in the original solid sample.

Abstract: The following process steps are carried out in order to purify a liquid by membrane distillation, in particular to produce desalinated water from seawater or brackish water or process water: passing a relatively warn vaporising stream of liquid (retentate stream) over a porous membrane, vapour flowing via the pores of the membrane to the other side of said membrane, and condensing said vapour on a relatively cool condenser surface to give a distillate stream, said condenser surface forming the non-porous separation between a feed stream to be purified and said distillate steam, which feed stream is in counter-current with the retentate stream so that an appreciable proportion of the latent heat will be transferred via vapour to the feed stream, and a gas gap with a width of less than 5 mm being present between the porous membrane and the condenser surface.

Abstract: A method for treating metal-working fluid comprises the steps of: a) transferring the metal-working fluid into a heating vessel; b) heating the metal-working fluid in the heating vessel to maintain the fluid at an elevated temperature during a heating period; c) agitating and aerating the fluid during the heating period; d) transferring the fluid out of the heating vessel into a holding vessel after the heating period; and e) transferring the fluid out of the holding vessel. The fluid may pass through a particle filter before entering the heating vessel, where it may be heated to between about 145° F. and about 210° F. for at least about 30 minutes. During heating, heated ambient air may be drawn through air inlets and through the fluid to agitate and aerate the fluid, thereby ensuring uniform heating and extracting gaseous contaminants. Mist and gaseous contaminants are removed from the airflow prior to its release into the environment.

Abstract: A process for treating waste water from an industrial process for producing propylene oxide, which process involves the steps of: (a) subjecting the waste water to a multi-effect evaporation treatment resulting in a vaporous top fraction and a liquid bottom fraction containing the non-volatile contaminants; and (b) condensing at least part of the vaporous top fraction into a liquid stream which is subject to a stripping treatment resulting in an overhead stream containing volatile waste organic material and purified water as the liquid bottom stream.

Abstract: This invention is providing a method for efficient treatment of the waste material from a process for production of acrylic acid and an acrylic ester. This is a method for the disposal of waste material, which at least one waste material selected from the group consisting of waste oil, waste water, and waste gas emitted from a process for production of acrylic acid is/are purified with at least one waste material selected from the group consisting of waste oil, waste water, and waste gas emitted from a process for production of an acrylic ester jointly. The efficiency of the treatment is enhanced by simultaneously treating the waste material from an adjoining process for the productions each other.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an installation for setting in adsorbed state, on a porous support, compounds contained in a product comprising a first step which consists in extracting the compounds by contacting the product with at least a solvent at supercritical pressure to obtain a mixture of extracts and solvent. The method is characterized in that it comprises a second step which consists in eliminating the water contained in the mixture of extracts and solvent, adjusting the temperature and pressure conditions so as to obtain, a first phase consisting of solvent in gaseous state and a second phase consisting of a mixture of liquids formed of solvent and extracts of the products; causing said two phases to trickle through a porous support adapted to adsorb the extracts; vaporizing the solvent contained in the second phase.

Abstract: A method for removing dissolved solids, particularly salts, from water. An apparatus for performing the inventive method is disclosed. The aqueous solution to be treated, for example sea water, is atomized using special non-pneumatic nozzles, and sprayed into an evaporation chamber through which air, heated by waste heat, is blown. The micro-droplets undergo rapid evaporation in the chamber, resulting in the separation of the salt solids from the vapor phase of the water. The mixture of suspended solids and water vapor is filtered to remove and collect the salts, and the water vapor is condensed to collect the salt-free water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for gasifying liquid to pasty organic substances and substance mixtures. According to the invention, the organic substances are converted to a substantially volatile phase in a pyrolysis reactor by contacting them with a hot heat transfer medium. Once a reactant such as water vapor is optionally added, the volatile phase is heated up in a second reaction zone, configured as a moving bed reactor, to such an extent that a product gas with a high calorific value is obtained. The heated up and partially reacted gas mixture is fed to a third reaction zone in which it finally reacts with a catalytically active material, heated up to reaction temperature and different from the heat transfer material, to give the product gas. A flow of hot residual gases of the furnace is used to heat up the heat transfer medium while being cooled.

Abstract: A contaminant-flushing machine for removing contaminants from a container, such as an engine transmission, air-conditioner coil, or transmission cooler, which includes hoses for coupling to the transmission cooler and a pump for circulating fluid through the hoses and the transmission cooler, and a fluid filter having a reduced tendency towards causing vaporization of the fluid. Also included in the contaminant-flushing machine is an automatic aeration system for injecting air into the circulating fluid at predetermined intervals. Additionally, a reverse flow piping circuit is included to permit automatic and electric manipulation of the flow direction of fluid through said transmission cooler while at the same time not altering the direction of flow of fluid through the pump.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for fractinating essential oils or essential oil fractions, characterised in that it comprises a step which consists in contacting said essential oils with an extracting agent containing at least a fluorinated solvent so as to obtain a fluorinated phase and a non-fluorinated phase and a step which consists in separating the essential oils contained in said fluorinated phase and in said non-fluorinated phase.

Abstract: A filtration assembly for filtering polymer fluids at varying flow rates includes at least two filter housing assemblies releasably attached to a filter support or main block. Polymer fluid is delivered to the filter housing assemblies via an inlet passage in the main block, and filtered polymer fluid is transported from the filter housing assemblies to an outlet passage in the main block. One end of each filter housing assembly is attached to the main block and includes an inlet port for receiving polymer fluid from the inlet passage and an outlet port for delivering filtered polymer fluid to the outlet passage. A single valve disposed on the main block selectively alternates fluid flow between the main block and each filter housing assembly.

Abstract: A device for reducing the liquid content of a liquid and solid slurry. In the device, a dual-walled vertical tube sits atop a perforated endplate. The wall of the tube is non-porous at the upper end and porous at the bottom end. A liquid and solid slurry enters at the top of the tube filling the tube. Some of the liquid in the slurry exits the tube by radial outflow through the porous segment of the tube wall. The reduced liquid slurry exits through the perforated endplate.