Ultra Pure Water (e.g., Conductivity Water) Patents (Class 210/900)
  • Patent number: 5512178
    Abstract: In a water treatment method and an apparatus therefor, a high purification step comprising a precision filter and an ion-exchange resin is added to a treatment system having ozone supply units, filtering units and an ultraviolet-ray irradiating unit. Treatment objective water is treated by an ozone supply unit, a filtering unit and an ultraviolet-ray irradiating unit, so as to be brought to clean water. The clean water is treated, in super pure water, by the high purification step, and an amount of dissolved oxygen is reduced. The clean water can flow out to a location on the outside of the treatment system, from a final step, as super pure water or potable water which can immediately be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignees: Yoshihisa Masuda, Shiroh Shimaya
    Inventor: Fumio Dempo
  • Patent number: 5484512
    Abstract: An electrolytic solution prepared by dissolving an electrolyte such as KOH in pure water is fed into a membrane electrolytic cell of a membrane electrolyzer membrane electrolysis, made while the membrane electrolytic cell is provided intermittently or continuously with pure water. Oxygen generated at the anode and hydrogen generated at the cathode are purified individually by purifiers to produce oxygen and hydrogen of high purity. Also disclosed are methods of producing oxygen and hydrogen of high purity and their corresponding apparatuses in which a membrane degassing module is employed in conjunction with a solid polymer electrolyte electrolytic cell for effecting membrane electrolysis of the pure water, and in conjunction with a molecular sieve for individually dehumidifying oxygen generated at the anode and hydrogen at the cathode of the electrolytic cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignees: Shinko Pantec Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Sasaki, Hiroyuki Harada, Akihiko Hogetsu
  • Patent number: 5480563
    Abstract: There are provided a method and an apparatus for removing electrostatic charges from high resistivity liquid. An insulating film is formed on the surface of a conductive element which is in contact with the high resistivity liquid wherein the insulating film has such a thickness that a tunneling current may flow through the insulating film, thereby preventing the highly purified high resistivity liquid from being contaminated, as well as from becoming acid. Thus, objects to be treated with the high resistivity liquid become free of electrostatic charges without any contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Frontec Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenichi Mitsumori, Yasuhiko Kasama, Akira Nakano, Akira Abe, Tadahiro Ohmi
  • Patent number: 5470461
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing pure water is provided which includes means for ionizing non-ionic silica which is contained in water comprising a vessel for allowing the water to pass therethrough and stay therein for predetermined lengths of time; means for dissolving ozone in the water in this vessel; means for irradiating the water in which ozone has been dissolved with ultraviolet rays; means for separating gases from liquids located between the means for dissolving ozone and the means for irradiating water; and means for fixing ionized silica in the water to a solid electrolyte by ion exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan Organo Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Cozy Ban, Motonori Yanagi, Takaaki Fukumoto, Toshiki Manabe, Hiroshi Yanome, Kazuhiko Kawada
  • Patent number: 5468350
    Abstract: The apparatus includes a container for accommodating water to be treated and evaporating the water. Container is attached with water supply for supplying the water to be treated into the container. The water to be treated in container is heated by a heater. Vapor evaporated from the inside of container is cooled by a cooler. Distilled water output from cooler is irradiated with ultraviolet light by a ultraviolet light irradiator. An organic decomposed substance contained in the distilled water irradiated with the ultraviolet light is removed by organic decomposed substance removal device, and ultrapure water is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Cozy Ban
  • Patent number: 5447640
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method for treatment with ozonized water which comprises feeding primary pure water to an ultrapure-water producing device containing at least a polisher to convert the primary pure water to ultrapure water, injecting an ozone-containing gas into the ultrapure water to produce ozonized water, sending the ozonized water to a point of use, using the ozonized water for treatment, and circulating the resulting spent ozonized water to the ultrapure-water producing device for reuse or discharging the spent water, wherein the method further comprises supplying a hydrogen-containing gas to the spent ozonized water at a point downstream from the use point to remove residual ozone from the ozonized water, a method for the ozone sterilization of ultrapure water which comprises feeding primary pure water from a primary-pure-water tank to an ultrapure-water producing device containing at least a polisher to convert the primary pure water to ultrapure water, sending the ultrapure water to a use point throug
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadahiro Omi, Makoto Shimada, Isao Sawamoto
  • Patent number: 5443740
    Abstract: For the conditioning of ion exchange resins, pure water is recirculated over a bed of the resin to be purified or of the resins to be purified. The pure water has a residual salt content of less than 50 ppb and a content of free acids or free bases of less than 5,000 ppb. The organic and inorganic substances washed out of the resin or the resins are removed continuously from the circulating water by methods for the purification of water. The process can be used for conditioning the ion exchange resins used in an ultra pure water production system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Christ AG
    Inventor: Serge Schmitt
  • Patent number: 5422013
    Abstract: A flow passage into which water-to-be-treated flows is provided with, in order from an upstream side, a deaerator as a DO eliminating device having a power variable mechanism, an oxidation device for oxidizing TOC by irradiating ultraviolet-ray, an ion eliminating device for eliminating TOC ion generated at oxidation, and a particle eliminating device. Further provided thereat are a TOC density measuring device, a DO density measuring device and a data processing device. Before the water-to-be-treated is irradiated with ultraviolet-ray in the TOC eliminating device (oxidation device and ion eliminating device), the deaerator controls a DO density in the water-to-be-treated according to a TOC density. Thus, an oxidizer of the TOC is maintained and impurity is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Hirofuji
  • Patent number: 5399263
    Abstract: A water purifier for supplying high purity water with a low total organic carbon content. The purifier includes removable cartridges that contain a series of organic and ion exchange purification media. Special couplings are used to permit the cartridges to be easily and quickly connected to and removed from the water purifier. In addition, the cartridges contain a check valve to minimize water drainage from the cartridge when the cartridge is removed. Selected water purifier components are constructed of fluorinated polyethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Barnstead Thermolyne
    Inventors: Chester E. Chomka, James R. Edwards, Charles T. Nachtman
  • Patent number: 5385664
    Abstract: In an ultrapure water production apparatus formed of a source water pretreatment system, a primary pure water system, and a secondary pure water system, the source water pretreatment system includes a biological processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Kurita Water Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Oinuma, Toru Kawachi
  • Patent number: 5376281
    Abstract: An apparatus for purifying water includes:a plurality of UV radiators which include a helical quartz tube through which water to be purified passes and an ultraviolet light source to irradiate water passing through the helical quartz tube to remove microbes,a plurality of filtration stages including fine, ultra-fine and micro filters,a reactor including a bed of gold, andan irradiation stage including a quartz tube through which water to be purified passes and a laser light source with a wavelength in the range of 200-300 nm to irradiate water passing through the quartz tube,whereby microbes in the water passing through the apparatus are killed and removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Inventor: Eugen Safta
  • Patent number: 5302356
    Abstract: An ultrapure water treatment system is provided by the present invention. e system comprises a housing, a water supply means including a water inlet and a water outlet communicating with the housing and defining a path of travel of the water from said inlet to said outlet, irradiation means for irradiating water with 185 nm UV light positioned within the housing, and a catalytic filter positioned in the path of travel of the water. The catalytic filter comprises a non-polymeric porous material having a photoactive catalyst thereon. Exemplary photoactive catalysts include TiO.sub.2, ZnO, WO.sub.3, SnO.sub.2, CU.sub.2 O, and CdSe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Reagents Acting on Behalf of University of Arizona
    Inventors: Farhang F. Shadman, Robert A. Governal
  • Patent number: 5292439
    Abstract: A method for preparing an ultrapure water, from which impurities including inorganic salts, organic substances, fine particles and microorganisms are removed, by treatment including an ion exchange treatment, which comprises using an ion exchange resin comprising a copolymer of a polyvinyl compound and a monovinyl aromatic compound which may contain a monovinyl aliphatic compound, as the matrix, at least in a mixed bed ion exchange treatment of the ion exchange treatment, said ion exchange resin used comprising at least a regenerated form ion exchange resin A eluting an organic compound of a molecular weight of less than 3,000 but substantially not eluting an organic compound of a molecular weight of not less than 3,000 when dipped in a hot water at 50.degree. C. for 7 days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Kasei Corporation
    Inventors: Takamitsu Morita, Junya Watanabe, Toyokazu Sugawara
  • Patent number: 5259972
    Abstract: In an apparatus and method for purifying water, an oxidation forcibly turns colloidal substances into fine particles of oxides, thus increasing the size of the particles. The effluent of oxidation process is treated by ion exchange process, and then treated by membrane process. Because of the increased size of the particles, they are easily removed in the subsequent ion exchange process. The membrane process is thereby prevented from clogging up, and then removes fine particles that cannot be removed by the ion exchange process. Colloidal substances are thus removed effectively from raw water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignees: Nippon Rensui Company, Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Miyamaru, Takaaki Fukumoto, Motonori Yanagi
  • Patent number: 5250183
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing ultra-pure water, characterized in that a decarbonator/degassor and a reverse osmosis equipment for pretreatment of supply water are installed in the upper stream of a multiple effect evaporator. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing ultra-pure water, characterized in that most of the carbonic groups dissolved in the supply water is degassed by a decarbonating/degassing treatment prior to introducing the water to the multiple effect evaporator, and that most of the scale components such as Ca.sup.++, SO.sub.4.sup.-- and Mg.sup.++ are also eliminated by a reverse osmosis treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Hitachi Zosen Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetaka Sawada, Shoichi Momose, Shiro Inoue, Hideo Suematsu, Kazunori Koba
  • Patent number: 5178766
    Abstract: A composite semipermeable membrane which has a high electrolytes rejection even when the concentration of the electrolytes in feed water is very low and even if the pH of feed water is not less than 8 is disclosed. The composite semipermeable membrane of the present invention comprises a microporous substrate and a cross-linked polyamide-based ultra-thin membrane laminated on the microporous substrate, the ultra-thin membrane having a covalently bonded quaternary nitrogen atom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Ikeda, Yukio Nakagawa, Tadahiro Uemura, Masaru Kurihara
  • Patent number: 5164080
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ion-exchange treatment apparatus for dispersions, which comprises (1) a main circuit including (a) a first separation means for separating coarse particles among dispersoids from a raw dispersion supplied thereto, (b) an ion-exchange treatment column containing a particulate ion-exchange resin having a single polarity, (c) a second separation means for separating the remaining dispersoids from the dispersion subjected to the ion-exchange treatment and (d) a flow path line for causing the means (a), (b) and (c) to communicate in series, and (2) a circulating circuit for returning at least part of the dispersion treated in the second separation means (c) to the first separation means (a). Another apparatus in which at least one combination of a separation means and an ion-exchange treatment column containing a particulate ion-exchange resin having a single polarity is arranged further in the main circuit is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Fine Clay Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuo Furuno
  • Patent number: 5160429
    Abstract: The present invention offers a piping system for supplying ultra-pure water, which comprises a circulation tank to store primary pure water from a primary pure water producing unit, a pump for sending the primary pure water from said circulation tank, an outward pipe, one end of which is connected to a final purifying unit to purify primary pure water from said pump to ultra-pure water, a plurality of connection pipes, each end of which is connected to the other end of said outward pipe, a branching pipe connected between the middle of said connection pipe and the ultra-pure water using unit and having a branching valve to adjust the water quantity, and a return pipe connected between the other end of said connection pipe and said circulation tank, characterized in that means for controlling the output of said pump is provided to keep the water pressure at constant level by detecting the water pressure in said outward pipe, thereby supplying a constant quantity of ultra-pure water to the ultra-pure water usin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Tadahiro Ohmi
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Michiya Kawakami, Tadashi Shibata, Masaru Umeda
  • Patent number: 5128043
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying liquids, and more particularly for further purifying ultra-pure liquids such as ultra-pure water utilizing an electric field. It has been discovered that organic and inorganic particles suspended in ultra-pure water will exhibit a net negative charge. This discovery has led to the novel method and apparatus for removing most of these particles by establishing laminar flow of the liquid, passing the liquid through an electric field transverse to the direction of flow to induce mobility of the particles away from a negative field surface, separating the liquid into zones established according to the relative distance from the negative field surface and utilizing the zone of liquid closest to the negative field surface as the liquid with the least particle contamination and thus of greatest purity. The other zones of liquid farther from the negative field surface may be recycled through the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Inventor: Glen W. Wildermuth
  • Patent number: 5124033
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an ultrapure water producing system having a primary ultrapure water system including a pretreatment process into which raw water is fed, and a primary ultrapure water device connected to the outlet of the pretreatment process. A reservoir is connected to the outlet of the primary ultrapure water device. A secondary ultrapure water system includes a pump having an inlet connected to the reservoir, a polisher connected to the outlet of the pump, and first use point connected to the outlet of the polisher and to the reservoir. A branch line is connected to the outlet of the polisher and has a heating and deaerating part connected thereto, and a high-temperature second use point is connected to the outlet of the heating and deaerating part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Shinko Pantec Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Akihiko Hogetsu, Kenichi Ushikoshi, Masao Saito
  • Patent number: 5104546
    Abstract: The method of the present invention for separating pyrogens includes passing a pyrogen-containing liquid through a zirconium oxide membrane on a ceramic support. The membrane on ceramic support preferably includes a porous sintered zircondium oxide membrane on alpha-alumina support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: James L. Filson, Ramesh R. Bhave, James R. Morgart, James M. Graaskamp
  • Patent number: 5096574
    Abstract: A reverse osmosis system includes a sediment filter which cleans feed water from a source and from which that feed water is fed to a reverse osmosis membrane filter. Permeate from the latter is fed to a bladder within a storage tank. Concentrate from the membrane filter is fed to and used within the storage tank as squeeze water for the bladder. When a faucet that delivers permeate to the user is open, squeeze water is used to cause permeate to flow out of the storage tank through an impurity filter to supply the faucet. A valve unit is included to control the amount of squeeze water fed to the storage tank and to regulate permeate flow so that the water outletted from the faucet remains at a constant pressure and provides relief as against overpressure in the system. A proportioning valve within the valve unit serves to maintain at all times a constant ratio of concentrate to permeate flow through the membrane filter for adequate cleansing of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Teledyne Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Birdsong, Steve O. Mork, Steven L. Peace
  • Patent number: 5073273
    Abstract: A process for treating a gas generating material waste containing an alkali metal azide comprising the steps of preparing an alkaline aqueous solution containing the waste, treating the alkaline aqueous solution with a gaseous stream of ozone under conditions effective to oxidize the alkali metal azide to nitrogen and alkali metal nitrate, and then recovering the nitrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Raj K. Gupta, Morton L. Kraft, William B. Coleman
  • Patent number: 5073268
    Abstract: Ultrapure water of extremely high purity, i.e. a so-called ultra-ultrapure water is formed by the present system for purifying a pure water or ultrapure water, (1) the TOC component which was contained in pipes, etc. and which was subsequently dissolved in a pure water or ultrapure water to be treated, is decomposed and the pure water or ultrapure water is simultaneously sterilized, by the combined use of an oxidizing agent and ultraviolet irradiation, (2) the DO contained in the water to be treated and the DO derived from the addition of the oxidizing agent are decomposed into H.sub.2 O and simultaneous sterilization is effected, by the combined use of H.sub.2 gas and ultraviolet irradiation, (3) the remaining H.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignees: Ebara Corporation, Ebara Research Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Saito, Ken Nakajima, Yoki Iwase, Yukio Ikeda, Hiroyuki Shima
  • Patent number: 5061374
    Abstract: An improved deionized water treatment system and method that consists of using a first and second water treatment train wherein the second train improves water quality by reducing particulate and total organic carbon by means of a reverse osmosis membrane assembly. The final pure water having particulate sizes less than one micron and a total organic carbon measure of less than one part per billion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Vic E. Lewis
  • Patent number: 5024766
    Abstract: The deionized water purification of this invention is a small compact unit which is inserted between the purified deionized water distribution line in a plant water purification system and the inlet of a point of use apparatus. The small compact modular point of use deionized water purification unit reduces the total organic contaminant loading, the particulate loading, and the ionic contaminants in the purified deionized water from the plant purification system. The purification unit of this invention also includes means for sterilization of the point of use deionized water purification unit and a new technique for preventing damage to the ozone generator used in the sterilization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Inventor: Shahzad Mahmud
  • Patent number: 4990260
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing contaminants in waters used for industrial cleaning. The method and apparatus begins with water which has been purified to level of approximately 18 megaohms resistivity with total inorganic dissolved solids to 1 part per trillion and total organic dissolved carbon contaminants in the range of approximately 100 parts per billion, and purifies it to a level of approximately 18 megaohms resistivity with total inorganic dissolved solids to 1 part per trillion and total organic dissolved carbon contaminants in the range of approximately 10 parts per billion. The method and apparatus includes means for inducing cavitation in the water and irradiating the water with ultraviolet radiation to thereby cause the oxidizable contaminants to be oxidized and therefore removed before the water is used for industrial cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: The Water Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Pisani
  • Patent number: 4900450
    Abstract: Residual alkali metal ions from water, typically water having passed through a strong base demineralizer unit, may be removed by passing the water through a weak acid cation exchange resin, having a particle size distribution in which at least 90 weight percent of the resin has a particle size of at least 15 microns and at least 90 weight percent of the resin has a particle size of no more than 150 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Culligan International Company
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 4883596
    Abstract: A carbonaceous absorbent to be used for the removal of a pyrogen dissolved in water is disclosed. The absorbent is obtained by carbonizing porous beads of a cross-linked polymer. This absorbent is favorably used for the removal of endotoxin in the production of pure water from deionized water resulting from the treatment with iron-exchange resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: Tokyo Organic Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Agui, Shuji Tamura, Hiroshi Kuyama, Yoshiya Kurachi, Masahiko Abe, Yukihiro Kaneko, Keizo Ogino
  • Patent number: 4876014
    Abstract: A method for purifying water or other aqueous media in which a stream of the aqueous media is introduced into a fixed bed of a purification media and turbulent flow through the fixed bed is induced to permit intimate contact between the aqueous media and the purification media. Also disclosed is an apparatus for purifying the aqueous media which includes an outer housing having an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture; a multi-chamber purification unit disposed within the housing, and means for measuring the purity of aqueous media treated within the multi-chamber unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Water Systems Development Corporation
    Inventor: William S. Malson
  • Patent number: 4863608
    Abstract: A new process step for purifying water from a small amount, particularly a last trace amount, of organic impurities included in total organic carbon (TOC) content is incorporated into known processes for the preparation of ultra pure water comprising one or more previous filtration steps and a series of purification steps known per se. The new step comprises irradiating the water to be treated with a light in the presence of a photocatalyst comprising an inorganic semiconductor selected from TiO.sub.2, SrTiO.sub.3 and CdS in fine particulate form and a noble metal and/or an oxide thereof selected from Pt, Pd, Ru, RuO.sub.2 and Rh deposited on said semiconductor particles for a period of time sufficient to oxidatively decompose the organic impurities, resulting in a decrease in TOC content of the water to a level lower than the minimum detection level of TOC detectors, typically <0.05 mg C/l or <0.01 mg C/l depending upon the sensitivity of particular detectors available up to date.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Nomura Micro Science Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoji Kawai, Hisao Satoh, Yoshiharu Ohta
  • Patent number: 4808287
    Abstract: Potable water from a municipal water supply is treated to remove suspended solids, organic and inorganic dissolved solids, dissolved carbon dioxide gas and metal contaminants so as to produce ultra-pure water in the 16 megohm-cm.sup.3 and greater range. The process involves prefilteration of the water; activated carbon filtration; secondary guard filtration; double reverse osmosis treatment of the water. The process further involves the use of either an anion exchange or electrodialysis unit to remove further impurities from the water. A method for recycling part of the discharged water is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Inventor: Ernst F. Hark
  • Patent number: 4798847
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the preparation of hydrophilic membranes by coagulation of a solution of at least one hydrophobic polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer in a suitable solvent medium in a coagulation medium. The process according to the invention is characterized in that hydrophilic microfiltration and/or ultrafiltration membranes are prepared by cross-linking the hydrophilic polymer which is present in or on the obtained membrane matrix after the coagulation in an essentially non-swollen state and fixing same as such in or on the polymer matrix. Advantageously the solvents and the undesirable components of the coagulation medium are removed whereby the hydrophilic polymer is converted into an essentially non-swollen state prior to cross-linking. The removal of the undesirable components from the membrane takes place by means of a non-solvent for the hydrophilic polymer according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: X-Flow B. V.
    Inventors: Hendrik D. W. Roesink, Cornelis A. Smolders, Marcellinus H. V. Mulder, Dirk M. Koenhen
  • Patent number: 4784772
    Abstract: Ultrapure water are produced and used by subjecting deionized water, which has been obtained from a deionization step making use of an ion-exchange resin, successively to a sterilization treatment, an activated carbon treatment, an ion-exchange resin treatment and a permeable membrane treatment. The water is fed from each of the steps of the treatments after at least the sterilization tretment (inclusive) to the next step through first piping made of a crystalline polyether ether ketone resin having a recurring unit of the following formula: ##STR1## The thus-produced ultrapure water is then fed through second piping, which is also made of the crystalline polyether ether ketone resin, to and through a use system of the ultrapure water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Incorporated
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Gotoh, Toshihiko Tutumi, Toshiaki Takahashi, Katsuhiko Ito
  • Patent number: 4784763
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying water to two different laboratory quality levels of purity, both of which are made available for dispensing. Ordinary tap water is prefiltered and treated by reverse osmosis to produce virtually salt free product water which is made available to a cabinet mounted faucet. The product water is delivered to a system of polishing cartridges which produce polished water and supply it to a special hand held dispensing gun. A recirculation pump operates to recirculate the water in the polishing system to prevent it from standing and eliminate the need for water storage. The product water is also recycled through the reverse osmosis cartridge. Some of the reject water from the RO cartridge is directed to a drain, but most of the reject water is recycled to conserve water. A microprocessor based control system monitors and displays the water quality and other conditions and generates an alarm if an abnormal condition arises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Labconco Corporation
    Inventors: Larry G. Hambleton, Charles A. Moss, Jim Hunter
  • Patent number: 4734201
    Abstract: A deionized water supplying system is connected to a deionized water supply tank, a deionized water supply pipe and a deionized water circulating pipe. The system includes a three-ported valve having a first port connected to the deionized water supply pipe via a first branch pipe, a second port connected to the first port when the three-ported valve is in a first state, and a third port connected to the deionized water circulating pipe via a second branch pipe and communicating with the first port when the three-ported valve is in a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mituru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 4698153
    Abstract: Projections are removed from the surfaces of ion exchange resin particles by contacting the resin particles with a liquefied gas or supercritical gas in advance. The ion exchange resin thus prepared can remove ions from raw water so thoroughly that the water quality can be improved to that of ultra-pure water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Harumi Matsuzaki, Masayoshi Kubota, Katsuya Ebara, Sankichi Takahashi, Minoru Kuroiwa
  • Patent number: 4693828
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of ion-exchange and/or adsorption, and to a method of producing pure water. More specifically, this invention relates to a method of ion-exchanging and/or adsorbing an unnecessary product or a useful product in a liquid to be treated. Concretely, this invention relates to a method of ion-exchange and/or adsorption and to a method of producing superpure water by first treating the liquid with an ion-exchange resin, and then treating the liquid with an ion-exchange fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshio Yoshioka, Seiichi Yoshikawa, Masaharu Shimamura
  • Patent number: 4682113
    Abstract: A multiple electrode conductivity sensor generates an output to be applied to a special temperature compensation system that responds to a temperature sensor signal indicative of the sample water temperature. The temperature signal selectively operates a memory unit that contains separate water and salt correction values to be used in adjusting the measured conductivity output. The water correction value represents the conductivity of absolutely pure water at the measured temperature, and this value can be subtracted from the measured total conductivity to produce a conductivity value attributable only to salt impurities. The salt correction signal from the memory unit is then used to scale the measured salt conductivity signal at the standard reference temperature of 25.degree. C., thereby achieving a corrected salt conductivity measurement that can be added to a fixed pure water correction signal representative of the conductivity of pure water at that temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: TBI
    Inventor: Theodore R. Barben, II
  • Patent number: 4655909
    Abstract: A water-deionizing system comprising a reservoir for receiving a quantity of water to be deionized, a first ion-exchanger unit capable of removing anions from said water, and a second ion-exchanger unit capable of removing cations from said water. The first and second ion-exchanger units are connected to said reservoir to form separate flow paths or circuits for circulating water from the reservoir through the units separately in parallel. The system permits efficient production of a relatively large amount of water in a batchwise operation and also facilitates the regeneration of saturated ion-exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Nippon Paint Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuo Furuno
  • Patent number: 4648978
    Abstract: A process for sterilizing and depyrogenating a pretreated solution, such as water, by adding an oxidant selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide and ozone and heating the solution and the oxidant to a temperature sufficient to sterilize and depyrogenate the solution for a period of time, preferably less than 5 minutes. The oxidant is thereafter removed and the sterilized, depyrogenated solution is cooled for dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: American Sterilizer Company
    Inventors: Ralph W. Makinen, James R. Rickloff
  • Patent number: 4622133
    Abstract: A system for producing deionized water comprising at least a pair of oppositely charged ion exchanger units connected in series, a pump, a sensor for detecting the level of specific conductivity of process water and lines connecting the pump, ion exchanger unit and sensor in a closed-loop flow circuit. A controller operates the system in a first mode in which a batch of process water is repeatedly circulated along the closed-loop flow circuit until the specific conductivity sensed is less than a first predetermined level and alternately in a second mode in which the batch of water so treated is discharged while another batch of water is introduced into the system until the specific conductivity sensed is greater than a second predetermined level which is higher than the first predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Nippon Paint Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuo Furuno
  • Patent number: 4548716
    Abstract: A method of producing ultrapore, pyrogen-free water comprising providing a source of water, filtering the water to remove suspended solids and organics, deionizing the water to remove dissolved solids, and introducing substantially pure ozone into the deionized water at a concentration of at least two milligrams of ozone per liter of deionized water to thereby produce ultrapure, pyrogen-free water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1985
    Inventor: Lucas Boeve
  • Patent number: 4280912
    Abstract: The present invention consists of apparatus for purifying water in a continuous manner which removes suspended, dissolved and organic matter and provides water with a neutral pH and having a minimum electrical resistance of 18 Meg ohms for applications requiring ultra-pure water for research and commercial applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Assignee: Darco Water Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: W. James Berry, III, William J. Berry
  • Patent number: RE34296
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the preparation of hydrophilic membranes by coagulation of a solution of at least one hydrophobic polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer in a suitable solvent medium in a coagulation medium. The process according to the invention is characterized in that hydrophilic microfiltration and/or ultrafiltration membranes are prepared by cross-linking the hydrophilic polymer which is present in or on the obtained membrane matrix after the coagulation in an essentially non-swollen state and fixing same as such in or on the polymer matrix. Advantageously the solvents and the undesirable components of the coagulation medium are removed whereby the hydrophilic polymer is converted into an essentially non-swollen state prior to cross-linking. The removal of the undesirable components from the membrane takes place by means of a non-solvent for the hydrophilic polymer according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: X-Flow B.V.
    Inventors: Hendrik D. W. Roesink, Cornelis A. Smolders, Marcellinus H. V. Mulder, Dirk M. Koenhen