Quotables
"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza."
Dave Barry
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8187464 | Apparatus and process for desalination of brackish water using pressure retarded osmosis Water from underground and other sources is brackish and not suitable for human consumption. Naturally present dissolved chemicals in water make it brackish. The precipitants and dissolved chemicals need to be separated from water to make it consumable. A combinatio... | 05/29/2012 |
| 8147697 | Apparatus and process for desalination of brackish water Water from underground and other sources of water are brackish and not suitable for human consumption. Naturally present dissolved chemicals in water make it brackish. The precipitants and dissolved chemicals need to be separated from water to make it consumable. A ... | 04/03/2012 |
| 8142662 | Dehydrating system and method for control of spare membrane unit A dehydrating system is designed to maintain the availability of a plant having the dehydrating system using a water separation membrane by allowing a water separation membrane unit to be replaced while the plant is in operation. The dehydrating system comprises at ... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8128826 | Ethanol processing with vapour separation membranes A process for separating vapors, for example for separating water from ethanol, uses a gas separation membrane unit. Permeate from the membrane unit is compressed and may be used for example as heating steam for distillation. The membrane unit may have two or more s... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8119006 | Ethanol stable epoxy amine based membrane for aromatics separation The present invention is directed to a membrane for aromatics separation that is stable in an alcohol containing environment. The polymeric membrane is a epoxy amine based membrane. ... | 02/21/2012 |
| 8029675 | Membrane distillation process and membrane distillation device In a membrane distillation process in which a liquid to be concentrated is separated from a vapor space (11) by a vapor-permeable liquid- or water-tight membrane or membrane wall (13), to set the absolute pressure of the liquid to be concentrated a red... | 10/04/2011 |
| 8017016 | Method and apparatus for pervaporation control in chromatographic systems A method for controlling pervaporation through a membrane includes assessing the vapor pressure of each component material of a mobile phase disposed on a retentate side of the membrane, and maintaining a designed environment on a permeate side of the membrane. The ... | 09/13/2011 |
| 7871520 | High-temperature membrane distillation A membrane module comprising an outer casing having an interior region, a plurality of hollow fiber membranes extending through at least a portion of the interior region, and having exterior surfaces and inner hollow regions, where the inner hollow regions are confi... | 01/18/2011 |
| 7837877 | Process for separating components of a multi-component feed stream Provided is a process and apparatus for separating a multi-component feed stream wherein a porous separator is used to effectively create, via permeation and phase change, at least three fractions of differing compositions. ... | 11/23/2010 |
| 7803275 | Membrane separation process using mixed vapor-liquid feed The present invention pertains to a process for the separation of aromatics from a feed stream, including aromatics and non-aromatics by selectively permeating the aromatics through a membrane comprising feeding a mixed phase vapor-liquid feed to a membrane wherein ... | 09/28/2010 |
| 7758754 | Pervaporation process and assembly The invention is a pervaporation process and pervaporation equipment, using a series of membrane modules, and including inter-module reheating of the feed solution under treatment. The inter-module heating is achieved within the tube or vessel in which the modules a... | 07/20/2010 |
| 7622045 | Hydrophilic cross-linked polymeric membranes and sorbents Hydrophilic cross-linked polymeric membranes, when prepared according to the process of the present invention, are unique in character in as much as the steady state permeability of the membrane has been altered by blending and cross-linking polyalkyl amines and pol... | 11/24/2009 |
| 7608188 | Vacuum enhanced direct contact membrane distillation The present disclosure provides methods and systems for purifying an impaired liquid. In a particular example, the disclosure provides methods and systems for purifying water containing a solute. A feed stream of solute containing water is introduced in a flow chamb... | 10/27/2009 |
| 7604746 | Pervaporation composite membranes The present application discloses a composite membrane comprising (a) a support member that has a plurality of pores extending through the support member and (b) a cross-linked copolymer comprising (i) a cationic monomer and an anionic monomer and/or (ii) a zwitteri... | 10/20/2009 |
| 7488421 | Method and device for the purification, especially desalination, of water Water processing method, in particular for producing fresh water from salt water by membrane distillation. In comparison with previously known methods, a significant reduction in investment cost and operating cost can be achieved by the combination of the following ... | 02/10/2009 |
| 7479227 | Liquid-phase separation of low molecular weight organic compounds A process for separating a component from a low molecular weight organic mixture by pervaporation. The process uses fluorinated membranes and is particularly useful for treating mixtures containing light organic components, such as methane, propylene or n-butane. | 01/20/2009 |
| 7459084 | Membrane-assisted fluid separation apparatus and method This present invention relates to a fluid separation module adapted to separate a given fluid mixture into permeate and retentate portions using bundles of hollow fiber membranes. The membranes may be composed of different kinds of membranes depending on the applica... | 12/02/2008 |
| 7427312 | Integrated degassing and debubbling apparatus An apparatus for removing gas bubbles from a fluid includes a fluid inlet and a separation chamber that is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. The separation chamber has first and second end portions, with the first end portion being operably oriented gravi... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7422623 | Separation membrane by controlled annealing of polyimide polymers This abstract discusses membranes needed to separate fluids for the production of oxygen-enriched air, nitrogen-enriched-air, for the separation of carbon dioxide from hydrocarbons, and the separation of hydrogen from various petrochemical and oil refining streams. ... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7410065 | Membrane for the separation of material mixtures and method for production thereof The invention relates to a membrane for the separation of material mixtures by the principle of vapor permeation or pervaporation, in particular for the dewatering of organic solvents, comprising at least one support layer and at least one material-selective separat... | 08/12/2008 |
| 7392848 | Methods to produce sulfate-free saline water and gypsum Methods are disclosed for the selective separation of sulfate from a saline stream such as seawater to produce nearly sulfate-free saline stream for oil-fields water injection operations. The separated sulfate in the form of gypsum from the treated saline stream can... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7393383 | Separation membrane made from blends of polyimide with polyamide or polyimide-amide polymers Membranes are used to separate fluids for the production of oxygen-enriched air, nitrogen-enriched-air, for the separation of carbon dioxide from hydrocarbons, and the separation of hydrogen from various petrochemical and oil refining streams. Membranes are discusse... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7393388 | Spiral wound fuel stabilization unit for fuel de-oxygenation A deoxygenator includes a plurality of permeable membranes spirally wound about an exhaust tube for removing dissolved oxygen from a hydrocarbon fuel. The permeable membrane is spirally wrapped about the exhaust tube and defines fuel passages and exhaust passages. T... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7371309 | Purification of difluoromethane by extractive distillation The present invention provides extractive distillation processes for removing difluoromethane (HFC-32) from a mixture comprising HFC-32 and at least one of chlorodifluoromethane (CFC-12), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HFC-143a), chloropentafluoroethane (CFC-115), and penta... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7368056 | Production of potable liquids Water-desalination and/or water purification devices. Alternatively, devices that are implantable in animal bodies, possibly configured as self-inflating spinal disc prostheses. The devices include specified types of water-absorbing solute encapsulated by non-porous... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7361276 | Apparatus and method for osmotic membrane distillation A method of enhancing the concentration of a first inorganic compound in a first aqueous solution of a first process of a heavy chemical plant, the method comprising (a) feeding the first solution having the first compound at a first concentration and a first water ... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7353689 | Liquid separator for a gas analyzer and method for separating a liquid component from gas Liquid separator for a gas analyzer and method for separating a liquid component from gas. The liquid separator comprises an input passage having an input end and an output end, an output passage having an input end and an output end, a wall formed of a gas permeabl... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7347889 | Ultrasonic solution separator An ultrasonic solution separator including an ultrasonic atomization chamber supplied with a solution containing a target material; an ultrasonic oscillator producing mist from the solution in the ultrasonic atomization chamber with ultrasonic oscillation; a power s... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7341663 | Spiral-wound liquid membrane module for separation of fluids and gases The present invention is a filtering and chemical separation device that performs the operations of solvent extraction and pervaporation in a single piece of equipment, configured as a spiral-wound membrane module, and provides for the replenishment of the solvent i... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7335697 | Polymer composition comprising cross-linked polyethylene and methods for making the same The invention provides a polymer composition comprising cross-linked polyethylene having a non-polar biocompatible lipid disposed in at least a portion of the free volume of the polyethylene. The invention further provides methods for making the polymer composition.... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7332564 | Polymerization catalyst for polyester, method for producing it and process for producing polyester using it Polymerization catalysts for polyesters include: (1) metal elements selected from metal elements of Group 4A of the Periodic Table; and (2) metal elements selected from metal elements of Group 2A of the Periodic Table, aluminum, manganese, iron, cobalt, zinc, galliu... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7323033 | Nanostructured surfaces having variable permeability A nanostructured substrate is disclosed having a plurality of substrate openings disposed between the nanostructures on the substrate. When a desired fluid comes into contact with the substrate, at least a portion of the fluid is allowed to pass through at least one... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7323039 | Method for preparing microsphere It is to provide an improved method for preparation of microsphere from an emulsion wherein an organic phase containing an organic solvent having a boiling point lower than that of water and a hardly-water-soluble polymer is emulsified in an aqueous phase by an in-w... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7318894 | Method and system for treating wastewater A method and system is disclosed for treating wastewater that utilizes membrane processes, preferably in combination with anaerobic biological treatment, to provide for economical and environmentally superior treatment without high production of biological solids. T... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7318898 | Polymeric membrane wafer assembly and method A method for separating aromatic hydrocarbons from a feed stream. The method includes flowing the feed stream through a first channel within a first wafer assembly that may contain an underflow distribution weir. Next, the feed stream is exposed to a first thin film... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7314565 | Method and apparatus for separating aromatic hydrocarbons in an isothermal system An isothermal method is provided for separating aromatic hydrocarbons from a feed stream. The method includes flowing the feed stream through a first channel within a first wafer assembly that contains a rib member. Next, the feed stream is exposed to a first thin f... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7303681 | Dynamic membrane wafer assembly and method A method for separating aromatic hydrocarbons from a feed stream. The method includes flowing the feed stream through a first channel within a first wafer assembly that may contain an underflow distribution weir. Next, the feed stream is exposed to a first thin film... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7303605 | Snap together filter A fluid filter is provided with a snap-together housing for the filter media. The housing is designed with two main parts that are easily snapped together to encapsulate the filter media. The filter housing is substantially cylindrical, and contains an inlet on one ... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7302795 | Internal combustion engine/water source system An internal combustion engine system for automotive vehicle wherein liquid water is produced by cooling a portion of exhaust gases at elevated pressure to induce condensation. The use of elevated pressure allows condensation to occur at a higher dew point which is e... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7300662 | Drug/drug delivery systems for the prevention and treatment of vascular disease A drug and drug delivery system may be utilized in the treatment of vascular disease. A local delivery system is coated with rapamycin or other suitable drug, agent or compound and delivered intraluminally for the treatment and prevention of neointimal hyperplasia f... | 11/27/2007 |
