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A wetted hollow fibre never leaks…
Patents
Patents T h i s is a list of r e c e n t l y p u b l i s h e d p a t e n t s covering d e s i g n s a n d i n v e n t i o n s of r e l e v a n c e to s y n t h e t i c m e m b r a n e technology. W h e r e t h e s a m e device h a s b e e n p a t e n t e d i n several c o u n t r i e s , we n o r m a l l y give t h e B r i t i s h p a t e n t n u m b e r . If t h e r e is n o UK p a t e n t , we give the n u m b e r of a n E n g l i s h - l a n g u a g e p a t e n t , if o n e exists. T h e p a t e n t s list is c o m p i l e d from i n t e r n a t i o n a l s o u r c e s b y BHR G r o u p ' s i n f o r m a t i o n service. The facility c a n also b e u s e d to carry o u t r e t r o s p e c t i v e p a t e n t s e a r c h e s - - to test t h e validity, n o v e l t y or i n f r i n g e m e n t of e x i s t i n g p a t e n t s or n e w ideas. BHR G r o u p , Cranfield, Bedford MK43 OAJ, UK, will provide free estimates on request. C o u n t r i e s c a n b e identified by the code i n front of the n u m b e r as follows:
US P a t e n t Office Scientific Library 15th a n d E a s t Streets, NW W a s h i n g t o n , DC 2 0 2 3 1 , USA The J a p a n e s e P a t e n t Office 4-3 K a k s u m i g a s e k i 3 - c h o m e C h i y o d a - k u , Tokyo 100, J a p a n
Supercritical extraction with nanofiltration
This i n v e n t i o n is c l a i m e d a s u s e f u l i n the f r a c t i o n a t i o n of triglycerides a n d h i g h e r fatty a c i d s o b t a i n e d from b u t t e r or fish oil. Despite its n u c l e a r e n e r g y origin, the s e p a r a t i o n m e t h o d is n o t via ion b e a m or cyclotron b u t employs ultrafiltration preceded b y c o n t a c t with a s u p e r c r i t i c a l fluid s u c h a s s u p e r c r i t i c a l c a r b o n dioxide. T h i s c o m b i n a t i o n of s t e p s is c l a i m e d as novel w i t h i n the scope of the m a t e r i a l s p r o c e s s e d . The u s e f u l p r o d u c t s recovered AT A u s t r i a AU A u s t r a l i a from s u c h a p r o c e s s i n c l u d e BE B e l g i u m BR Brazil e i c o s a p e n t a e n o i c acid a n d CH S w i t z e r l a n d DD E a s t G e r m a n y d o c o s a h e x a e n o i c acid w h i c h DE West G e r m a n y DK D e n m a r k r e d u c e platelet a g g r e g a t i o n a n d EP E u r o p e a n P a t e n t s ES S p a i n l i p o p r o t e i n levels. It is also FI F i n l a n d FR F r a n c e p o s s i b l e to a d j u s t the cholesterol GB B r i t a i n HU H u n g a r y level of c e r t a i n p r o d u c t s . T h e IL Israel IR Eire p r o c e s s c a n be highly selective IT Italy JP Japan a n d , b e c a u s e s o m e of t h e e x t r a c t KP North Korea LI L i e c h t e n s t e i n r e m a i n s i n liquid form c o m p a r e d LU L u x e m b o u r g NL N e t h e r l a n d s to s i m p l e s u p e r c r i t i c a l NO Norway RO R o m a n i a extraction/evaporation/recompress RU R u s s i a US U n i t e d S t a t e s ion, u s e s less energy. SE S w e d e n WO World P a t e n t SU Soviet U n i o n (Patent Treaty Patent number: WO 9 6 1 8 4 4 5 Date: 2 0 t h J u n e 1996 Cooperation Inventors: S. S a r r a d e , M. Caries, publication) C. Perre, P. Vignet Applicant: C o m m i s s a r i a t a BHR G r o u p does n o t o p e r a t e a l'Energie A t o m i q u e d o c u m e n t delivery service for p a t e n t s , b u t full copies of t h e original p a t e n t d o c u m e n t s c a n b e o b t a i n e d from the following addresses: T h e B r i t i s h Library P a t e n t E x p r e s s 25 S o u t h a m p t o n B u i l d i n g s L o n d o n WC2A lAW, UK Fax: 0171 3 2 3 7 2 3 0
A wetted h o l l o w fibre never leaks...
(The B r i t i s h Library will also s u p p l y a list of UK l i b r a r i e s i n c l u d e d i n the P a t e n t I n f o r m a t i o n Network.)
T h e p r o c e s s of g l u i n g or 'potting' the e n d s of b u n d l e s of hollow fibre m e m b r a n e s so t h a t t h e y c a n be i n s t a l l e d i n c a s i n g s or c a r t r i d g e s is w e l l - e s t a b l i s h e d .
M e m b r a n e T e c h n o l o g y No. 8 2
This p a t e n t s e e k s to r e d u c e the failure r a t e i n s u c h a p r o c e s s . It is a c o m m o n s t e p for fibres to b e threaded through an outer casing, t h e n for a d h e s i v e to b e i n t r o d u c e d i n t o t h e e n d s of the casing a n d the whole u n i t spun, so t h a t t h e c e n t r i f u g a l forces locate the a d h e s i v e a t e a c h e n d of the c a s i n g after w h i c h the a d h e s i v e is allowed to set. The adhesive may instead be cured by e x p o s u r e to UV light. The s e t t i n g or c u r i n g of t h e a d h e s i v e exposes the m e m b r a n e m a t e r i a l to s h e a r i n g forces, w h i c h c a n i n d u c e t e a r i n g w i t h i n the m e m b r a n e , especially i n s m a l l d i a m e t e r fibres. The p a t e n t c i r c u m v e n t s this p r o b l e m b y proposing that the m e m b r a n e fibres be w e t t e d before t h e a d h e s i v e is applied. T h e m o d u s o p e r a n d i is believed to b e t h a t the w e t t i n g m a t e r i a l p r e v e n t s or substantially hinders adhesive from p e n e t r a t i o n i n t o t h e i n t e r s t i c e s of t h e m e m b r a n e m a t e r i a l . A wide r a n g e of b l o c k i n g m a t e r i a l s is listed i n t h e p a t e n t , from w a t e r to p r o t e i n s s u c h a s casein.
Patent numbeF. WO 9 6 1 7 6 7 5 Date: 13th J u n e 1996 Inventor:. R.G. Hood Applicant: FSM T e c h n o l o g i e s Ltd
Reverse osmosis membrane C o m p o s i t e m e m b r a n e s formed b y the c o n d e n s a t i o n of a p r i m a r y or secondary amine with a diacylhalide onto a porous s u b s t r a t e s u c h as a polysulphone are well e s t a b l i s h e d . T h e u s u a l s o l v e n t for t h e acid h a l i d e is either a l o w - b o i l i n g - p o i n t h y d r o c a r b o n s u c h a s h e x a n e or a halocarbon s u c h as t r i c h l o r o t r i f l u o r o e t h a n e . Both of t h e s e m a t e r i a l s p r e s e n t local or e n v i r o n m e n t a l h a z a r d s , so a n a l t e r n a t i v e category of s o l v e n t s is proposed: cyclic silicones. T h e s e h a v e t h e a d v a n t a g e of n o t r e q u i r i n g a d r y i n g s t e p before t h e m e m b r a n e is r e a d y for f u r t h e r
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Patents T h i s is a list of r e c e n t l y p u b l i s h e d p a t e n t s covering d e s i g n s a n d i n v e n t i o n s of r e l e v a n c e to s y n t h e t i c m e m b r a n e technology. W h e r e t h e s a m e device h a s b e e n p a t e n t e d i n several c o u n t r i e s , we n o r m a l l y give t h e B r i t i s h p a t e n t n u m b e r . If t h e r e is n o UK p a t e n t , we give the n u m b e r of a n E n g l i s h - l a n g u a g e p a t e n t , if o n e exists. T h e p a t e n t s list is c o m p i l e d from i n t e r n a t i o n a l s o u r c e s b y BHR G r o u p ' s i n f o r m a t i o n service. The facility c a n also b e u s e d to carry o u t r e t r o s p e c t i v e p a t e n t s e a r c h e s - - to test t h e validity, n o v e l t y or i n f r i n g e m e n t of e x i s t i n g p a t e n t s or n e w ideas. BHR G r o u p , Cranfield, Bedford MK43 OAJ, UK, will provide free estimates on request. C o u n t r i e s c a n b e identified by the code i n front of the n u m b e r as follows:
US P a t e n t Office Scientific Library 15th a n d E a s t Streets, NW W a s h i n g t o n , DC 2 0 2 3 1 , USA The J a p a n e s e P a t e n t Office 4-3 K a k s u m i g a s e k i 3 - c h o m e C h i y o d a - k u , Tokyo 100, J a p a n
Supercritical extraction with nanofiltration
This i n v e n t i o n is c l a i m e d a s u s e f u l i n the f r a c t i o n a t i o n of triglycerides a n d h i g h e r fatty a c i d s o b t a i n e d from b u t t e r or fish oil. Despite its n u c l e a r e n e r g y origin, the s e p a r a t i o n m e t h o d is n o t via ion b e a m or cyclotron b u t employs ultrafiltration preceded b y c o n t a c t with a s u p e r c r i t i c a l fluid s u c h a s s u p e r c r i t i c a l c a r b o n dioxide. T h i s c o m b i n a t i o n of s t e p s is c l a i m e d as novel w i t h i n the scope of the m a t e r i a l s p r o c e s s e d . The u s e f u l p r o d u c t s recovered AT A u s t r i a AU A u s t r a l i a from s u c h a p r o c e s s i n c l u d e BE B e l g i u m BR Brazil e i c o s a p e n t a e n o i c acid a n d CH S w i t z e r l a n d DD E a s t G e r m a n y d o c o s a h e x a e n o i c acid w h i c h DE West G e r m a n y DK D e n m a r k r e d u c e platelet a g g r e g a t i o n a n d EP E u r o p e a n P a t e n t s ES S p a i n l i p o p r o t e i n levels. It is also FI F i n l a n d FR F r a n c e p o s s i b l e to a d j u s t the cholesterol GB B r i t a i n HU H u n g a r y level of c e r t a i n p r o d u c t s . T h e IL Israel IR Eire p r o c e s s c a n be highly selective IT Italy JP Japan a n d , b e c a u s e s o m e of t h e e x t r a c t KP North Korea LI L i e c h t e n s t e i n r e m a i n s i n liquid form c o m p a r e d LU L u x e m b o u r g NL N e t h e r l a n d s to s i m p l e s u p e r c r i t i c a l NO Norway RO R o m a n i a extraction/evaporation/recompress RU R u s s i a US U n i t e d S t a t e s ion, u s e s less energy. SE S w e d e n WO World P a t e n t SU Soviet U n i o n (Patent Treaty Patent number: WO 9 6 1 8 4 4 5 Date: 2 0 t h J u n e 1996 Cooperation Inventors: S. S a r r a d e , M. Caries, publication) C. Perre, P. Vignet Applicant: C o m m i s s a r i a t a BHR G r o u p does n o t o p e r a t e a l'Energie A t o m i q u e d o c u m e n t delivery service for p a t e n t s , b u t full copies of t h e original p a t e n t d o c u m e n t s c a n b e o b t a i n e d from the following addresses: T h e B r i t i s h Library P a t e n t E x p r e s s 25 S o u t h a m p t o n B u i l d i n g s L o n d o n WC2A lAW, UK Fax: 0171 3 2 3 7 2 3 0
A wetted h o l l o w fibre never leaks...
(The B r i t i s h Library will also s u p p l y a list of UK l i b r a r i e s i n c l u d e d i n the P a t e n t I n f o r m a t i o n Network.)
T h e p r o c e s s of g l u i n g or 'potting' the e n d s of b u n d l e s of hollow fibre m e m b r a n e s so t h a t t h e y c a n be i n s t a l l e d i n c a s i n g s or c a r t r i d g e s is w e l l - e s t a b l i s h e d .
M e m b r a n e T e c h n o l o g y No. 8 2
This p a t e n t s e e k s to r e d u c e the failure r a t e i n s u c h a p r o c e s s . It is a c o m m o n s t e p for fibres to b e threaded through an outer casing, t h e n for a d h e s i v e to b e i n t r o d u c e d i n t o t h e e n d s of the casing a n d the whole u n i t spun, so t h a t t h e c e n t r i f u g a l forces locate the a d h e s i v e a t e a c h e n d of the c a s i n g after w h i c h the a d h e s i v e is allowed to set. The adhesive may instead be cured by e x p o s u r e to UV light. The s e t t i n g or c u r i n g of t h e a d h e s i v e exposes the m e m b r a n e m a t e r i a l to s h e a r i n g forces, w h i c h c a n i n d u c e t e a r i n g w i t h i n the m e m b r a n e , especially i n s m a l l d i a m e t e r fibres. The p a t e n t c i r c u m v e n t s this p r o b l e m b y proposing that the m e m b r a n e fibres be w e t t e d before t h e a d h e s i v e is applied. T h e m o d u s o p e r a n d i is believed to b e t h a t the w e t t i n g m a t e r i a l p r e v e n t s or substantially hinders adhesive from p e n e t r a t i o n i n t o t h e i n t e r s t i c e s of t h e m e m b r a n e m a t e r i a l . A wide r a n g e of b l o c k i n g m a t e r i a l s is listed i n t h e p a t e n t , from w a t e r to p r o t e i n s s u c h a s casein.
Patent numbeF. WO 9 6 1 7 6 7 5 Date: 13th J u n e 1996 Inventor:. R.G. Hood Applicant: FSM T e c h n o l o g i e s Ltd
Reverse osmosis membrane C o m p o s i t e m e m b r a n e s formed b y the c o n d e n s a t i o n of a p r i m a r y or secondary amine with a diacylhalide onto a porous s u b s t r a t e s u c h as a polysulphone are well e s t a b l i s h e d . T h e u s u a l s o l v e n t for t h e acid h a l i d e is either a l o w - b o i l i n g - p o i n t h y d r o c a r b o n s u c h a s h e x a n e or a halocarbon s u c h as t r i c h l o r o t r i f l u o r o e t h a n e . Both of t h e s e m a t e r i a l s p r e s e n t local or e n v i r o n m e n t a l h a z a r d s , so a n a l t e r n a t i v e category of s o l v e n t s is proposed: cyclic silicones. T h e s e h a v e t h e a d v a n t a g e of n o t r e q u i r i n g a d r y i n g s t e p before t h e m e m b r a n e is r e a d y for f u r t h e r
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