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High-efficiency RO treats waste-water
factors include start-up costs for two major distribution centres, expanding the sales force, and severance costs related to recent management changes. Revenues for the first quarter were US$17.0 million, compared with $18.8 million posted for the first quarter of 1999. The company reported a net loss of $21 000, compared with net earnings of $1.2 million for the equivalent period a year earlier. During the third quarter of fiscal 2000, Minntech sold its Biocor oxygenator and E n G U A R D PHX cardio-plegia system product-lines to LifeStream International, becoming an O E M supplier rather than a full-service manufacturer and marketer of cardio-surgery products. Orders from LifeStream have been lower than expected. Developing businesses product sales rose by 36.5% for the first quarter, driven by an 18.5% increase in filtration and sepa ration product sales. Minntech is continuing to pursue oppor tunities to expand this product segment, both internally and through acquisitions and alliances. Minntech's first-quarter dialyser reprocessing product sales declined compared with last year, mainly because of competitive pressures. However, the company continues to maintain its market share and unit volume in the dialyser reprocessing sterilant market. Minntech's new strategic initiatives, with its financial strength, should lead to revenue and earnings growth later in fiscal 2001. During the last 18 months it has divested non-performing businesses and focused on growth opportunities, incorporating core technologies in dialysis and filtration and separation. For more information, contact:
Minntech Corporation, 14605 28th Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55447, USA.Tel: +1 612 553 3300, Fax: +1 612 553 3387.
High-efficiency RO treats waste-water Hydrometrics Inc of Helena, Montana has developed a high-
Membrane Technology No. 126
efficiency reverse osmosis (HERO) system for treating industrial waste-water. HERO involves a pre-treatment sequence which allows RO to be applied effectively to a broad range of industrial waste-water. It can also be retrofitted to existing RO systems to improve efficiency. According to Hydrometrics, the system is highly resistant to fouling, provides high recovery, and reduces operational and maintenance costs. It also maintains 1,hat this technology will allow many industrial facilities to achieve zero liquid discharge, water reuse and/or water conservation. The technology achieves regulatory effluent limits for all parameters. The process eliminates membrane scaling and fouling on industrial waste-water without the use of pre-filtration, activated carbon or anti-scalants, even on waste-water with up to 20 000 ppm total dissolved solids, an elevated Silt Density Index, or containing oil and grease. It can therefore operate at a recovery of 95%, and is claimed to achieve a five-fold reduction in waste volume and 2-3 times higher flux compared with most conventional RO systems. For more information, contact:
Hydrometrics Inc, 2727 Airport Road, Helena, MT 59601, USA.Tel: +1 406 443 4150, Fax: +1 406 443 1252. IIIII11
Micro-filter cartridge pre-filters Now available from Oberlin Filter Co of Wisconsin, USA is what it calls a micro-filter cartridge. It is made from a high-density polyethylene called DuPont SoloFlo. The cartridge can be used as a pre-filter in reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration and ion-exchange applications. Oberlin claims that it is resistant to most acids, bases and salts, and it offer users a long service life. It is also 99.97% efficient at 1 lam. For more information, contact:
Oberlin Filter Company,404 Pilot Court, Waukesha,Wl 53188, USA. Tel: +1 262 547 4900, Fax: +1 262 547 0683.
Sartorius increases stake in Vivascience Sartorius AG of G6ttingen, Germany which holds 76% of the shares in UK-based Vivascience Ltd, has acquired the remaining 24% of the company. This acquisition of the remaining shares is in line with the aboveaverage growth of Vivascience. Sartorius says that behind the purchase is the intention to list Vivascience on NEMAX, the New Market segment on the German Stock Exchange. For more information, contact:
Sartorius AG, Weender Landstrasse94108, D-37075 G6ttingen, Germany.Tel: +49 551 3080, Fax:+49 551 308 289.
Renal Care closes unit after death According to a Reuters report, US company Renal Care Group has recently closed a dialysis unit in Ohio after a patient undergoing treatment there died and other patients were hospitalised with chills and fever. The problem occurred at the Youngstown unit and is being investigated by local, state and national authorities, including the US Centres for Disease Control & Prevention. No cause of the symptoms has been determined. Renal Care says that a likely cause of the illnesses was bacteria that somehow made their way through an RO filtration system which removes impurities from the local water supply. The purified water is stored in tanks, and then intravenously supplied to patients. Another possible culprit is a disinfectant used in the water purification process. Renal Care, which specialises in dialysis, a life-saving procedure in which machines are use to purify the blood of patients with damaged kidneys, says the situation was unique to the Youngstown facility, and that none of its other facilities were affected. Although filters or machinery may prove to be at fault, the company believes that human error was not involved.
Minntech Corporation, 14605 28th Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55447, USA.Tel: +1 612 553 3300, Fax: +1 612 553 3387.
High-efficiency RO treats waste-water Hydrometrics Inc of Helena, Montana has developed a high-
Membrane Technology No. 126
efficiency reverse osmosis (HERO) system for treating industrial waste-water. HERO involves a pre-treatment sequence which allows RO to be applied effectively to a broad range of industrial waste-water. It can also be retrofitted to existing RO systems to improve efficiency. According to Hydrometrics, the system is highly resistant to fouling, provides high recovery, and reduces operational and maintenance costs. It also maintains 1,hat this technology will allow many industrial facilities to achieve zero liquid discharge, water reuse and/or water conservation. The technology achieves regulatory effluent limits for all parameters. The process eliminates membrane scaling and fouling on industrial waste-water without the use of pre-filtration, activated carbon or anti-scalants, even on waste-water with up to 20 000 ppm total dissolved solids, an elevated Silt Density Index, or containing oil and grease. It can therefore operate at a recovery of 95%, and is claimed to achieve a five-fold reduction in waste volume and 2-3 times higher flux compared with most conventional RO systems. For more information, contact:
Hydrometrics Inc, 2727 Airport Road, Helena, MT 59601, USA.Tel: +1 406 443 4150, Fax: +1 406 443 1252. IIIII11
Micro-filter cartridge pre-filters Now available from Oberlin Filter Co of Wisconsin, USA is what it calls a micro-filter cartridge. It is made from a high-density polyethylene called DuPont SoloFlo. The cartridge can be used as a pre-filter in reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration and ion-exchange applications. Oberlin claims that it is resistant to most acids, bases and salts, and it offer users a long service life. It is also 99.97% efficient at 1 lam. For more information, contact:
Oberlin Filter Company,404 Pilot Court, Waukesha,Wl 53188, USA. Tel: +1 262 547 4900, Fax: +1 262 547 0683.
Sartorius increases stake in Vivascience Sartorius AG of G6ttingen, Germany which holds 76% of the shares in UK-based Vivascience Ltd, has acquired the remaining 24% of the company. This acquisition of the remaining shares is in line with the aboveaverage growth of Vivascience. Sartorius says that behind the purchase is the intention to list Vivascience on NEMAX, the New Market segment on the German Stock Exchange. For more information, contact:
Sartorius AG, Weender Landstrasse94108, D-37075 G6ttingen, Germany.Tel: +49 551 3080, Fax:+49 551 308 289.
Renal Care closes unit after death According to a Reuters report, US company Renal Care Group has recently closed a dialysis unit in Ohio after a patient undergoing treatment there died and other patients were hospitalised with chills and fever. The problem occurred at the Youngstown unit and is being investigated by local, state and national authorities, including the US Centres for Disease Control & Prevention. No cause of the symptoms has been determined. Renal Care says that a likely cause of the illnesses was bacteria that somehow made their way through an RO filtration system which removes impurities from the local water supply. The purified water is stored in tanks, and then intravenously supplied to patients. Another possible culprit is a disinfectant used in the water purification process. Renal Care, which specialises in dialysis, a life-saving procedure in which machines are use to purify the blood of patients with damaged kidneys, says the situation was unique to the Youngstown facility, and that none of its other facilities were affected. Although filters or machinery may prove to be at fault, the company believes that human error was not involved.