A fabric having a knitted material into which a hollow fiber membrane is knitted is provided, and which provides a configuration in which a liquid flows inside the hollow fiber membrane. Also, the fabric provides a configuration that prevents a needle from penetrating into the hollow fiber membrane when the fabric having the knitted material into which the hollow fiber membrane is knitted is sewn on an article of clothing or when the fabrics each having the knitted material into which the hollow fiber membrane is knitted is sewn to produce an article of clothing. Problems are solved in such a way that a hollow fiber membrane, serving as an insertion thread, is knitted into a knitted material. Also, problems are solved in such a way that a pump is provided for supplying the liquid to the hollow fiber membrane in which the pump is manually operated.

Methods and systems for use of switchable water, which is capable of reversibly switching between an initial ionic strength and an increased ionic strength, is described. The disclosed methods and systems can be used, for example, in distillation-free removal of water from solvents, solutes, or solutions, desalination, clay settling, viscosity switching, etc. Switching from lower to higher ionic strength is readily achieved using low energy methods such as bubbling with C0.sub.2, CS.sub.2 or COS or treatment with Bronsted acids. Switching from higher to lower ionic strength is readily achieved using low energy methods such as bubbling with air, inert gas, heating, agitating, introducing a vacuum or partial vacuum, or any combination or thereof.

System and method to reducing risk of patient infections (HAI), using operating rooms equipped with suitable automatic airborne sterilizing agent generators, sensors, mechanisms, automatic air control devices, and ceiling mounted structures that allows the room to both provide air curtains of laminar flow sterilized air over the operating table, as well as to be quickly and completely sterilized. After suitable safety checks, the system isolates the interior air from external air, and activates an air phase anti-microbial agent generator, filing the room with air-phase anti-microbial agent. After sterilization, the invention deactivates the generator, removes the remaining air-phase anti-microbial agent by flowing room air through a catalytic converter, and then restores the connection to outside sterilized air. The ceiling mounted structure is configured for laminar flow air curtain delivery, supply lighting, and support boom mounted operating room equipment. Various sensors, control methods, wall coverings, and other options are disclosed.

A filter membrane includes a membrane having through holes that selectively separates specific material in processing medium, the membrane including first, second and third layers such that the first layer has first surface that is supplied with processing medium, the third layer has second surface on the opposite side of the first surface, and the second layer is formed between the first and third layers. The first layer includes first convex and concave portions, the third layer includes second convex and concave portions each having a larger area than each first concave portion, the second convex portions are formed to surround the second concave portions and connected to one another, the second layer has through holes connecting the second concave portions and first set of the first concave portions, and the first concave portions include second set in regions opposing the second convex portions that is connected to each other.

Apparatus, such as a flotation separation device, features a flotation cell or column configured to receive a mixture of water, valuable material and unwanted material; receive polymer-based materials, including polymer bubbles or beads, configured to attach to the valuable material in the mixture; and provide enriched polymer-based materials, including enriched polymer bubbles or beads, having the valuable material attached thereon.

Apparatus, such as a flotation separation device, features a flotation cell or column configured to receive a mixture of water, valuable material and unwanted material; receive polymer-based materials, including polymer bubbles or beads, configured to attach to the valuable material in the mixture; and provide enriched polymer-based materials, including enriched polymer bubbles or beads, having the valuable material attached thereon.

A filter for use in safety air bags as employed in vehicles and the like comprises one or more compressed grooved wires, wherein the wire or wires have an outer diameter of about 0.010 to 0.050 inches and the grooves have a depth in the range of 0.001 to about 0.005 inches. A plurality of grooves, preferable about 10-14, of about 0.018 diameter stainless steel wire, having a depth of about 0.001 inches to about 0.0025 inches, are equally spaced about the periphery of the wire, which is cylindrical. The pitch of the groove spacing may differ for different implementations. The wire outer surface between grooves may have a radius, preferably about 0.0025 inches in a wire of about 0.018 inches diameter. A stainless steel wire is preferred, but other wire metals may be used according to a given implementation.

A synthetic bead for use in mineral separation is described. The synthetic bead has a surface made of a synthetic material such as polymer and the synthetic material is functionalized with molecules having a functional group for attaching mineral particles to the surface in a separation process. The synthetic beads can be placed in flotation cell containing a mixture of water, valuable material and unwanted material or in a pipeline where the mixture is transported from one location to another. The enriched synthetic beads carrying the mineral particles are separated from the unwanted materials in the mixture. The mineral particles are then released from the synthetic beads by means of low pH treatment, ultrasonic agitation, thermal or electromagnetic treatment.

A synthetic bead for use in mineral separation is described. The synthetic bead has a surface made of a synthetic material such as polymer and the synthetic material is functionalized with molecules having a functional group for attaching mineral particles to the surface in a separation process. The synthetic beads can be placed in flotation cell containing a mixture of water, valuable material and unwanted material or in a pipeline where the mixture is transported from one location to another. The enriched synthetic beads carrying the mineral particles are separated from the unwanted materials in the mixture. The mineral particles are then released from the synthetic beads by means of low pH treatment, ultrasonic agitation, thermal or electromagnetic treatment.

A method for preparing a crude oil solution for analysis, including adding water to a porous adsorbent to obtain a supported water substrate, having a plurality of water monolayers disposed on the porous adsorbent. The method further includes exposing the crude oil solution to the supported water substrate for a period of time; separating the supported water substrate from the crude oil solution; washing the supported water substrate with a water immiscible solvent to remove at least one hydrocarbon; displacing water from the plurality of water monolayers and the at least one interfacially active compound from the porous adsorbent with an alcohol and a co-solvent to obtain a displaced phase. The displaced phase can include the water, the at least one interfacially active compound, the alcohol, and the co-solvent. Finally, the method can include drying the displaced phase to isolate the at least one interfacially active compound.