The present invention refers to an adhesive composition comprising a thixotropic agent, a polyurethane adhesive obtained from the adhesive composition as well as to the thixotropic agent comprised in the adhesive composition.

This specification describes a membrane aerated biofilm media and reactor (MABR) having a discontinuous layer of a porous material applied to the outer surface of a gas-transfer membrane. The porous material may have a void fraction of 50% or more. The porous material may have a thickness of up to about 500 microns and a pattern on the same order of magnitude as its thickness. The media may be used to carry on a deammonification reaction. In use, ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and annamox bacteria grown in or on the media, with the annamox bacteria located primarily in the porous material. The supply of oxygen through the gas-transfer membrane is limited to suppress the growth of nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB). Excess biofilm is removed, for example by coarse bubble scouring. The media may be placed in an anoxic zone of an activated sludge plant, which may be upstream of an aerobic zone.

A gas sparger produces an intermittent flow of bubbles even if provided with a continuous gas flow. The sparger has a housing to collect a pocket of gas and a conduit to release some of the gas from the pocket when the pocket reaches a sufficient size. Optionally, a cover over an outlet from the conduit may break up or distribute the released gas. A large sparger for use with a commercial membrane module can comprise a plurality of smaller units.

A gas sparger produces an intermittent flow of bubbles even if provided with a continuous gas flow. The sparger has a housing to collect a pocket of gas and a conduit to release some of the gas from the pocket when the pocket reaches a sufficient size. Optionally, a cover over an outlet from the conduit may break up or distribute the released gas. A large sparger for use with a commercial membrane module can comprise a plurality of smaller units.

Disclosed is a permeable membrane support having an attachable and detachable permeable membrane, the permeable membrane support comprising: a lower support; an upper support partially accommodated into the lower support; and a permeable membrane disposed between the lower support and the upper support. When the upper support and the lower support are engaged with each other in a snap-fit manner, the permeable membrane is sandwiched between a bottom opening of a cylindrical lower member of the upper support and a top face of a bottom support portion of the lower support.

A support device is provided to facilitate assembly and/or disassembly of a filtration unit of a membrane filtration apparatus, which may be configured for production of a food product, by supporting a membrane element during the assembly and/or disassembly. The support device includes an engagement portion which is configured to detachably engage an end portion of an elongate housing of the filtration unit. The support device further includes a platform portion that projects from the engagement portion and is configured to support the membrane element during loading and/or unloading of the membrane element through an opening in the end portion.

A support device is provided to facilitate assembly and/or disassembly of a filtration unit of a membrane filtration apparatus, which may be configured for production of a food product, by supporting a membrane element during the assembly and/or disassembly. The support device includes an engagement portion which is configured to detachably engage an end portion of an elongate housing of the filtration unit. The support device further includes a platform portion that projects from the engagement portion and is configured to support the membrane element during loading and/or unloading of the membrane element through an opening in the end portion.

A spiral wound membrane module, comprising a perforated core having an axially extending internal bore; at least one membrane packet comprising a folded membrane sheet defining a first outer face, a first inner face, a second outer face and a second inner face, the fold of the folded membrane sheet being a leading end of the membrane packet; a feed sheet positioned between the first and second inner faces so as to be sandwiched by the folded membrane sheet; a first permeate screen adjacent the first outer face of the membrane sheet defining a first permeate channel; a second permeate screen adjacent the second outer face of the membrane sheet defining a second permeate channel; and a fluid impermeable support coupled to the leading edge of the membrane packet. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the spiral wound membrane module.

A gas separation system for controlling a concentration of a first gas species and a second gas species in an outlet gas comprises a splitter unit. The splitter unit comprises a gas membrane system having a gas inlet port. The gas inlet port is in fluid connection with an air intake. A membrane is a selective barrier and allows some things to pass through but stops others.

A gas separation system for controlling a concentration of a first gas species and a second gas species in an outlet gas comprises a splitter unit. The splitter unit comprises a gas membrane system having a gas inlet port. The gas inlet port is in fluid connection with an air intake. A membrane is a selective barrier and allows some things to pass through but stops others.