Plasticizers are purified by contact with a coalescing filter to effect removal of ions, metals, monohydric alcohols, and polyhydric alcohols. The resulting purified plasticizer compositions are suitable for use in PVC due to their low levels of impurities that reduce PVC utility.

Disclosed herein is a polycrystalline metal-organic framework membrane comprising a substrate material having a surface and a polycrystalline metal-organic framework attached to the surface of the substrate material, wherein the polycrystalline metal-organic framework is formed from a secondary building unit having the formula Ia or IIb and a ligand as defined in the application.

A multi-path cleaning system is provided for a fuel tank. The multi-path cleaning system includes a controller, a fuel polisher, and a plurality of controllable valves. The plurality of controllable valves are operatively connected to the controller, and each valve fluidly coupled to at least one of the inlet and outlet of the fuel polisher on a first side and the interior of the fuel tank on a second other side. The pump, when operated, causes fuel to be drawn through the inlet and discharged at the outlet of the fuel polisher, and to pass through at least one filter/water separator. Selective operation of the plurality of valves by the controller selectively fluidly couples portions of the interior of the fuel tank to the inlet and the outlet of the fuel polisher, thereby creating a plurality of fluid flow paths through the interior of the fuel tank.

A method for cleanup of circulated rolling oil including gravity separation followed by size separation. The method includes supplying the circulated roiling oil to a separation chamber of a rotating centrifugal rotor and separating water and solid debris from the circulated rolling oil by centrifugal force. Oil, oil-water emulsion, and some residual debris may be recovered and supplied to a ceramic membrane having a pore size of 1.5 micron or smaller. A purified oil sample is recovered from the membrane, along with a reject including the oil-water emulsion and residual debris. The reject may be further concentrated by gravity separation and recycled to the membrane to recover further amounts of oil.

A drinkware system includes a drinkware container having at least one wall and a bottom surface; a barrier portion coupled to the at least one wall, having a first end and a second end, and defining an opening proximate to the first end, wherein the barrier portion forms a wall between a first section and a second section within the drinkware container that prevents movement of a liquid between the first section and the second section except through the opening; and a removable member coupleable to the barrier portion and including a filter, wherein the filter substantially aligns with the opening of the barrier portion when the removable member is coupled to the barrier portion.

A thermal diffusion unit is fluidly connected to a combustion engine via a flue line. The thermal diffusion unit has a plurality of plates assembled in a parallel configuration, including a pair of heating plates having a heating fluid gap extending therebetween and a pair of cooling plates having a cooling fluid gap extending therebetween. A diffusion sheet is positioned between the pair of heating plates and the pair of cooling plates, such that the diffusion sheet interfaces on a first side with one of the heating plates and interfaces on an opposite side with one of the cooling plates. The diffusion sheet includes a plurality of interconnected thermal diffusion cells arranged in a repeating pattern, at least one heated passage fluidly connecting adjacent thermal diffusion cells, and at least one cooled passage fluidly connecting adjacent thermal diffusion cells.

The invention relates to a filter system for removing and/or neutralizing undissolved oils, greases and salts, preferably also floating bodies, such as metal debris, on/in water-containing emulsions from, in particular, containers and tanks that are used for holding and storing emulsions.

The present invention discloses a microstructured discrimination device for separating hydrophobic-hydrophilic fluidic composites comprising particulate and/or fluids in a fluid flow. The discrimination is the result of surface energy gradients obtained by physically varying a textured surface and/or by varying surface chemical properties, both of which are spatially graded. Such surfaces discriminate and spatially separate particulate and/or fluids without external energy input. The device of the present invention comprises a platform having bifurcating microchannels arranged radially. The lumenal surfaces of the microchannels may have a surface energy gradient created by varying the periodicity of hierarchically arranged microstructures along a dimension. The surface energy gradient is varied in two regions. In one pre-bifurcation region the surface energy gradient generates a fluid flow. In the other post-bifurcation region, there is a difference in surface energy proximal to the bifurcation such that different flow fractions are divided into separate channels in response to different surface energy gradients in each of the post-bifurcation channels. Accordingly, fluids of different hydrophobicity and/or particulate of different hydrophobicity are driven into separate channels by a global minimization of the fluid system energy.

An electrochemical separation device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a cell stack including alternating depleting compartments and concentrating compartments disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, an inlet manifold configured to introduce a fluid to one of the depleting compartments or the concentrating compartments an outlet manifold, and one or more of a fluid flow director disposed within the inlet manifold and having a surface configured to alter a flow path of the fluid introduced into the inlet manifold and direct the fluid into the one of the depleting compartments or the concentrating compartments, and a second fluid flow director disposed within the outlet manifold and having a surface configured to alter a flow path of the fluid introduced into the outlet manifold via one of the depleting compartments or the concentrating compartments.

A natural gas processing system is mounted on a mobile platform that is transported to a natural gas source, such as a well. The system supplies retentate gas to operate multi-fuel engines for wellfield equipment such as pumps, compressors, and drills. A liquid drain discharges contaminants. A separator, first and second coalescing filters, and a particulate filter remove particulate matter and fluid contaminant matter from the natural gas. A dryer removes water vapor from the natural gas. Dual membranes separate the natural gas into a retentate gas and a permeate gas. A first heat exchanger adjusts temperature of the natural gas entering the membranes. A second heat exchanger adjusts temperature of the retentate gas output. A thermoelectric generator powered by the natural gas supplies process electricity. A process control monitors and controls the natural gas processing system, including pressure control valves, temperature control valves, and emergency shutdown systems. An instrument gas supply with an accumulator supplies gas pressure to operate pneumatic valves and instruments.