In one embodiment, a treatment system for removing dissolved contaminants (e.g., arsenic) from a contaminated fluid (e.g., water) utilizes in-situ generation of adsorption filtration media or reactive components. Corrosion materials (e.g., iron oxide complexes) that serve as the adsorption filtration media or reactive components are generated by supplying a flow of contaminated fluid, and injecting air, into a generator vessel containing pieces of an oxidizable source (e.g., zero-valent iron spheres). The pieces of the oxidizable source are agitated to release particulates of corrosion materials from their surface into solution with the contaminated fluid. Simultaneous to the ongoing generation of corrosion materials, dissolved contaminants in the contaminated fluid are adsorbed on the corrosion materials. New particulate compounds generated by adsorption of the dissolved contaminants on the corrosion materials precipitate from the solution, and are filtered out, thereby removing the contaminants, and yielding treated fluid (e.g., potable water).

A method for producing a preferably cosmetic item. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for producing preferably cosmetic items, and to a packing unit, in particular a capsule (33), for producing preferably cosmetic items. According to the invention, it is provided that the cosmetic ingredients (12) preferably required for production are available to a final consumer in precisely pre-measured units, in order for the final consumer to produce a domestic quantity of the preferably cosmetic item.

The present disclosure is drawn to temperature-cycling microfluidic devices. In one example, a temperature-cycling microfluidic device can include a driver chip having a top surface and a heat exchange substrate having a top surface coplanar with the top surface of the driver chip. A fluid chamber can be located on the top surface of the driver chip. A first and second microfluidic loop can have fluid driving ends and fluid outlet ends connected to the fluid chamber and can include portions thereof located on the top surface of the heat exchange substrate. A first and second fluid actuator can be on the driver chip. The first and second fluid actuators can be associated with the fluid driving ends of the first and second microfluidic loops, respectively, to circulate fluid through the first and second microfluidic loops.

Hydrocarbon-containing feedstocks are processed to produce useful intermediates or products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can process a petroleum-containing feedstock, such as oil sands, oil shale, tar sands, and other naturally-occurring and synthetic materials that include both hydrocarbon components and solid matter, to obtain a useful intermediate or product.

An apparatus for preparing a water/diesel oil micro-emulsion comprises a diesel oil feeding unit (2), an emulsifying composition feeding unit (3), a water feeding unit (4), a mixing tank (5) in fluid communication with the diesel oil feeding unit (2), with the emulsifying composition feeding unit (3) and with the water feeding unit (4). A mixing device (22) is operatively connected to the mixing tank (5). The mixing device (22) comprises a duct (39) extending along a main direction (X-X) and presenting an inlet opening (40) and an outlet nozzle (41). A cone shaped septum (60) is placed in the duct (39), coaxial with respect to the main direction (X-X) and tapering towards the outlet nozzle (41). The cone shaped septum (60) is provided with a plurality of holes (65) made through its conical wall (63). A plurality of lamellae (76, 80) are arranged in at least a portion of the duct (39) placed downstream of the cone shaped septum (60). The plurality of lamellae (76, 80) divides said portion in a plurality of small chambers (77, 82) and are provided with through holes (78, 81). The holes (78, 81) and the small chambers (77, 82) delimit a labyrinth passageway for the liquid flowing through the duct (39) towards the outlet nozzle (41). The water/diesel oil micro-emulsion is obtained by recirculating a batch contained in the mixing tank (5) and comprising the diesel oil, the emulsifying composition and the water through a recirculation conduit and through the mixing device (22).

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a mixing system that includes a heating assembly configured to heat liquid, and a mixing assembly including a tank defining a cavity and configured to retain liquid, an inlet in fluidic communication with the cavity and configured to receive liquid from the heating assembly, a mixing impeller assembly configured to mix contents of the cavity, an actuator configured to actuate the mixing impeller assembly to mix contents of the cavity, and an outlet in fluidic communication with the cavity and having a valve configured to selectively prevent and permit egress of contents of the cavity.

A system and method for mixing and dispensing two substances are provided. The system includes: a first substance a first container for containing a first substance, a second container for containing a second substance, a feeding tube, and a pumping system connected to the first container, the second container, and the feeding tube; wherein the system comprises at least three modes of operation: combining the first and second substances into one combined substance, mixing the combined substance, and dispensing the mixed substance; and wherein the pumping system is adapted to perform the at least three modes of operation and dispense the mixed substance to the feeding tube.

A method of manufacturing a self-expanding fire-fighting foam solution is disclosed. Here, the method can include purging air from a container, wherein the purging is performed via flowing an inert gas into the container, such that substantially inert environment is created within the container. In addition, the method can further include dispensing or filling a pre-determined amount of foam concentrate into a container, dispensing or filling a pre-determined amount of water into the container, and mixing the foam concentrate and water within the container, wherein the mixed foam and water within the inert container provide the self-expanding fire-fighting foam solution and having a pH ranging from about 6.8 to 7.8 moles per liter.

Initial liquid containing fine bubbles is produced by mixing water and air (step S11). Fine bubbles have diameters of less than 1 μm. The density of bubbles in the initial liquid is measured (step S13), and when the measured density is less than a target density (step S14), the initial liquid is heated and reduced in pressure so that the liquid is vaporized (step S15). As a volume of the liquid decreases, the density of fine bubbles increases, and high-density fine bubble-containing liquid is easily obtained. Alternatively, by increasing the density of fine bubbles in the initial liquid with using a filter that does not pass all fine bubbles, high-density fine bubble-containing liquid is easily acquired (step S15). When the density of bubbles in the initial liquid is greater than the target density, the initial liquid is diluted (step S16).

This disclosure features methods of forming chemical compositions. The method includes (1) mixing a plurality of continuous material flows in a mixing tank to form a chemical composition, each continuous material flow including at least one component of the composition; and (2) moving a continuous flow of the chemical composition to a packaging station downstream of the mixing tank. The mixing and moving steps are performed continuously. This disclosure also features systems that can be used to perform such methods.