A method of collecting a urine sample including appropriately locating hydrophobic sand with respect to the urine sample. Use of the hydrophobic sand including providing a barrier in the form of at least one layer of the sand; and collecting a urine sample by appropriately locating the sand with respect to the urine.

A device and method for increasing the area available for passing contaminated stormwater through a granular media. The device comprises of one or more hollow elements that are made of degradable material and are of predetermined size and shape. The increased area available for flow is obtained by introducing a first media into predetermined areas of the device, introducing a second media into predetermined areas that are adjacent to areas containing the first media, and allowing the elements to degrade to bring about contact between the first and second media.

A high strength environmental control device comprising a mesh container having at least one interior and one exterior surface is provided. The interior of the mesh container can comprise a filler material. The mesh container can comprise a plurality of yarns, including viscose fibers, interlaced together.

A high strength environmental control device comprising a mesh container having at least one interior and one exterior surface is provided. The interior of the mesh container can comprise a filler material. The mesh container can comprise a plurality of yarns, including viscose fibers, interlaced together.

An apparatus for removing impurities from water and/or wastewater and a method of installing a fluid distribution system in the apparatus. In the most preferred form of the invention, the fluid distribution system is an air scour system for directing air through the filter bed to assist in cleaning of the filter bed to remove impurities trapped in the filter bed during a service run. In the most preferred form, the method of installing the fluid distribution system in the filter bed is performed by imparting a force to the filter bed to permit the fluid distribution system to be installed in the filter bed without removing media. The fluid distribution system is preferably configured to permit the fluid distribution system to be readily installed in the filter bed and at an optimum orientation.

Methods of refining metals and methods of manufacturing positive electrode active materials are disclosed. The methods of refining metal comprise preparing an acid solution that includes an impurity and metal, adding a filtration aid to the acid solution to make a precipitation reaction solution, and filtering the precipitation reaction solution to separate a liquid including the metal and a solid including the impurity and the filtration aid. The filtration aid includes one or more of silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2), aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2O.sub.3), calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH).sub.2).

Devices and methods associated therewith for facilitating movement, removal and/or installation of components from treatment units (e.g., water treatment units and wastewater treatment units). The treatment unit can take the form of a granular media filter (e.g., upflow filter, downflow filter or bi-flow filter) or a sludge collection basin. One preferred device is one or more floats facilitating safe removal of components of a treatment unit. The float(s) can be operably associated with an air scour system of a water filter to remove the air scour system from a granular media filter bed. The float(s) can be operably associated with a collection grid of a sludge collection container facilitating safe removal of the collection grid from the sludge collection container. Another preferred device is a flexible piping/conduit operably connected to a pressurized air source and an air scour system to assist in removal/installation of the air scour system.

Devices and methods associated therewith for facilitating movement, removal and/or installation of components from treatment units (e.g., water treatment units and wastewater treatment units). The treatment unit can take the form of a granular media filter (e.g., upflow filter, downflow filter or bi-flow filter) or a sludge collection basin. One preferred device is one or more floats facilitating safe removal of components of a treatment unit. The float(s) can be operably associated with an air scour system of a water filter to remove the air scour system from a granular media filter bed. The float(s) can be operably associated with a collection grid of a sludge collection container facilitating safe removal of the collection grid from the sludge collection container. Another preferred device is a flexible piping/conduit operably connected to a pressurized air source and an air scour system to assist in removal/installation of the air scour system.

A hand-held water filter priming bags for priming a high performance gravity fed water filters has a flexible water container portion permanently sealed to a threaded filter connector component. A handle extends longitudinally along at least substantially the entire diameter of a base section of the filter connector component. The handle comprises a continuous flange spanning substantially the diameter of the base section and surrounding an outlet extending through the base section. Flexible water container portion is sealed to the continuous flange. An interior of the water container portion is in fluid communication with an exterior of the bag via the outlet. The bag outlet is configured for highly targeted pressurization of high-performance filters. A priming bag system includes the hand-held water filter priming bag. Methods of priming allow for efficient fully priming of high performance filters.

Devices and methods associated therewith for facilitating movement, removal and/or installation of components from treatment units (e.g., water treatment units and wastewater treatment units). The treatment unit can take the form of a granular media filter (e.g., upflow filter, downflow filter or bi-flow filter) or a sludge collection basin. One preferred device is one or more floats facilitating safe removal of components of a treatment unit. The float(s) can be operably associated with an air scour system of a water filter to remove the air scour system from a granular media filter bed. The float(s) can be operably associated with a collection grid of a sludge collection container facilitating safe removal of the collection grid from the sludge collection container. Another preferred device is a flexible piping/conduit operably connected to a pressurized air source and an air scour system to assist in removal/installation of the air scour system.