A novel method for freeze-related separations, involving the combination of water with a selected concentration of biogenic ice nucleation proteins, freezing the combination, and separating the ice, potentially via centrifugation or sublimation. In some instances, the freezing conditions and the concentration of the at least one biogenic ice nucleation protein are selected such that the aqueous solution, upon freezing, forms a lamellar ice crystal structure having at least one property selected from the group consisting of a solute inclusion volume at least 30% smaller than in the first material alone, a hydraulic diameter at least 30% larger than in the first material alone, an inclusion width that is less than 10% of a crystal dimension, a hydraulic diameter that is less more than 1.5 times that of an inclusion width, a deviation of crystal orientation angle in the transverse direction of less than 45 degrees, an ice crystal length in the transverse direction that is at least 10% larger than in the first material alone, and a length of the ice crystal structure in the longitudinal direction that is at least 10% larger than in the first material alone. The use of these structures result in a significant efficiency improvement and energy savings.

A solid-liquid distribution detection apparatus is adapted to detect a solid-liquid distribution state of a content in a solid-liquid separation column of a freeze concentration device and includes a sound source adapted to emit a sound wave to a column surface of the solid-liquid separation column, a measuring device adapted to measure a resonance waveform on the column surface of the solid-liquid separation column, and an analysis device adapted to analyze the resonance waveform measured by the measuring device and determine the solid-liquid distribution state of the content in the solid-liquid separation column based on an analysis result.

A method for highly concentrating aqueous solutions containing thermally sensitive organic constituents and with or without mineral constituents, wherein firstly, a major portion of the water is extracted by membrane filtration from the solution for pre-concentration and is discharged from the process and the solution which is pre-concentrated is then subjected to a freeze concentration procedure, in which, in the form of separated ice crystallisate, further water is extracted from the solution. To promote results, that concentration may be effected in the freeze concentration procedure until a viscosity of the mother solution of at least 0.0002 m.sup.2/s is achieved, and in that the separated ice crystallisate from the freeze concentration with the mother solution adhering thereto as a suspension is returned to the membrane filtration upstream of the membrane filtration or after melting of the ice crystallisate.

A method for highly concentrating aqueous solutions containing thermally sensitive organic constituents and with or without mineral constituents, wherein firstly, a major portion of the water is extracted by membrane filtration from the solution for pre-concentration and is discharged from the process and the solution which is pre-concentrated is then subjected to a freeze concentration procedure, in which, in the form of separated ice crystallisate, further water is extracted from the solution. To promote results, that concentration may be effected in the freeze concentration procedure until a viscosity of the mother solution of at least 0.0002 m.sup.2/s is achieved, and in that the separated ice crystallisate from the freeze concentration with the mother solution adhering thereto as a suspension is returned to the membrane filtration upstream of the membrane filtration or after melting of the ice crystallisate.

It is an object of the present invention is to obtain a solid-liquid distribution detecting apparatus that detects solid-liquid distribution in a solid-liquid separation column. A solid-liquid distribution detecting apparatus (20) of the present invention detects solid-liquid distribution of a content in a solid-liquid separation column (10) of a freeze concentration device and includes a sound source (21) that emits a sound wave to the column surface of the solid-liquid separation column (10), a measuring device (22) that measures a resonance waveform on the surface of the column, and an analysis device (24) that analyzes the resonance waveform measured by the measuring device (22) and determines a solid-liquid distribution state of the content in the solid-liquid separation column based on the analysis result.

The present invention relates to treating malignancies such as tumors or cancers by orally administering lyophilized compositions comprising arsenic to a subject in such need. Malignancies include various hematological malignancies, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) including acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), multiple myeloma (MM) and lymphomas and solid tumors including glioblastoma multiforme and breast cancer. Arsenic treatment has shown great promise in the treatment of several cancers but requires daily intravenous (IV) administration. This invention relates to a novel formulation comprising a lyophilized compositions comprising arsenic. As a result, the formulation facilitates a systemic bioavailability comparable to that of intravenous (IV) administration of arsenic trioxide currently practiced. The present invention also relates to a method for lyophilizing the arsenic trioxide, preparing the oral formulation comprising lyophilized compositions comprising arsenic, and a method for treating a subject with malignancies using the oral formulation.

A novel method for freeze-related separations, involving the combination of water with a selected concentration of biogenic ice nucleation proteins, freezing the combination, and separating the ice, potentially via centrifugation or sublimation. In some instances, the freezing conditions and the concentration of the at least one biogenic ice nucleation protein are selected such that the aqueous solution, upon freezing, forms a lamellar ice crystal structure having at least one property selected from the group consisting of a solute inclusion volume at least 30% smaller than in the first material alone, a hydraulic diameter at least 30% larger than in the first material alone, an inclusion width that is less than 10% of a crystal dimension, a hydraulic diameter that is less more than 1.5 times that of an inclusion width, a deviation of crystal orientation angle in the transverse direction of less than 45 degrees, an ice crystal length in the transverse direction that is at least 10% larger than in the first material alone, and a length of the ice crystal structure in the longitudinal direction that is at least 10% larger than in the first material alone. The use of these structures result in a significant efficiency improvement and energy savings.

The present invention relates to treating malignancies such as tumors or cancers by orally administering lyophilized compositions comprising arsenic to a subject in such need. Malignancies include various hematological malignancies, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) including acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), multiple myeloma (MM) and lymphomas and solid tumors including glioblastoma multiforme and breast cancer. Arsenic treatment has shown great promise in the treatment of several cancers but requires daily intravenous (IV) administration. This invention relates to a novel formulation comprising a lyophilized compositions comprising arsenic. As a result, the formulation facilitates a systemic bioavailability comparable to that of intravenous (IV) administration of arsenic trioxide currently practiced. The present invention also relates to a method for lyophilizing the arsenic trioxide, preparing the oral formulation comprising lyophilized compositions comprising arsenic, and a method for treating a subject with malignancies using the oral formulation.

The present invention relates to treating malignancies such as tumors or cancers by orally administering lyophilized compositions comprising arsenic to a subject in such need. Malignancies include various hematological malignancies, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) including acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), multiple myeloma (MM) and lymphomas and solid tumors including glioblastoma multiforme and breast cancer. Arsenic treatment has shown great promise in the treatment of several cancers but requires daily intravenous (IV) administration. This invention relates to a novel formulation comprising a lyophilized compositions comprising arsenic. As a result, the formulation facilitates a systemic bioavailability comparable to that of intravenous (IV) administration of arsenic trioxide currently practiced. The present invention also relates to a method for lyophilizing the arsenic trioxide, preparing the oral formulation comprising lyophilized compositions comprising arsenic, and a method for treating a subject with malignancies using the oral formulation.

Provided is a production method for a concentrated product, using a freeze-concentration method having a high yield rate (low loss rate) that is practically applicable, as required in large-scale (commercial scale) production. The production method for concentrated product using the freeze-concentration method includes: an ice crystal generation step in which a fluid to be treated is cooled, ice crystals of the fluid are generated in the fluid, and a mixed fluid to be treated is formed wherein the mixed fluid to be treated is comprised of the ice crystals and a concentrated fluid produced from the fluid to be treated by generating the ice crystals in the fluid thereby the fluid is concentrated; and an ice crystal separation step in which the mixed fluid is separated into the concentrated fluid to be treated and the ice crystals, and the separated concentrated fluid be treated is retrieved.