Process for the removal of particulate matter from an aqueous stream containing a concentrated acid, preferably concentrated sulfuric acid, the process including mechanical filtration by passing the aqueous stream through a filter unit, the filter unit including a metallic, ceramic or polymeric filter, or a filter including a filter aid on a septum. The aqueous stream is the exit stream of a sulfuric acid condenser, optionally the exit stream of a sulfuric acid concentrator arranged downstream the sulfuric acid condenser.

Provided is a single step process for producing 2-methyltetrahydrofuran from furfuryl alcohol with high conversion rate and high selectivity towards 2-methyltetrahydrofuran.

An object of the present invention is to provide a porous ceramic laminate that can reduce pressure loss of a fluid. The present invention is a porous ceramic laminate comprising a first porous layer and a second porous layer, wherein the second porous layer is laminated on the first porous layer, the second porous layer has a portion being laminated on, in contact with, the first porous layer and a portion being laminated over the first porous layer via air, and a coefficient of variance CV (t.sub.b) of the second porous layer thickness is not larger than 0.35.

A method of making a porous structure configured for use in a particulate filter includes bonding a plurality of glass bubbles to one another, and breaching the plurality of glass bubbles. Voids within individual breached glass bubbles open into one another to form cavities that extend through the porous structure.

Disclosed are a blood filter which exhibits excellent leukocyte elimination performance as well as significantly improved blood throughput per unit time and erythrocyte recovery rate and a method of manufacturing the same. The blood filter of the present invention includes a pre-treatment filter which is a laminate of first non-woven fabrics having a mean fiber diameter of 5 to 30 μm and a mean pore size of 10 to 30 μm, and a main filter which is a laminate of second non-woven fabrics having a mean fiber diameter of 1 to 5 μm, a mean pore size of 5 to 10 μm and a mean pore size distribution rate of 30% or more. A filling density of the pre-treatment filter and a filling density of the main filter, with respect to a target blood throughput of the blood filter, are 0.1 g/100 ml to 1 g/100 ml and 1 g/100 ml to 3 g/100 ml, respectively.

The present invention relates to vacuum cleaner filter bags composed of waste products of the textile industry. In addition, possibilities of use for waste products of the textile industry for vacuum cleaner filter bags are provided. The vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising a wall surrounding an inner space and composed of an air-permeable material and an inlet opening introduced into the wall, characterized in that the air-permeable material comprises at least one layer of a nonwoven that comprises fibrous and/or pulverulent recycled textile material and/or cotton linters, with the specific volume of the layer of the nonwoven amounting to at least 20 cm.sup.3/g.

The present invention relates to an improved water pipe comprising a chamber containing water in its lower portion, its upper compact cylindrical portion serving as a smoke collection reservoir; a bowl for combusting tobacco or medicinal herbs, the smoke directed through a tube to the water chamber below the water; and a mouth piece for applying suction to the interior of the chamber to inhale the smoke.

A diesel particulate filter cleaning machine. The filter is filed with a soaking solution comprising water and a surfactant and retained within the filter during a soaking interval. The filter is placed in a rinsing station after the soaking interval. A rinse water head positioned above an upper surface of the filter supplies rinse water into the filter, the rinse water passes through and drains from the filter. During the rinsing process, an actuator moves the rinse water head relative to the upper surface of the filter. A drain receives the rinse water after draining from the filter.

Provided is a single step process for producing 2-methyltetrahydrofuran from furfuryl alcohol with high conversion rate and high selectivity towards 2-methyltetrahydrofuran.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to processes and apparatus for carbon nanotube formation, and more specifically, to processes and apparatus for carbon nanotube alignment. In an embodiment, a process for aligning carbon nanotubes is provided. The process includes introducing an aqueous solution to a pressure-controlled system that includes a silanated glass element, a porous membrane, and a container. The process further includes applying a pressure differential across the porous membrane to draw the aqueous solution from the silanated glass element, through the porous membrane, and to the container at a flow rate to form a filtrate disposed within the container and a retentate disposed above the porous membrane, the retentate comprising carbon nanotubes. The process further includes optically detecting a position of a meniscus of the aqueous solution in the silanated glass element. Apparatus for forming and aligning carbon nanotubes are also disclosed.