Assemblies, apparatuses, systems, and method to extract or convey a material from a source of the material may include a vacuum generation and sound attenuation assembly to enhance conveyance the material from the source of the material. The vacuum generation and sound attenuation assembly may include a vacuum source including a plurality of vacuum generators. Each of the plurality of vacuum generators may be positioned to cause a vacuum flow between the source of the material and the vacuum generation and sound attenuation assembly. The vacuum generation and sound attenuation assembly may further include a sound attenuation chamber connected to the vacuum source. The sound attenuation chamber may include an attenuation housing at least partially defining a chamber interior volume being positioned to receive at least a portion of the vacuum flow from the vacuum source and attenuate sound generated by the vacuum source.

The invention relates to the development of a carrier material providing high surface area for biofilm formation in wastewater treatment plants and a carrier material surface modification method for accelerating and enriching biofilm formation.

A method for controlling temperature of a chemical reaction without measuring a temperature of the chemical reaction. Changes in mass of a chemical reaction are monitored and are used to calculate the temperature of the system. The reaction can be maintained at a desired temperature (T) without measuring the temperature. The disclosed method is useful for reactions that occur at non-equilibrium conditions where any measured temperature would presume steady-state conditions.

A packing element for use in a heat exchange or mass transfer tower includes a barrel and a plurality of fins spaced around a circumference of the barrel, each fin having a height approximately equal to a height of the barrel and a length extending radially from the barrel, a proximate end of each fin attached perpendicularly to the barrel. A protrusion extends outward from the distal end or each fin along its height. A method for mass transfer includes passing fluids through a vessel packed with randomly arranged packing elements.

The present disclosure a mechanical filter element (2) for forming a static filter pack (11) to perform mechanical filtration of a liquid. The mechanical filter element (1) has one or more filter cell (19). The present disclosure also relates to a mechanical filter apparatus (1) having a filter chamber (10) containing a plurality of mechanical filter elements (2) for forming the static filter pack (11) to perform mechanical filtration of a liquid. The mechanical filter apparatus (1) is configured to generate a flow of the liquid through the mechanical filter elements (2) during filtration to form the static filter pack (11). Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a method of mechanically filtering a liquid. A plurality of mechanical filter elements (2) each comprising one or more filter cell (19) are disposed in a filter chamber (10). During filtration, the liquid flows through the filter chamber (10) to establish a static filter pack (11) of said mechanical filter elements (2) to mechanically filter the liquid.

Described herein is a column packing for a distillation apparatus, the column packing having an upper end opposite a lower end, the column packing comprising: a body extending along a central axis, the body comprising: a central channel extending parallel to the central axis, the central channel comprising a first open end opposite a second open end; and a plurality of perimeter channels circumscribing the central channel, each of the perimeter channels comprising a first open end opposite a second open end wherein the multi-channel body is formed of fluoropolymer.

A method for controlling temperature of a chemical reaction without measuring a temperature of the chemical reaction. Changes in mass of a chemical reaction are monitored and are used to calculate the temperature of the system. The reaction can be maintained at a desired temperature (T) without measuring the temperature. The disclosed method is useful for reactions that occur at non-equilibrium conditions where any measured temperature would presume steady-state conditions.

A packing member for use in a packed bed, preferably a support for use as a catalyst support in a packed bed reactor. The packing member includes ceramic material and has a geometric surface area per volume of ≥0.7 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ≥250 kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of ≥1.5 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ≥150 kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of ≥3 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ≥60 kgf. The packing member optionally has a porosity of at least 6%, such as at least 15% or at least 20%.

Mass transfer packing with a minimal surface or a triply periodic minimal surface which enables significantly improved performance for separation and mixing applications particularly with respect to distillation, liquid-liquid contacting, and heat exchange applications.

Described herein is a column packing for a distillation apparatus, the column packing having an upper end opposite a lower end, the column packing comprising: a body extending along a central axis, the body comprising: a central channel extending parallel to the central axis, the central channel comprising a first open end opposite a second open end; and a plurality of perimeter channels circumscribing the central channel, each of the perimeter channels comprising a first open end opposite a second open end wherein the multi-channel body is formed of fluoropolymer.