Abstract:
A low energy desalination system with a venturi device includes a saline water feed, a pump, and a venturi device. The pump provides saline water to the nozzle of the venturi device. The fluid flowing through the nozzle speeds up at the throat or constricted region of the device. This results in a reduction in pressure at the throat of the device. The reduced pressure at the throat of the device makes the fluid susceptible to evaporation which causes a certain amount of water to evaporate from the saline water. Freshwater vapor from the fluid flows through a freshwater vapor outlet at the throat of the venturi device to a freshwater tank and the concentrated brine remaining in the venturi device flows toward the diffuser of the venturi device and then to a brine tank.
Abstract:
A method of producing dimethoxymethane oligomers (DMMn), the method comprising: reacting a formaldehyde source and dimethoxymethane monomer (DMM1) in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce a reaction effluent comprising DMMn and unreacted DMM1; and separating, from the reaction effluent, DMM1-2 including unreacted DMM1 and DMMn having a chain length n equal to 2 (DMM2), dimethoxymethane oligomers having a chain length n in the range of from 2-5 (DMM2-5), dimethoxymethane oligomers having a chain length n of ≥5 (DMM5+), or a combination thereof, wherein the separating comprises distillation in the presence of at least one alcohol, a distillate fuel, or both.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a process for separating an olefin copolymer from volatile gases using a flash separator. The flash separator can be used with a solution or high pressure process. The mass transport of volatile gases from the viscous polymer melt is increased.
Abstract:
The invention is directed to a urea plant with a high pressure synthesis section and a recovery section. The high pressure synthesis section comprises a reactor, a stripper and a condenser, wherein the reactor operates at a higher pressure than the stripper and the condenser. The plant further includes a compression unit between the condenser and the reactor. The compression unit utilizes mechanical energy recovered from a decompression unit positioned downstream of the stripper and upstream of the recovery section.
Abstract:
A crystal forming apparatus and method for using the apparatus, the method including depositing a precipitant solution in a site, incubating the site, during which time volatile vapor evaporates from the precipitant solution and accumulates in the site, and pumping the accumulated volatile vapor away from the site. An exemplary apparatus includes a sealed site except for a vent on the sealed site. In one embodiment, the vent is a passive vent that inhibits vapor diffusion out of the site. In another embodiment, the vent is an active vent that opens in response to a pressure differential. The present invention accelerates and controls the crystal growth process by pumping volatile vapor away from the sealed site.
Abstract:
A system and method for integrating microfluidic components in a microfluidic system enables the microfluidic system to perform a selected microfluidic function. A capping module includes a microfluidic element for performing a microfluidic function. The capping module is stacked on a microfluidic substrate having microfluidic plumbing to incorporate the microfluidic function into the system.
Abstract:
A system and method for integrating microfluidic components in a microfluidic system enables the microfluidic system to perform a selected microfluidic function. A capping module includes a microfluidic element for performing a microfluidic function. The capping module is stacked on a microfluidic substrate having microfluidic plumbing to incorporate the microfluidic function into the system.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method of precipitating protein crystals from a protein-containing sample. The present invention also relates to a novel microarray and a novel device for screening for protein crystallization condition. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of conveniently and quickly screening for protein crystallization conditions using the microarray or the device having highly integrated and held crystallization conditions even with an extremely small quantity of a sample.
Abstract:
A crystal forming apparatus and method for using the apparatus, the method including depositing a precipitant solution in a site, incubating the site, during which time volatile vapor evaporates from the precipitant solution and accumulates in the site, and pumping the accumulated volatile vapor away from the site. An exemplary apparatus includes a sealed site except for a vent on the sealed site. In one embodiment, the vent is a passive vent that inhibits vapor diffusion out of the site. In another embodiment, the vent is an active vent that opens in response to a pressure differential. The present invention accelerates and controls the crystal growth process by pumping volatile vapor away from the sealed site.
Abstract:
The present invention provides processes for identifying a buffer condition suitable for determining a biophysical property of a protein. The processes of this invention utilize vapor diffusion means to alter buffer conditions, thus minimizing the volume of test samples and thereby conserving protein material. The processes of this invention are particularly useful to determine a buffer condition suitable for performing NMR studies on a protein.