N e w s a n d V i e w s

A new application is hot water sanitizing of the RO systems used in evaporator condensate reclamation and in ul t rapure water production. This hot water sanitizing can replace the use of chemicals. Also, RO membrane systems can be used in the desalination of natural ly occuring, hot, brackish water.

Use of elements with Dura therm promotes complete sanitation, effective cleaning cycles, and greater process efficiency with lower chemical t reatment costs than other methods, says the manufacturer.

Further Informatlon from: Desalinations Systems, Inc, 1238 Simpson Way, Escondldo, CA 92029, USA. Tel: +I 619 746 4995. Fax: +1 619 747 8253.

Broth h a r v e s t f i l t ra t ion and a n t i b i o t i c s r e c o v e r y Industrial Hydro Alr Research's membrane systems are operating successfully recovering antibiotics and bioproducts from fermentation broths including such products as Cephalosportne, Erythromycin, Clavulanic acid, amino acids, etc.

These systems, when compared with the conventional precoat filtering system often used, are superior in terms of recovery, yield, filtrate quality, operating costs and waste problems, says the company.

In general, the process is performed In two steps. The first step is the direct broth harvest filtration by a crossflow filtration system achieving more than 96% of activity recovery.

The second step involves the use of a new membrane system which is able to concentrate the filtered broth allowing both organic and inorganic low molecular weight compounds to pass through the membrane retaining activity.

The result is a combination of concentrat ion and prepurification steps that yields a phase high in activity concentrat ion and which is reduced in volume. Important advantages In terms of operating costs are achieved in the further purification steps whether a solvent extraction process or a resin absorbtion process are followed.

Further information from: Hydro Air Research srl, Membrane Separation Systems, Via Cesare Pavese 5 / 7, 20090 Zerbo dl Opera, Milan, Italy. Tel: +39 2 5760 6489. Fax: +39 2 5760 6571.

S u m m e r s c h o o l on m e m b r a n e s The ESMST XIth annua l summer school on functional membranes will be held from 12-16 September 1994 at the University of Glasgow, UK.

The school Is intended to at t ract younger post-doctoral and post graduate s tudents who are interested in the area of membrane science and technology, as well as industrialists and others Interested in the range and benefits of membrane processes.

Major toplcs of the summer school will be:

• s t ructure and functionality of new ceramic nanoflltratlon membranes;

• preparat ion of new improved polymeric and ceramic membrane reactors;

• oxidative dehydrogenation;

• bipolar membranes;

• removal of organic compounds from aqueous solutions and gaseous mixtures;

• cellulose esters as polymers for UF and RO;

• fundamental studies of selective t ransport in polymeric membrane media by molecnl~r computer simulation of materials (MCSM) methods; and

• membrane process engineering.

Further information from: Dr Russel Paterson FRSE, Summer School Chairman, Colloid & Membrane Research Group, Chemistry Department, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK. Tel: 041 339 8855, ext. 5500. Fax: 041 330 4888.

CO2 / SO2 r e m o v a l by m e m b r a n e a b s o r p t i o n At Nagoya University in Japan , studies have been made into the membrane absorption of CO2 a n d / o r SO2 using hydrophohic mlcroporous hollow-fibre (HF} membrane modules. The results are published in Gas Separation & Purl flcatton, 8, 2, 1994, pp 107-114.

The emission of SO2 and CO2 result ing from the combust ion of fossil fuels has been regarded to have harsh environmental consequences, and it is desirable to reduce these levels.

A conventional gas-llquld contactor can be used for this, a l though a large c~oss-sectional surface area of the column is needed. An effective way of providing a

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