Mitsubishi Rayon Company, Limited

Other

Kenji Watari

Satoshi Takeda

Makoto Uchida

Masamoto Uenishi

Seiji Hayashi

Masumi Kobayashi

Osami Kato

Noriaki Fukushima

Hiroyuki Okazaki

Masanori Itakura

Ikuo Kinoshita

Satoshi Miyashita

Kenji Honjyo

Takamitsu Takashima

Noriko Inoue

Hiroshi Tasaka

Satoshi Suzuki

Yoshihito Nakahara

Yoshinori Nagasaka

Kenji Niikawa

Masaru Ide

Masanao Kobuke

A hollow fiber membrane module, a hollow fiber membrane module unit, and a water treatment method. The module or the module unit enable the efficient contact of microorganisms on the surface of a membrane with a gas. The module and the unit have excellent durability. The hollow fiber membrane module is formed so that the end parts of sheet-form hollow fiber membranes are formed in a substantially rectangular shape and the end face of the anchoring member on a side where the hollow fiber membranes open is formed in a substantially circular shape. The hollow fiber membrane module unit is formed in such a manner that a plurality of modules is disposed. The water treatment method is used to purify treated water with the microorganisms adhered onto the outer surfaces of the hollow fiber membranes by using the module or the unit.

Hollow fiber membrane module, hollow fiber membrane module unit, and water treatment method

A hollow fiber membrane module, a hollow fiber membrane module unit using the hollow fiber membrane module, and a water treatment method using the module or the module unit enable the efficient contact of microorganisms on the surface of a membrane with a gas, the module and the unit having excellent durability. The hollow fiber membrane module is formed in such a manner that the end parts of sheet-form hollow fiber membranes are formed in a substantially rectangular shape and the end face of the anchoring member on a side where the hollow fiber membranes open is formed in a substantially circular shape. The hollow fiber membrane module unit is formed in such a manner that a plurality of modules is disposed. The water treatment method is used to purify treated water with the microorganisms adhered onto the outer surfaces of the hollow fiber membranes by using the module or the unit.

An object of the present invention is to provide a production apparatus for a hollow fiber membrane module without a risk of deteriorating characteristics of the hollow fiber membranes to be used, with the module case and the hollow fiber membranes bonded and fixed with a potting resin in a highly fluid-tight or airtight manner, and a production method thereof. A centrifugal type production apparatus () for the hollow fiber membrane module, for bonding and fixing at least one end part of the hollow fiber membrane stored in the module case and the module case with each other with the potting resin by utilizing a centrifugal force. The centrifugal force is applied by driving a centrifugal machine () while supporting an end part potting working part () of the hollow fiber membrane module () by a fixing jig (). The fixing jig () comprising a heating means () and a temperature detecting means () controlling a heating capacity of the heating means () based on a difference between a temperature of the fixing jig () detected by the temperature detecting means () and a setting temperature of the fixing jig () preliminarily set in a temperature accuracy range of &#xb1;4&#xb0; C. to the setting temperature. It is also possible to reduce a pressure of the potting working part () with a pressure reducing mechanism () simultaneously with the centrifugal force application for further preventing generation of leakage of the potting resin.

Apparatus for production of hollow fiber membrane module and method of production

The present invention provides a gas-permeable hollow fiber membrane having an inner diameter of 50 to 500 &#x3bc;m and a membrane thickness of 10 to 150 &#x3bc;m, which is preferably a composite hollow fiber membrane having a three-layer structure consisting of a nonporous layer having porous layers disposed on both sides thereof. Dissolved gases present in an ink can be removed by passing the ink through the bores of hollow fibers comprising such a hollow fiber membrane, and evacuating the outer surface side of the hollow fibers. This method makes it possible not only to degas inks with a slight pressure loss, but also to degas inks stably even if pressure changes occur during degassing.

Hollow fiber membrane for the degassing of inks, ink degassing method, ink degassing apparatus, method for the fabrication of an ink cartridge, and ink

The present invention provides a gas-permeable hollow fiber membrane having an inner diameter of 50 to 500 &mgr;m and a membrane thickness of 10 to 150 &mgr;m, which is, preferably a composite hollow fiber membrane having a three-layer structure consisting of a nonporous layer having porous layers disposed on both sides thereof. Dissolved gases present in an ink can be removed by passing the ink through the bores of hollow fibers comprising such a hollow fiber membrane, and evacuating the outer surface side of the hollow fibers. This method makes it possible not only to degas inks with a slight pressure loss, but also to degas inks stably even if pressure changes occur during degassing.

A hollow fiber membrane module and potting material can be used for chemical deaeration in a semiconductor production process, in printers, in a liquid crystal sealing process or in a chemical production process. A hollow fiber membrane module includes, as potting material , an epoxy resin cured product in which the weight change per unit surface area of a potting material test piece after immersing the test piece in a chemical for 6 months at room temperature is within the range of &minus;20 to &plus;20 mg/cm , and as housing , a polyolefin in which the weight change per unit surface area of a test piece after immersing the test piece in a chemical for 6 months at room temperature is within the range of &minus;20 to &plus;20 mg/cm , and the total metal content is 300 ppm or less. The module has a long service life when used for chemical treatment without leakage.

Hollow yarn membrane module, potting agent therefor and method for deaeration of liquid chemicals

The present invention provides a gas-permeable hollow fiber membrane having an inner diameter of 50 to 500 &mgr;m, which is preferably a composite hollow fiber membrane having a three-layer structure consisting of a nonporous layer having porous layers disposed on both sides thereof. This membrane can be used to remove dissolved gases present in an ink.

Hollow fiber membrane

The invention concerns a gas diffuser constructed and arranged to disperse gas into a aeration vessel of a water treatment assembly from a blower. The gas diffuser includes main pipes, branch pipes extending between the main pipes and containing gas discharge ports, wherein the branch pipes have a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the main pipes. The gas discharge ports are further sized, constructed and arranged to reduce the possibility or likelihood of sludge from blocking the ports or entering the branch pipes. This object is achieved either by placement of the ports on the bottom sides of the branch pipes or, alternatively, by construction of the ports to include conduit members, themselves having an arrangement of openings or coverings to prevent or reduce the likelihood of sludge from blocking the ports or entering the branch pipes.

Gas diffuser for aeration vessel of membrane assembly

A method for cleaning separating membranes uses a uniquely formulated detergent. The detergent includes a percarbonate-containing, material, existing in the condition in which hydrogen peroxide is adducted in carbonate and is desirably an alkali metal salt. The percarbonate decomposes the organisms deposited on the membrane surfaces while being environmentally desirable. The detergent preferably also includes at least one bivalent iron salt, which improves the cleaning capability of the percarbonate via the so-called Fenton's reaction in which hydrogen peroxide adducted in the percarbonate reacts with the iron ions to form OH&mdash; radicals which have a very high oxidative reactivity. The detergent may also contain other oxidizers, a surfactant, a chelating agent, an acid and a pH regulator. The detergent is dissolved in water prior to use.

Method of cleaning membrane assembly with detergent

A membrane separator assembly for separating solids from water includes opposing enclosure wall structures, a membrane module unit, and a gas diffuser disposed below the membrane module unit. The membrane module unit includes a plurality of membrane modules respectively having at least one separating membrane extending between at least two membrane fixing members. At least one of the membrane fixing members has a main passage which is in fluid communication with a membrane passageway. The membrane passageway is accessible to water via permeation through the separating membranes and is inaccessible to solids which are impermeable relative to the separating membranes. The membrane separator assembly is preferably used with a detergent containing percarbonate, preferably sodium percarbonate. The assembly also includes a gas diffuser with two opposing main pipes and branch pipes extending therebetween to avoid undesired pressure differentials when cleaning the assembly.

Membrane separator assembly and method of cleaning the assembly utilizing gas diffuser underneath the assembly

The described method is for the preparation of a carbonate spring by supplying carbon dioxide to a carbon dioxide dissolver and dissolving the carbon dioxide in raw water and includes of measuring the pH of the formed carbonate spring, calculating the carbon dioxide concentration data of the formed carbonate spring from the measured pH value and the alkalinity of the raw water, and controlling the feed rate of the carbon dioxide supplied to the carbon dioxide dissolver so as to make the carbon dioxide concentration data equal to a preset target carbon dioxide concentration value. According to this method, a carbonate spring having a desired concentration can be easily prepared by using an inexpensive pH measuring device.

Growing community of inventors

Nagoya, Japan

Kenji Watari