The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 11, 2003
Filed:
Aug. 25, 2000
Barry H. Lee, Des Plaines, IL (US);
Gene Wayman, Fox River Grove, IL (US);
John Van Newenhizen, Mundelein, IL (US);
USF Consumer & Commercial Watergroup, Inc., Northbrook, IL (US);
Abstract
A process and apparatus for membrane treatment of a feed liquid to form a product liquid includes feeding a feed liquid, typically an aqueous solution such as tap water, to a primary membrane. The primary membrane separates the feed liquid into a primary membrane retentate which is retained by the primary membrane, and a primary membrane permeate. The primary membrane retentate is then fed to one or more supplemental primary membranes, or to a secondary membrane. The primary membrane retentate (or supplemental primary membrane retentate if a supplemental primary membrane is employed) is separated by the secondary membrane into a secondary membrane retentate which is retained by the secondary membrane, and a secondary membrane permeate passes through the secondary membrane. The secondary membrane retentate may either be collected and disposed of, or may be fed to one or more supplemental secondary membranes. If the secondary membrane retentate is fed to a supplemental secondary membrane, the secondary membrane retentate (or retentate from a prior supplemental secondary membrane) is separated into a supplemental secondary membrane retentate and supplemental secondary membrane permeate. The final product liquid is formed by blending the primary membrane permeate with the secondary membrane permeate and, if applicable, all supplemental primary membrane permeates and supplemental secondary membrane permeates.