NEWS

4Membrane Technology September 2007

their fibreglass-wrapped shell, particularly dur-ing start-up and commissioning of high-pres-sure applications such as sea-water desalination.

Hydranautics says that the ATD provides air vents that allow feed liquid to quickly flood the gap between the element and the pressure vessel wall. The air then can be forced through the vents and allowed to pass through the elements and out of the pressure vessel.

Pressurization rate studies show that when a conventional ATD is used, the pressure outside the element does not change at the same rate as that inside the element. The new vented ATD allows the pressure inside and outside to equal-ize almost instantaneously. This patent-pending development protects elements from large pressure differentials, which can occur in sea-water desalination plants that have rapid pressurization rates.

These new ATDs will be used on Hydranautics’ 20-cm (8-inch) diameter by 100-cm (40-inch) long sea-water elements, including the SWC3+, SWC4+ and SWC5. All new-generation seal carrier elements can be combined with previous element ATDs with-out loss of performance or the need for special adaptors, says the company.

Contact:

Hydranautics, 401 Jones Road, Oceanside, CA 92054,

USA. Tel: +1 760 901 2500, www.membranes.com

MPPE system now available in North and South America

Macro porous polymer extrac-tion (MPPE) systems are now

available in North and South America through US-based Whittier Filtration, a subsidiary of Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies.

The patented technology is described as a flexible and robust process that is used to separate dissolved and dispersed hydrocar-bons from water. It is used worldwide for offshore and onshore produced water applica-tions, as well as wastewater and groundwater treatment.

The technology is based on extraction. Porous polymer particles act as carriers for a non-toxic and biodegradable extraction medium that absorbs and removes hydrocar-bons from water. These cylindrical particles are capable of reducing contaminant concentrations in water by a factor of more than one million, which means that concentrations of thousands

of parts per million can be lowered to below one part per billion, says Whittier Filtration.

This is done in only one pass. It is a con-tinuous process with in situ regeneration of the MPPE material. Aside from creating clean water for recycling or discharge, the water purification unit also yields nearly 100% pure hydrocarbons suitable for reuse.

Dutch company MPP Systems, which is the developer behind the MPPE technology, is now a subsidiary of Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies.

Contact:

Whittier Filtration, 12854 E. Florence, Santa Fe Springs,

CA 90670, USA. Tel: +1 562 204 2550

Web: www.whittierfiltration.com

Microfiltrex adds laboratory products to its portfolio

To support demand from the life sciences industry, Microfiltrex, a

division of the Porvair Filtration Group, has added small-scale filtration products to its portfolio.

Targeted at laboratory bio-processing applica-tions, including clarification, sterile filtration, venting and gas filtration, the company says that its Lab Range covers economical, disposa-ble products, such as syringe filters and devices, a selection of filter capsules and junior cartridge filters. The products are available with a choice of media, pore size and connections to suit vari-ous requirements.

‘Following the success with our microfiltra-tion product range for life sciences, we identi-fied a customer need for small-scale filtration products – a niche that the Lab Range fulfils,’ said Bob Wilkinson, General Manager, Microfiltration at the company.

Microfiltrex specializes in porous media and filtration technology. The Porvair Filtration Group designs and manufactures high perform-ance filters and filtration systems for a wide range of sectors, including the aerospace and defence, biosciences, chemical process and power-generating industries.

Contact:

Porvair Filtration Group Ltd, Fareham Industrial Park,

Fareham, Hampshire PO16 8XG, UK. Tel: +44 1329

285616

Porvair Filtration Group Incorporated, 454 South

Anderson Road, BTC 514, Rock Hill, SC 29730, USA.

Tel: +1 803 327 5008, www.porvairfiltration.com

Sartorius posts solid financial results

Sartorius Group has posted solid results for the first half of fiscal

year 2007.During June 2007, the Germany company

acquired a controlling stake in French firm Stedim SA, and combined this company with its Biotechnology Division to form a separate subgroup. Sartorius AG holds 69.8% of the shares in this subgroup, so that the latter is fully consolidated in the Sartorius Group as of the first-half 2007 financial statements.

In the first half of 2007, the group received pro forma orders valued at 331.6 million, compared with 305.4 million in the equiva-lent period of 2006. This corresponds to a gain of 8.6% (or 11.4% when currency-adjusted).

Reporting a pro forma increase of 10.1% (or 13.1% when currency-adjusted) to 198.3 million, the Biotechnology Division achieved double-digit growth in order intake, says the company. The actual order intake for the Sartorius Group, at 287.3 million, is up 9.9% (or 12.4% when currency-adjusted) over the figure posted a year earlier.

Pro forma sales revenue rose in the first half of 2007 by 3.1% (or 5.5% when currency-adjusted) to 312.2 million, compared with 302.9 million in the first half of 2006. For the Biotechnology Division, the company reported a pro forma increase of 2.7% (or 5.3% when currency-adjusted) to reach 186.6 million.

Contact:

Sartorius AG, Weender Landstrasse 94-108, D-37075

Goettingen, Germany. Tel: +49 551 3080,

www.sartorius.com

Water generator replaces bottled water in nuclear power plant

WaterPure International Incorporated of Doylestown,

Pennsylvania, USA, has announced that it has placed its atmospheric water generator (AWG) inside a selected nuclear power plant.

Use of the AWG at this plant is part of a pilot programme run by the company to investigate the possibility of avoiding the need for outside vendors to supply bottled water. WaterPure’s AWG can produce 19–38 litres