Albany International

Albany International Research Co. has developed an advanced hollow fiber composite reverse osmosis membrane and module under the name of Quantro II . This composite membrane is comprised of a porous hollow fiber substrate on which has been deposited a rejection barrier capable of fluxes of commercial importance at high rejection of dissolved salts at elevated temperatures. Resistance to active chlorine has been demonstrated. Proprietary processes have been developed for spinning of the fiber, establishment of the rejection barrier and processing of the fiber to prepare modules of commercial size. Prototype modules are currently in field trials against brackish and seawater feed solutions. Applications under consideration for this membrane include brackish and seawater desalination as well as selected industrial concentration processes. 

Bundle Preparation. Packages of multifileiment yarns are backwound to prepare bundles necessary for the manufacture of a reverse osmosis module. A proprietary winder for this operation has been designed and constructed at Albany International Research Co. This device is capable of helically winding multifilament yarns into bundles around a mandrel. This is done in a manner such that the resulting bundle has uniform cylindrical dimensions and uniform fiber density. This minimizes channeling and optimizes exposure of membrane surface area. 

Many Quantro II membranes varying incrementally in composition have been under test for 18 months at Albany International Research Co. Tests are performed on experimental samples of fiber. Approximately 16 inches of multifilament yarn are typically subjected to various feeds and conditions. Such a yarn sample is embedded in epoxy which is sealed into a pressure system. Several test facilities are in operation to provide various feeds and conditions. 

As a result of prior field experience with the furan system, a qualifying test has been employed at Albany International Research Co. to measure the durability. Table III displays data of typical samples tested against synthetic seawater at 1000 psig maintained at a temperature of 50°C. Samples of cellulosic seawater membrane and polyamide membrane were found to fail in several hours of challenge by these conditions. 

Research effort at Albany International Research Co. has developed unit processes necessary for pilot scale production of several species of reverse osmosis hollow fiber composite membranes. These processes include spin-dope preparation, a proprietary apparatus for dry-jet wet-spinning of microporous polysul-fone hollow fibers, coating of these fibers with a variety of permselective materials, bundle winding using multifilament yarns and module assembly. Modules of the membrane identified as Quantro II are in field trial against brackish and seawater feeds. Brackish water rejections of 94+% at a flux of 5-7 gfd at 400 psi have been measured. Seawater rejections of 99+% at 1-2 gfd at 1000 psi have been measured. Membrane use requires sealing of some portion of the fiber bundle for installation in a pressure shell. Much effort has been devoted to identification of potting materials which exhibit satisfactory adhesion to the fiber while... 

S. C. Williams and R. C. Woglom. Finally, the authors wish to acknowledge the financial support of Albany International Corp. and, since 1976, partial support of the Office of Water Research and Technology, U. S. Department of the Interior. 

Hollow fibre formulation "NoMate PBW" supplied by Controlled Release Division of Albany International Company. 

Albany International, Controlled Release Division, Needham Heights, MA 02194 M. H. BENN... 

Hollow Plastic Fibers Albany International Needham, MA X X... 

Albany International (Needham Heights, MA) hollow fibers, a formulation of 11.5% by weight disparlure in polyoxymethylene copolymer hollow fibers. 

In 1979, NCR microcapsules, Hereon flakes and Albany International hollow fiber formulations of racemic disparlure were applied by air in Massachusetts. Plots of 16 ha were treated with each formulation at 2 g ai/ha or 20 g ai/ha. Three plots served as controls, and each treatment was applied to three plots, except that during the application of the hollow fiber formulation, one plot received 10 g ai/ha instead of 20 g ai/ha. Data from this plot showed that trap catch and mating reduction fell between the values obtained for the 2 g ai/ha and 20 g ai/ha applications, providing a further indication that effectiveness increases with increasing application rates. 

Eucosma sonomana, Kearfott, has been most encouraging. Two companies, Albany International s Controlled Release Division and Health Chemical s Hereon Division, have registered formulations (mention of proprietary products do not necessarily constitute endorsement by the USDA) which will control this pest (4 5 6). Table I summarizes results of controlling this insect with different formulations. 

Generally, the salt rejections observed for these membranes in seawater reverse osmosis tests did not exceed 80 percent. This process was applied at Albany International to form composite membranes on hollow polysulfone fibers (25). Salt rejections on the hollow fiber membranes were above 98 percent at an average flux of about 1.5 gfd (2.5 L/sq m/hr) in a 12 000-hour test using 30 000 ppm seawater at 1000 psi. In other 5000-hour tests using 3500 ppm brackish water at 400 psi with addition of 100 ppm chlorine at pH 8 flux and salt rejection remained constant at 1 gfd and 98 percent respectively (Figures 8 and 12 in Reference 25 a). 

A sulfonated polysulfone membrane with commercial potential has been developed in the form of a hollow fiber by workers at Albany International Corporation.86 87 In a 5,000-hour test on 3,500 ppm brackish water at 400 psi, this membrane exhibited 98% salt rejection at 1 gfd. Flux and salt rejection remained constant even with addition of 100 ppm chlorine. In a 12,000-hour test on seawater at the Wrightsville Beach Test Facility, this membrane exhibited 98+% salt rejection and an average flux of 1.5 gfd at 1,000 psi operating pressure. Thus, it is possible to make a high rejection membrane from sulfonated polysulfone. Flux was rather low in this particular case, but suitable for hollow fiber membrane use. 

Source From FRL (Now Albany International Research Co.) Technical Report No. 4, Mansfield, Massachusetts, February, 1951. 

M.J. Coplan, G. Gotz (Albany International Corporation), Heterogeneous sulfonation process for difficulty sulfo-natable poly(ether sulfone). US Patent 4413106, Nov 1, 1983. 

Davis, RB., Skelton, J, Clark, RE and Swanson, WM (Washington University, Albany International corporation) 1980. Heart valve prosthesis. US patent application 790442.25 April 1977. 

This is an engineering plastic designed for thermal/electrical applications requiring high dimensional stability. This material exhibits superior electrical and mechanical performance at continuous use temperatures ranging from -60 to 260 °C. Pyropel HDT polyamide-imide (PAI) produced by Albany International [35] has enhanced properties without the need for post-curing. 

Many other national and international companies, some with extensive expert in liquid separations as well as others with primarily chemical and p rochemical histories, are either closely monitoring the field or actively engag in research aimed at tapping its exciting potential for growth. An interesting alternative approach to membrane formation has b the basis for reverse osmosis membranes marlreted by Film Tech, UOP, and Albany International. These composite membranes are essentially the trrinor images of the Monsanto composites. 

Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY. 14608. t Albany International, Farctaan Labs, Willoughby, OH. 44094. iCaUery Chemical Company, Callery, PA 16024. 

Union Carbide Industrial Gases, Inc. and Albany International Membrane Venture form a joint venture. 

Innovative Membrane Systems (formerly Albany International Membrane Venture) becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Union Carbide Industrial Gases, Inc. (now Praxair, Inc.). 

---