What specific component did Dr. E. R. Hall and D. T. Thomas incorporate into their 1974 water treatment process patent?
Answer
Hollow fiber membranes
In 1974, Dr. E. R. Hall and D. T. Thomas patented a water treatment process that explicitly utilized hollow fiber membranes within the system. This development was a significant precursor step, though it faced challenges related to membrane durability and the high costs of separation media available at the time. These early attempts were crucial in demonstrating the potential for membranes to hold back solids within biological systems.
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