ABSTRACT
The elimination or minimization of the release of chemicals and radioactive contaminants into the environment will require the discovery and development of still better separation technology. The four classes of invention defined in the United State Code are Process, Machine, Manufacture, and Composition of Matter; examples of novel separation systems can be found of each class. Timeliness is the first requirement for innovation. Timeliness also includes the recognition of a need for a separation system to perform a given task. Three elements are always present to the desired invention or discovery: motivation; innovation/invention/discovery; execution. The sequence of action of these elements, and their relative importance in invention, are highly variable. The Du Pont Permasep separator is an example of a novel separation system developed by a large team effort; however, both at Dow and Du Pont the development was motivated by the need for more effective separation systems for specific mixtures or specific classes of mixtures.
