Abstract: A liquid treatment system, for example a water purification system, includes a treatment vessel which contains a bed of ion-exchange or adsorption material. The system also includes a washing vessel to which batches of the material comprising the bed in the treatment column are transferred for the flushing of contaminates therefrom, the washed material subsequently being returned to the treatment vessel. The material supply and discharge arrangement for the washing vessel is designed such that the quantity of treatment material withdrawn from the treatment vessel may be selected and will be self-limited.

Abstract: The treatment of raw water, particularly the desalination of waste or other water with a high salt content, is accomplished by means of a process which includes two membrane separation steps performed in concentrate sequence. The concentrate from the second membrane separation step is further treated by means of a thermal concentrating procedure. The water to be processed is first treated to minimize the formation of scale during the first membrane separation step and the concentrate from the first membrane separation step is similarly treated. The overall process also includes the production of materials necessary for reconditioning ion exchange apparatus employed for raw water conditioning and concentrate treatment.

Abstract: The requirements and treatment costs of water used in a fossil fuel fired power station are reduced by a process which employs multiple reverse osmosis stages. This process also employs station waste heat to concentrate solid waste material to facilitate disposal thereof.