Abstract: A method of cleaning a fouled RO membrane in a module for RO separation, the membrane having feed side and permeate side, the foulant accumulating at the feed side. The cleaning method comprises: feeding concentrated saline solution to the feed side of the RO membrane under the high gauge pressure of the normal RO separation process; feeding dilute saline solution to the permeate side of the RO membrane under higher pressure than the permeate pressure of the normal RO process, so that a net driving differential ?PN is directed to the feed side, whereby the solvent is being sucked from the permeate side to the feed side, penetrates into the interface between the membrane and the accumulated foulant, and separates the foulant from the membrane surface; and withdrawing the concentrated saline solution together with the separated foulant and the penetrated solvent from the feed side of the RO membrane.

Abstract: A wide/super wide digital printer comprising a printer head box that reciprocates from left to right across a wide or super wide printing table having a length of up to 20 cm that is supported by a fixed support, and a feed roller and a guiding roller that are moveably coupled to the fixed support, wherein the wide/super wide digital printer is configurable as a roll to roll printer by lowering the feed roller and the guiding roller to a lowered configuration wherein uppermost parts of the feed roller and the guiding roller are below upper surface of printing table, or as a discontinuous sheet printer by raising the feed roller and the guiding roller to a raised configuration wherein the uppermost parts of the feed roller and the guiding roller are collinear with the upper surface of the printing table.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a fouled RO membrane in a module for RO separation, the membrane having feed side and permeate side, the foulant accumulating at the feed side. The cleaning method comprises: feeding concentrated saline solution to the feed side of the RO membrane under the high gauge pressure of the normal RO separation process; feeding dilute saline solution to the permeate side of the RO membrane under higher pressure than the permeate pressure of the normal RO process, so that a net driving differential ?PN is directed to the feed side, whereby the solvent is being sucked from the permeate side to the feed side, penetrates into the interface between the membrane and the accumulated foulant, and separates the foulant from the membrane surface; and withdrawing the concentrated saline solution together with the separated foulant and the penetrated solvent from the feed side of the RO membrane.

Abstract: A method of boron removal from saline water containing boron and magnesium or calcium salts including a multi-stage reverse-osmosis (RO) separation process and comprising the steps of a first stage RO separation at pH<8.2; a second stage RO separation over at least part of the first-stage permeate; a third stage RO separation over the second-stage brine. The method is characterized in that the second stage separation is carried at pH>9 and the brine concentration is limited to a degree preventing Mg(OH)2 or CaCO3 scaling on RO membrane surfaces, the permeate constitutes product water, and the brine contains boron and magnesium or calcium ions; the third stage separation is carried at weak-acid pH, whereby the bulk of the magnesium or calcium ions are separated with the brine, while the bulk of the boron ions are retained in the permeate.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a fouled RO membrane in a module for RO separation, the membrane having feed side and permeate side, the foulant accumulating at the feed side.

Abstract: A method of boron removal from saline water containing boron and magnesium or calcium salts including a multi-stage reverse-osmosis (RO) separation process and comprising the steps of a first stage RO separation at pH<8.2; a second stage RO separation over at least part of the first-stage permeate; a third stage RO separation over the second-stage brine. The method is characterized in that the second stage separation is carried at pH>9 and the brine concentration is limited to a degree preventing Mg(OH)2 or CaCO3 scaling on RO membrane surfaces, the permeate constitutes product water, and the brine contains boron and magnesium or calcium ions; the third stage separation is carried at weak-acid pH, whereby the bulk of the magnesium or calcium ions are separated with the brine, while the bulk of the boron ions are retained in the permeate.

Abstract: A filter bag has at least one thread forming a pair of spaced apart first and second loops extending between a bottom and top region of the filter bag. The filter bag further has a support traversed by the thread, which forms a loop above the support. The loop is sized so a user can pull the thread and the bag upward toward the support to a squeezing position of the filter bag, wherein the bottom region thereof is lifted toward the top region.

Abstract: The present invention is a convex printing table for use with wide-format and super wide-format digital printers, which print on flexible substrate up to 5 meters in width. The convex profile of the table creates contact force between the flexible substrate and the support surface. This contact force lessens the formation of wrinkles in the flexible substrate during the printing process, which permits the print heads to be positioned closer to the flexible substrate than with the flat tables currently in use. The size and number of wrinkles and the distance of the print heads from the flexible substrate impact the overall quality of the finished product. The convex printing table also provides a plurality of flat printable regions, enabling use with a four-color digital printer.

Abstract: A feed mechanism for wide format flexible substrates includes a generally cylindrical traction roller having a first axis of rotation, a traction surface and having a length measured parallel to the first axis at least equal to the maximum width of substrate to be used. A generally cylindrical pressure roller has a second axis of rotation, a pressure surface and has a length measured parallel to the second axis at least equal to the maximum width. The pressure roller is deployed with the second axis parallel to the first axis and the pressure surface in rolling contact with the traction surface. A clamping system is configured to apply clamping forces to the pressure roller so as to press the pressure surface against the traction surface while permitting rotation of the pressure roller about the second axis. The clamping system is configured to apply the clamping forces to the pressure roller at at least three locations spaced along the length of the pressure roller.