Abstract: A tubular membrane, a membrane module, a device including a number of such membranes, and a method for manufacturing such membranes. The tubular membrane includes a tubular base providing a support and having an inner and outer surface, where the tubular base defines a lumen for the feed flow, and a membrane layer provided on the inner surface of the tubular base, where the inner surface of the tubular membrane includes a number of inwardly projecting ridges that extend in a substantially longitudinal direction of the tubular membrane.

Abstract: A method for processing a fluid with forward osmosis process includes providing one or more tubular membranes each including a tubular nonwoven base layer on the outside of the tubular membrane forming an outer shell of the tubular membrane and providing a lumen for feed flow; a polymer substrate layer on the lumen-side of the tubular membrane comprising three regions, including a region where the polymer substrate layer is partially intruded into the tubular base layer, a region with an open macrovoid structure and a region with an asymmetrical foamy layer, where the partially intruded region forms an intermediate layer; and a functional top layer on the polymer substrate layer. The tubular base layer comprises a longitudinal weld. The method includes providing the feed flow through the lumen and providing a draw solution on the outer shell side of the tubular membrane; and processing the feed flow with the membrane.

Abstract: An apparatus for removal of ions from water having: a carbon coated first current collector; a second current collector; a spacer in between the first and second current collectors to allow water to flow in between the first and second current collectors; a first charge barrier in between the first carbon coated current collector and the spacer to selectively allow anions or cations to flow through the first charge barrier. The apparatus may have a second charge barrier coated on the carbon coated first current collector and in contact with the first charge barrier to improve contact. A third charge barrier functioning as a membrane may be provided in between the second current collector and the spacer.

Abstract: An apparatus for removal of ions from water, the apparatus includes: a first functional layer system including a carbon coated first current collector and optionally a first charge barrier layer; a second functional layer system including a carbon coated second current collector and optionally a second charge barrier; and a spacer between the first and second functional layer systems to allow water to flow in between the first and second functional layer systems. An ionomer is provided to the first functional layer system and/or second functional layer system.

Abstract: A method of producing an apparatus to remove ions from water is disclosed, wherein the apparatus includes a first electrode having a first current collector, a second electrode having a second current collector, and a spacer between the first and second electrodes to allow water to flow in between the electrodes. The method includes flushing water through the spacer and subsequently exerting a force on the stack so as to compress the first and second electrodes and the spacer. Exerting a force on the stack may result in a pressure of less than 5 bar, less than 2 bar, or between 1 bar and 0.5 bar, between the electrodes and the spacer.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method to remove ions from water. The apparatus has a housing, an inlet to let water into the housing, an outlet to let water out of the housing, a first and second electrode connected to a power supply configured to create an electrical potential difference between the first and the second electrodes, and a spacer between the first and second electrodes to allow water to flow in between the first and second electrodes. The apparatus includes a velocity adjuster constructed and arranged to adjust a flow velocity of a first portion of the water flowing between the first and second electrodes with respect to a second portion of the water flowing between the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus for removal of ions from water having: a carbon coated first current collector; a second current collector; a spacer in between the first and second current collectors to allow water to flow in between the first and second current collectors; a first charge barrier in between the first carbon coated current collector and the spacer to selectively allow anions or cations to flow through the first charge barrier. The apparatus may have a second charge barrier coated on the carbon coated first current collector and in contact with the first charge barrier to improve contact. A third charge barrier functioning as a membrane may be provided in between the second current collector and the spacer.

Abstract: A method of producing an apparatus to remove ions from water is disclosed, wherein the apparatus includes a first electrode having a first current collector, a second electrode having a second current collector, and a spacer between the first and second electrodes to allow water to flow in between the electrodes. The method includes flushing water through the spacer and subsequently exerting a force on the stack so as to compress the first and second electrodes and the spacer. Exerting a force on the stack may result in a pressure of less than 5 bar, less than 2 bar, or between 1 bar and 0.5 bar, between the electrodes and the spacer.

Abstract: A method of preparing an anion exchange membrane with anion exchange groups. The method includes polymerizing a first monomer with a functional group selected from the pyridine derivatives with a second monomer selected from the benzene derivatives, such as styrene, to form a copolymer. The copolymer may be crosslinked with a crosslinker. The functional group of the copolymer may be functionalized to an anion exchange group.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method to remove ions from water is disclosed. The apparatus has a stack of at least five electrodes in a housing. The stack may have at least three master electrodes, each master electrode comprising a current collector connected to a power controller configured to apply an electrical potential difference. The apparatus is configured such that the electrical potential difference is applied between each two adjacent master electrodes. The stack may have at least two floating electrodes, each floating electrode located between at least two adjacent master electrodes. The apparatus is constructed to allow water to flow from an inlet of the housing to an outlet of the housing between at least two adjacent electrodes and at least one floating electrode may be constructed to attract ions from the water as a result of the electrical potential difference between at least two master electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method to remove ions from water. The apparatus includes a housing, an inlet to let water into the housing, an outlet to let water out of the housing, a first and second electrode connected to a power supply configured to create an electrical potential difference between the first and the second electrodes, and a spacer between the first and second electrodes to allow water to flow in between the first and second electrodes, the spacer comprising a pillar structure.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method to remove ions from water. The apparatus has a housing, an inlet to let water into the housing, an outlet to let water out of the housing, a first and second electrode connected to a power supply configured to create an electrical potential difference between the first and the second electrodes, and a spacer between the first and second electrodes to allow water to flow in between the first and second electrodes. The apparatus includes a velocity adjuster constructed and arranged to adjust a flow velocity of a first portion of the water flowing between the first and second electrodes with respect to a second portion of the water flowing between the first and second electrodes.