Abstract: Described herein is a submerged plate membrane device intended for use in forward osmosis processes, particularly for concentrating various process streams such as those in ponds. Particular examples of feed streams that may be concentrated are for example the following feed solutions: brines, seawater, drilling mud, waste water, bio-digestate, and the like. Thus, the process and device described herein are useful for de-watering, and thus concentrating, the content of solar evaporation ponds and drilling mud ponds.

Abstract: Bicarbonate conversion assisted reverse-osmosis (RO) treatment systems for treatment of contaminated water, particularly natural gas flowback water. The systems and processes provide for simultaneous conversion of the primary salt in gas production flowback waters from sodium bicarbonate to sodium sulfate, and flotation removal of organic contaminants, for the enhanced water recovery by RO of these waters. In the systems and processes, RO processes are enhanced by lowering the osmotic potential of the water being processed, by converting the bicarbonate ions to sulfate ions.

Abstract: A method of forming a gas separation membrane including: depositing a first hydrophilic polymer solution; depositing on top of the first hydrophilic polymer solution a second, different hydrophilic polymer solution, thereby forming a two-layer polymer solution; forming the two-layer polymer solution into one of a forward osmosis membrane and a pressure retarded osmosis membrane by bringing the second, different hydrophilic polymer solution into contact with water to form the dense layer; coating one of the forward osmosis membrane and the pressure retarded osmosis membrane with a thin layer of a third, different, hydrophilic polymer more pH tolerant than the first and second hydrophilic polymer solutions to form a dense rejection layer thereon; and exposing one of the coated forward osmosis membrane and the coated pressure retarded osmosis membrane to a high pH solution. A gas separation membrane formed from the foregoing process.

Abstract: A system is described in which a cooling tower is operated with a solution of a non-volatile organic molecule osmolyte and water. Makeup water for the tower is provided by forward osmosis using the fluid as the draw solution for the extraction of water from feeds which require dewatering or from low value available water.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and processes employing a low energy forward osmosis membrane water processing system to simultaneously (1) detoxify reverse osmosis (RO) residual (reject) brines from ground water treatment, and (2) expand available industrial and agricultural ground water supplies.

Abstract: A system and method for extracting the glycol from used or spent glycol mixtures, particularly aircraft deicing fluid, and simultaneously using the extracted water to hydrate brines, such as pavement deicing brines, are disclosed. The system provides comprehensive fluid handling and no discharge, as it re-concentrates glycol from spent aircraft deicing fluids.

Abstract: A forward osmosis (FO) membrane structure comprising a support based on an integrated permeate channel (IPC) fabric and a forward osmosis membrane embedded in the support is disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a membrane filtration device and process affording high velocity cross flow membrane purging via cyclonic spiraling flow; hydraulically induced about stacked plate type membrane configurations. No piping, conduits or other flow impediments are enclosed to generate streamline or shadow depositions, and periodic reversals of cyclonic flow for enhanced membrane scouring and flushing may be employed.

Abstract: A self-regulating FO system is disclosed comprising a container containing a source water supply, a forward osmosis membrane element located within the container comprising an area of osmotic membranes, an osmotic agent inlet and a drink outlet, an osmotic pump element also located within the container comprising an area of osmotic membranes, an osmotic agent inlet and a drink outlet, and an osmotic agent tank located above the container. The osmotic agent tank comprises a feed tube connected to an outlet located on the bottom of the osmotic agent tank. The feed tube communicates with the osmotic agent inlet of the forward osmosis membrane unit and the osmotic agent inlet of the osmotic pump element. A return tube communicates with the drink outlet of the osmotic pump element and a port near the top of the osmotic agent tank.

Abstract: Described herein are thin film composite (TFC) membranes, for use in forward osmosis (FO) and pressure reduced osmosis (PRO) processes. The membrane is comprised of two layers: a composite layer combining a backing layer and a porous, polymer-based support into a single layer, and a rejection layer disposed on top of the composite layer. The membrane of the invention exhibits high water flux values for FO processes, is durable, may be readily manufactured using typical membrane manufacturing processes, such as spiral winding and plate and frame processes, and has sufficient mechanical stability to handle the final membrane product.

Abstract: A center tube is disclosed which allows a draw solution to flow through all membrane elements in a membrane system in parallel. The center tube may include a cylindrical wall with two open ends and a barrier element there between separating an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber within the cylindrical wall. At least one non-perforated bypass tube may be located substantially within the cylindrical wall, which extends a length of the downstream chamber and/or the upstream chamber so that the upstream chamber is configured to communicate with a second upstream chamber of a second center tube and/or the downstream chamber is configured to communicate with a second downstream chamber of the second center tube.

Abstract: A self-regulating FO system is disclosed comprising a container containing a source water supply, a forward osmosis membrane element located within the container comprising an area of osmotic membranes, an osmotic agent inlet and a drink outlet, an osmotic pump element also located within the container comprising an area of osmotic membranes, an osmotic agent inlet and a drink outlet, and an osmotic agent tank located above the container. The osmotic agent tank comprises a feed tube connected to an outlet located on the bottom of the osmotic agent tank. The feed tube communicates with the osmotic agent inlet of the forward osmosis membrane unit and the osmotic agent inlet of the osmotic pump element. A return tube communicates with the drink outlet of the osmotic pump element and a port near the top of the osmotic agent tank.

Abstract: An organic forward osmosis system includes an acid treatment stage comprising an acid treatment operation configured to produce an acid treated, digester centrate stream in a forward osmosis reject loop and a fertilizer stream. A forward osmosis stage is coupled to the acid treatment stage and includes a forward osmosis operation configured to remove water from the acid treated, digester centrate stream by: diverting the acid treated, digester centrate stream to one side of at least one forward osmosis membrane; and contacting an opposite side of the at least one forward osmosis membrane with a salt brine stream in a forward osmosis draw loop and osmotically pulling water across the at least one forward osmosis membrane from the acid treated, digester centrate stream to the salt brine stream using only a concentration gradient; thereby producing a concentrated, acid treated, digester centrate stream and a diluted salt brine stream.

Abstract: A forward osmosis water transfer system is disclosed which recycles water from an incoming wastewater stream into an outgoing dilute process brine stream. The system includes a saturated brine stream, a first portion of which is diverted to form a saturated process brine stream and a second portion of which is diverted to at least one forward osmosis membrane. The at least one forward osmosis membrane moves water from the incoming wastewater stream into the incoming diverted saturated brine stream thereby creating an outgoing concentrated wastewater stream and the outgoing dilute process brine stream.

Abstract: A self-regulating FO system is disclosed comprising a container containing a source water supply, a forward osmosis membrane element located within the container comprising an area of osmotic membranes, an osmotic agent inlet and a drink outlet, an osmotic pump element also located within the container comprising an area of osmotic membranes, an osmotic agent inlet and a drink outlet, and an osmotic agent tank located above the container. The osmotic agent tank comprises a feed tube connected to an outlet located on the bottom of the osmotic agent tank. The feed tube communicates with the osmotic agent inlet of the forward osmosis membrane unit and the osmotic agent inlet of the osmotic pump element. A return tube communicates with the drink outlet of the osmotic pump element and a port near the top of the osmotic agent tank.

Abstract: A center tube is disclosed which allows a draw solution to flow through all membrane elements in a membrane system in parallel. The center tube may include a cylindrical wall with two open ends and a barrier element there between separating an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber within the cylindrical wall. At least one non-perforated bypass tube may be located substantially within the cylindrical wall, which extends a length of the downstream chamber and/or the upstream chamber so that the upstream chamber is configured to communicate with a second upstream chamber of a second center tube and/or the downstream chamber is configured to communicate with a second downstream chamber of the second center tube.

Abstract: A bottle adaptor to which one or more bottles of one or more standard threaded-tops may be screwed and sealed to allow sipping of the fluid in the bottles through a flexible drinking tube. The adaptor and bottles may be carried in a backpack. One or two bottle receivers include plural standard threads spaced along an axis and a socket for a straw to project to the bottom of the bottle. A fluid passageway from the drinking tube extends to the straw sockets. Each bottle receiver includes a selectively openable pressure relief from the ambient to the space adjacent the bottle threads. A separate tube coupler having barbs for the drinking tube may be inserted into and locked to the adaptor. For a two-bottle adaptor, a three-way valve adjacent the barb or other tube connection may select either bottle or the shut condition.