Abstract: A process for separating solvent from a feed solution, said process comprising: contacting a feed solution comprising solutes dissolved in a solvent with one side of a nanofiltration membrane, applying hydraulic pressure to the feed solution, such that solvent and some of the dissolved salts from the feed solution flow through the nanofiltration membrane to provide a permeate solution on the permeate-side of the nanofiltration membrane and a concentrated solution on the retentate-side of the nanofiltration membrane; contacting the permeate solution from the nanofiltration membrane with one side of a reverse osmosis membrane and applying hydraulic pressure to the permeate solution, such that solvent from the permeate solution flows through the reverse osmosis membrane to leave a concentrated solution on the retentate-side of the reverse osmosis membrane, using the concentrated solution from the retentate-side of the reverse osmosis membrane as at least part of the feed solution to the nanofiltration membrane;

Abstract: A process for removing a solvent from a source solution, said process comprising a) contacting the source solution with one side of a selectively permeable membrane, b) contacting a draw solution having a higher osmotic pressure (higher solute concentration) than the source solution with the opposite side of the membrane, such that solvent from the source solution passes across the membrane to dilute the draw solution by direct osmosis, c) removing solvent from the diluted draw solution to regenerate the draw solution, and d) recycling the regenerated draw solution to step a), characterized in that a portion of the draw solution is discarded or treated before and/or after the draw solution is regenerated in step c) so as to reduce the concentration of any solute species present in the draw solution from the source solution.

Abstract: A process for separating dissolved components from a solution, said process comprising a) introducing a first solution into a solar pond and irradiating the solution with solar energy, such that temperature and concentration gradients are established, whereby the temperature and concentration of solute at the base of the pond is greater than the temperature and concentration of solute at the surface of the pond, b) introducing a portion of the first solution from the pond into a first osmosis unit, and contacting the portion with one side of a selectively permeable membrane, c) contacting the other side of the selectively permeable membrane with a second solution having a lower solute concentration than the portion of first solution from the pond, such that solvent from the second solution passes across the membrane to dilute and pressurize the portion of first solution, d) removing the diluted portion of first solution from the first osmosis unit, and e) using the pressure generated in the diluted portion of

Abstract: A process for removing a solvent from a first solution, said process comprising positioning a selective membrane between the first solution and a second solution having a higher osmotic potential than the first solution, such that solvent from the first solution passes across the membrane to dilute the second solution, and extracting solvent from the second solution, wherein the membrane has an average pore size of at least 10 Angstroms, and wherein the second solution contains solute species that are too large to pass through the pores of the membrane.

Abstract: A process for driving a prime mover, said process comprising a) positioning a selective membrane between a liquid and a solution having a higher osmotic potential than the liquid, such that the solution becomes pressurized by the influx of liquid across the membrane, b) using the pressure generated in the solution to drive a prime mover, c) recovering the solution, d) separating at least some of the solvent from the solution to form a residual product, and e) recycling the separated solvent and/or the residual product of step d) to step a).

Abstract: A process for injecting water into a subterranean petroleum-bearing formation for petroleum recovery, said method comprising: a) positioning a selective membrane (14) between an aqueous solution (18) and formation water (20) having a higher solute concentration than the aqueous solution (18), such that water passes across the membrane (14) by osmosis to dilute the formation water (20), b) injecting the diluted formation water (22) into the petroleum-bearing formation, c) recovering formation water from the petroleum-bearing formation, and d) using at least a portion of the recovered formation water in step a).

Abstract: A process for removing a solvent from a first solution, said process comprising positioning a selective membrane between the first solution and a second solution having a higher osmotic potential than the first solution, such that solvent from the first solution passes across the membrane to dilute the second solution, and extracting solvent from the second solution, wherein the membrane has an average pore size of at least 10 Angstroms, and wherein the second solution contains solute species that are too large to pass through the pores of the membrane.

Abstract: A process for introducing a solution into an evaporative cooling apparatus (14), said process comprising a) positioning a selectively permeable membrane (16) between a first solution (18) and a second solution (20) having a higher solute concentration than the first solution (18), such that the solvent from the first solution (18) flows across the selectively permeable membrane (16) to dilute the second solution (20), b) introducing the second solution into an evaporative cooling apparatus (14) in which solvent is removed from the second solution (20) by evaporation, and c) recycling the second solution (20) from step b) to step a) to draw solvent from the first solution (18).