Abstract: Filter media, including those suitable for hydraulic and/or other applications, and related filter elements and methods associated therewith, are provided. In some embodiments, a filter media described herein may include a layer (e.g., a non-woven layer) comprising a blend of glass fibers and polymeric fibers. The polymeric fibers may comprise a plurality of charged particles at least partially embedded within the polymeric fibers. In some embodiments, the layer comprising the fiber blend may result in an increased air permeability, dust holding capacity, and/or hydraulic gamma (a high ratio of air permeability to efficiency), as compared to filter media that do not include such charged particles.

Abstract: Methods and systems for use of switchable water, which is capable of reversibly switching between an initial ionic strength and an increased ionic strength, is described. The disclosed methods and systems can be used, for example, in distillation-free removal of water from solvents, solutes, or solutions, desalination, clay settling, viscosity switching, etc. Switching from lower to higher ionic strength is readily achieved using low energy methods such as bubbling with C02, CS2 or COS or treatment with Bronsted acids. Switching from higher to lower ionic strength is readily achieved using low energy methods such as bubbling with air, inert gas, heating, agitating, introducing a vacuum or partial vacuum, or any combination or thereof.

Abstract: A hollow-fiber membrane module of the invention includes: a cylindrical case having a first end and a second end in a height direction thereof; a hollow-fiber membrane bundle being housed in the cylindrical case and having a plurality of hollow-fiber membranes each closed at an end part on the first end side and opened at an end part on the second end side; a first binding part binding the end parts on the first end side of the hollow-fiber membranes; a first flow channel guiding fluid to pass through the first binding part from the first end side to the second end side of the first binding part; and a channel material directing, at a terminal on the second end side of the first flow channel, a flow of at least a part of the fluid flowing out from the terminal on the second end side of the first flow channel toward a direction intersecting the height direction of the cylindrical case.

Abstract: A swellable downhole article includes a swellable material and a carbon nitride material. The swellable material may include at least one of an elastomeric material and an absorbent material. The carbon nitride material may remove cations from a downhole fluid. Methods of forming the swellable downhole article are also disclosed, as are methods of forming a carbon nitride containing material for removing contaminants from a fluid.

Abstract: A multi-faceted family of non-woven webs that can take the form of a filter media, an adaptable forming process and a machine capable of making the range of media are disclosed. The filter medium can have a first surface and a second surface defining a thickness. The medium can comprise a region having a gradient. Such a gradient is formed by having a medium wherein the concentration of a fiber, a property or other component varies from one surface to the next surface. The gradient region of the media can comprise the entire thickness of the medium or can comprise a region that comprises a portion of the media thickness. The media are characterized by the presence of a continuous change of the fiber concentration or property within the region.

Abstract: The pressure-reduced saline water treatment system combines both forward osmosis and reverse osmosis techniques for the desalination of salt water, such as seawater. A feed side of the reverse osmosis desalination unit is in fluid communication with the feed side of the forward osmosis desalination unit, such that seawater drawn through the feed side of the forward osmosis desalination unit is fed into the feed side of the reverse osmosis desalination unit. The reverse osmosis desalination unit outputs product water extracted from the seawater from a permeate side thereof. The feed side of the reverse osmosis desalination unit outputs a reject stream, which is fed to a draw side of the forward osmosis desalination unit, such that the draw side of the forward osmosis desalination unit receives the reject stream and outputs concentrated brine.

Abstract: Laminated articles are provided including a porous fibrous nonwoven matrix and guanidine-functionalized metal silicate particles enmeshed within the porous fibrous nonwoven matrix. The laminated articles further include a first substrate and a second substrate sealed to the first substrate. Methods of making laminated articles and methods of using laminated articles are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods in which multivalent ions are selectively retained in an aqueous stream. According to certain embodiments, multiple separations may be used to process an aqueous feed stream containing solubilized monovalent ions and solubilized multivalent ions to produce a stream enriched in the solubilized multivalent ions. The separations may be arranged, according to certain embodiments, to enhance the overall separation process such that the product stream contains—relative to the initial aqueous feed stream—a high amount of solubilized multivalent ions, a high amount of water from the aqueous feed stream, and/or a high ratio of solubilized multivalent ions to solubilized monovalent ions.

Abstract: Produced water from a crude oil or natural gas production process is purified using a membrane purification system for petroleum production, agricultural, commercial and domestic uses. The produced water is pretreated to remove, at least, particulates and oil from the produced water. The minimally pretreated water is then purified in a membrane purification system, that is operated at conditions such that membrane scaling is reduced or prevented. In particular, the membrane purification system is operated to maintain the turbidity of clarified water feed to the system or intermediate aqueous streams that are cascading through the membrane purification system. Ensuring that the turbidity of the reject streams generated in the membrane system are useful in achieving long membrane operating life.

Abstract: Separation processes using osmotically driven membrane systems are disclosed generally involving the extraction of solvent from a first solution to concentrate solute by using a second concentrated solution to draw the solvent from the first solution across a semi-permeable membrane. Enhanced efficiency may result from using low grade waste heat from industrial or commercial sources. Pre-treatment and post-treatment may also enhance the osmotically driven membrane processes.

Abstract: A grid bar for a screen grid of a screen includes a multiple number of grid bars arranged next to each other and spaced apart from each other, which serves the purpose of separating screening material from a flowing liquid, such as wastewater flowing in a sewer channel. The grid bar includes a plastic reinforced with fibers, whereas at least a part of the fibers extend in a longitudinal direction of the grid bar. A screen includes such a screen grid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for replenishing urease in a sorbent cartridge for use in sorbent dialysis. The sorbent cartridge is configured to allow an amount of urease to be added to the sorbent cartridge. A urease solution can be injected into the sorbent cartridge to replenish the urease containing module, or solid urease can be added to the sorbent cartridge. The sorbent module can also comprise other, rechargeable, sorbent materials for removing toxins other than urea from spent dialysate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods in which ion-selective separation and multi-stage osmotic separation is used to produce multivalent-ion-rich process streams. According to certain embodiments, multiple separations may be used to process an aqueous feed stream containing solubilized monovalent ions and solubilized multivalent ions to produce a stream enriched in the multivalent ions. The separations may be arranged, according to certain embodiments, to enhance the overall separation process such that the product stream contains—relative to the initial aqueous feed stream—a high amount of multivalent ions, a high amount of water from the aqueous feed stream, and/or a high ratio of multivalent ions to monovalent ions.

Abstract: The invention refers to the electrolytic treatment of olive mill waste water with recovery of the residual oil, removal and valorization of the solids and subsequently to the wet oxidation of oil free waste through electrolytic produced oxidants, the inactivation of the oxidants, the passing of the treated wastewater through activated carbon and their final treatment by the process of reverse osmosis and the recovery of the Sodium Chloride that is recycled, returning in the process of the electrolytic treatment of the oil free olive mill waste water.

Abstract: A filtration media with improved filtration, strength, tear resistance and air permeability in the form of a relatively thin and lightweight wet-laid fibrous web that has a wet Mullen ratio of 60% to 80% to ensure that the media is flexible enough to be formed into a fluted structure, and strong enough to retain the fluted structure when wound into a roll and to permit further processing without the media becoming too brittle. The filtration media comprises a blend of cellulose and synthetic fibers having a weight percent of 81 wt % to 87 wt % of a weight of the media and a resin binder having a weight of 13 wt % to 19 wt % (preferably about 16 wt %) of the weight of the media.

Abstract: A commercial dry-cleaning solvent filter apparatus is configured to filter and decontaminate a used dry-cleaning solvent in a specialized multi-level filtration container to enable environmentally-friendly reuse of the used dry-cleaning solvent in a commercial dry-cleaning machine after a novel decontamination process. The commercial dry-cleaning solvent filter apparatus incorporates multi-level gravity feed filtration chambers filled with a unique multi-metallic and multi-chemical filtration “clay” agent in multiple stages for comprehensive decontamination of the used dry-cleaning solvent. The filtered and decontaminated used dry-cleaning solvent is reusable and can be pumped back into a dry-cleaning solvent tank internal to the commercial dry-cleaning machine. The reuse of the dry-cleaning solvent reduces the need for frequent solvent replacements.

Abstract: Provided are an aggregate-removing filter material enabling the efficient removal of aggregates while preventing the clogging by the aggregates, an aggregate removal method, a white blood cell-removing filter, and a blood product filtering method. An aggregate-removing filter material for removing aggregates in a blood product, which is composed only of fibers having a fiber length of 100 to 1000 mm, and a fineness of 0.7 to 4.0 dtex, and has a basis weight of 20 to 100 g/m2, and a no-load bulk density of 0.03 to 0.10 g/cm3.

Abstract: A graphene-based membrane, along with its methods of formation and use, is provided. The graphene membrane includes at least two graphene-oxide layers. Each graphene-oxide layer has a plurality of graphene-oxide flakes, with each graphene-oxide flake having a planar graphene structure with oxygen moieties extending therefrom. The graphene-based membrane can have a thickness of about 2 nm to about 20 nm. Such a graphene-based membrane can be utilized to remove ions from water.

Abstract: A unit for pretreating water by heat and/or ion treatment. It provides a pretreatment unit including a direct contact heat and/or ion exchanger having a continuous or dispersed phase that includes a fluorinated liquid that is not miscible with water with a density of more than 1.25.

Abstract: The system and method for pretreating turbid seawater utilizes polyelectrolyte dosing, clarification through a clarifier system and centrifugation in a decanter centrifuge followed by microfiltration to treat seawater prior to its injection through a desalination plant. The system for pretreating turbid seawater includes a static mixer for mixing a polyelectrolyte with a stream of turbid seawater to produce a polyelectrolyte-treated seawater mixture. At least one clarifier tank is in fluid communication with the static mixer for receiving the polyelectrolyte-treated seawater mixture and removing a first portion of solids therefrom to produce a clarified seawater mixture. A decanter centrifuge is in fluid communication with the at least one clarifier tank for receiving the clarified seawater mixture and removing a second portion of solids therefrom to produce centrifuged seawater.