Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for recovering water from an aqueous stream containing a solute are disclosed herein. In accordance with an aspect, provided is method comprising receiving an inlet brine stream comprising water and a solute; producing a concentrated brine stream by contacting the inlet brine stream with an ion exchange resin configured to extract water from the inlet brine stream, the ion exchange resin comprising a plurality of pores adapted to receive water molecules; ceasing the contact of the ion exchange resin with the inlet brine stream and the concentrated brine stream; and evaporating at least a portion of the water contained in the ion exchange resin aided by unsaturated air with less than 100% relative humidity using an evaporation unit.

Abstract: A method for purifying waste water, and a dual chamber purification system, in which feed water may be passed first through a hybrid anion exchange unit, and subsequently through a weak acid cationic exchange unit. The hybrid anion exchanger may comprise a hybrid sorbent (HAIX-NanoZr) with dual functional sorption sites. The weak acid cationic exchanger may be a fiber having a shell-core physical configuration with relatively short intra-particle diffusion path length so that the ion exchange sites reside predominantly on the periphery. The system may be used to achieve partial desalination or TDS reduction and concurrent removal of target contaminants (e.g., phosphate, hardness). Further, the system may be regenerated using CO2 as the sole regenerant for both the hybrid anion exchanger and the weak acid cationic exchanger, thus producing spent regenerant with no externally added chemicals.

Abstract: An anaerobic biological reactor comprising an anaerobic digester having a chamber configured to receive a microbial suspension, a chamber inlet configured to direct an organic waste stream into the digester, and ion-exchange fibers within the chamber in position to contact and chemically react with microbial suspension received into the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention includes an anion exchange method that uses sulfate-containing acid mine drainage (AMD), or any sulfate containing water resource, to remove strontium, barium, and/or radium from contaminated water sources, such as but not limited to hydraulic fracturing waste water, flowback, and/or produced water, without requiring any external regenerant. The removal process may be adopted with any waste water or impaired water source containing sulfate anions.

Abstract: A method for purifying waste water, and a dual chamber purification system, in which feed water may be passed first through a hybrid anion exchange unit, and subsequently through a weak acid cationic exchange unit. The hybrid anion exchanger may comprise a hybrid sorbent (HAIX-NanoZr) with dual functional sorption sites. The weak acid cationic exchanger may be a fiber having a shell-core physical configuration with relatively short intra-particle diffusion path length so that the ion exchange sites reside predominantly on the periphery. The system may be used to achieve partial desalination or TDS reduction and concurrent removal of target contaminants (e.g., phosphate, hardness). Further, the system may be regenerated using CO2 as the sole regenerant for both the hybrid anion exchanger and the weak acid cationic exchanger, thus producing spent regenerant with no externally added chemicals.

Abstract: An anaerobic biological reactor comprising an anaerobic digester having a chamber configured to receive a microbial suspension, a chamber inlet configured to direct an organic waste stream into the digester, and ion-exchange fibers within the chamber in position to contact and chemically react with microbial suspension received into the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention includes a novel salt-free water softening method that utilizes an exchange medium (such as a gel exchange polymer, a macroporous exchange polymer, or an inorganic cation exchanger) that is pre-loaded with a polyvalent cation that has low solubility in aqueous phase at nearly neutral pH. The method of the invention does not require use of a sodium salt or mineral acid in the regeneration of the exchange medium.

Abstract: The present invention includes an anion exchange method that uses sulfate-containing acid mine drainage (AMD), or any sulfate containing water resource, to remove strontium, barium, and/or radium from contaminated water sources, such as but not limited to hydraulic fracturing waste water, flowback, and/or produced water, without requiring any external regenerant. The removal process may be adopted with any waste water or impaired water source containing sulfate anions.

Abstract: The present invention includes a novel salt-free water softening method that utilizes an exchange medium (such as a gel exchange polymer, a macroporous exchange polymer, or an inorganic cation exchanger) that is pre-loaded with a polyvalent cation that has low solubility in aqueous phase at nearly neutral pH. The method of the invention does not require use of a sodium salt or mineral acid in the regeneration of the exchange medium.

Abstract: Polymeric anion exchanger are used as host materials in which sub-micron sized hydrated Zr(IV) oxides (HZrO) particles are irreversibly dispersed within the ion exchange medium, such as beads or fibers. The HZrO can be impregnated into the pore structure of resin by mixing the parent anion exchange resin with zirconium solution prepared by pre-calcined zirconium oxide dissolved in concentrated mixture of alcohol and acid, and then followed by precipitation of HZrO particles within the resin by using alkaline solution. Since the anion exchangers have positively charged such as quaternary ammonium functional groups, anionic ligands such as arsenate, fluoride can transport in and out of the gel phase without subjected to the Donnan exclusion effect. Consequently, anion exchanger-supported HZrO submicron particles exhibit significantly greater capacity to remove arsenic and fluoride in comparison with parent anon exchange resins.

Abstract: A process for treating feed water for desalination, the process comprising: (a) removing one or more polyvalent anions from the feed water by feeding the feed water into a bed comprising one or more anion exchange resins under conditions sufficient to exchange the polyvalent ions in the feed water with one or more monovalent anions in the resin; and (b) regenerating the bed by feeding a brine stream into the bed under conditions sufficient to exchange one or more polyvalent anions in the resins with one or more monovalent anions in the brine stream.

Abstract: Polymeric anion exchanger are used as host materials in which sub-micron sized hydrated Zr(IV) oxides (HZrO) particles are irreversibly dispersed within the ion exchange medium, such as beads or fibers. The HZrO can be impregnated into the pore structure of resin by mixing the parent anion exchange resin with zirconium solution prepared by pre-calcined zirconium oxide dissolved in concentrated mixture of alcohol and acid, and then followed by precipitation of HZrO particles within the resin by using alkaline solution. Since the anion exchangers have positively charged such as quaternary ammonium functional groups, anionic ligands such as arsenate, fluoride can transport in and out of the gel phase without subjected to the Donnan exclusion effect. Consequently, anion exchanger-supported HZrO submicron particles exhibit significantly greater capacity to remove arsenic and fluoride in comparison with parent anon exchange resins.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for use in wastewater treatment. In some examples, the systems and methods involve different combinations of ion exchange and membrane based systems and processes that can be used to remove radium and recover and purify barium and strontium salts to render the wastewater depleted of those regulated toxic metals. Treated wastewater having less than 12000 pCi/L of any of radium, barium or strontium is then subjected to tertiary treatment where it is subjected to processes in an evaporator/crystallizer which drives out water in the form of vapor, leaving behind salts of innocuous metals such as sodium, calcium, and magnesium, among others. In some examples, water vapor from the processes is condensed to produce water suitable for reuse, such as reuse in the hydro-fracturing process.

Abstract: Methods for rapid sensing of dissolved toxic heavy metals use a hybrid inorganic material (“HIM”), which is synthesized from hydrated iron oxide (“HFO”) and calcium magnesium silicate. HIM thus synthesized is used in sensing dissolved toxic heavy metals. Water containing toxic heavy metals (e.g., lead, copper, zinc, nickel, etc.) is passed through a sorbent bed of HIM, whereupon it shows a sharp drop in pH after a certain length of time. The presence of HFO and calcium magnesium silicates in HIM synergistically provide a precipitous drop in pH, which is characteristic of the concentration and type of toxic heavy metal. Therefore, observing a change in pH indicates the presence and identity of heavy metal ions in a test water sample.

Abstract: Desalination is carried out by a hybrid ion exchange-nanofiltration process in which ion exchange is followed by pressure-driven nanofiltration. Monovalent ions of sodium and chloride of saline water are exchanged for equivalent concentrations of poly-valent ions (for example, sodium ions for magnesium ions or chloride ions for sulfate ions) when passed through ion exchangers in the form of those poly-valent ions. The resultant solution has a lower osmotic pressure than the initial solution containing monovalent sodium and chloride ions, and requires less transmembrane pressure for membrane desalination compared to traditional reverse osmosis. The concentrated reject stream from the membrane process is used as regenerant for the exhausted ion exchanger, which has been converted to monovalent anionic or cationic form.

Abstract: Desalination is accomplished by subjecting feed saline water to a cation exchanger in magnesium form where sodium and scale-forming cations are at least partially exchanged for non-scale-forming magnesium ions. This ion exchange also reduces the osmotic pressure of the solution. When the resultant solution is subjected to a pressure-driven membrane desalination process, scaling is reduced and desalinated water is efficiently produced at a lower pressure. After desalination, the concentrated waste water, which contains higher concentrations of ions such as magnesium and sodium, is used to regenerate the depleted cation exchanger back into magnesium form. This regeneration permits the process to be self-sustainable.

Abstract: Methods for rapid sensing of dissolved toxic heavy metals use a hybrid inorganic material (“HIM”), which is synthesized from hydrated iron oxide (“HFO”) and calcium magnesium silicate. HIM thus synthesized is used in sensing dissolved toxic heavy metals. Water containing toxic heavy metals (e.g., lead, copper, zinc, nickel, etc.) is passed through a sorbent bed of HIM, whereupon it shows a sharp drop in pH after a certain length of time. The presence of HFO and calcium magnesium silicates in HIM synergistically provide a precipitous drop in pH, which is characteristic of the concentration and type of toxic heavy metal. Therefore, observing a change in pH indicates the presence and identity of heavy metal ions in a test water sample.

Abstract: A process for removing DOC (dissolved organic carbon) from a concentrated salt solution containing DOC by contacting the salt solution with a coagulant/flocculant such that the DOC becomes insoluble and removing the insoluble DOC from the salt solution.

Abstract: Desalination is carried out by a hybrid ion exchange-nanofiltration process in which ion exchange is followed by pressure-driven nanofiltration. Monovalent ions of sodium and chloride of saline water are exchanged for equivalent concentrations of poly-valent ions (for example, sodium ions for magnesium ions or chloride ions for sulfate ions) when passed through ion exchangers in the form of those poly-valent ions. The resultant solution has a lower osmotic pressure than the initial solution containing monovalent sodium and chloride ions, and requires less transmembrane pressure for membrane desalination compared to traditional reverse osmosis. The concentrated reject stream from the membrane process is used as regenerant for the exhausted ion exchanger, which has been converted to monovalent anionic or cationic form.

Abstract: Polymeric anion exchangers are used as host materials in which hydrated Fe(III) Oxides (HFO) are irreversibly dispersed within the exchanger beads. Since the anion exchangers have positively charged quaternary ammonium functional groups, anionic ligands such as arsenates, chromates, oxalates, phosphates, phthalates can permeate in and out of the gel phase and are not subjected to the Donnan exclusion effect. Consequently, anion exchanger-supported HFO micro particles exhibit significantly greater capacity to remove arsenic and other ligands in comparison with cation exchanger supports. Loading of HFO particles is carried out by preliminary loading of the anion exchange resin with an oxidizing anion such as MnO4? or OCl?, followed by passage of a Ferrous Sulfate solution through the resin.