Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for treating an electromembrane process aqueous composition comprising sodium and/or potassium sulfate, said process comprising removing water from said electromembrane process aqueous composition under conditions suitable for substantially selectively precipitating sodium and/or potassium sulfate monohydrate.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer programs for authorizing transactions are described. A server system receives, from a first computing device, verification information relating to a verification process for verifying a user associated with the first computing device. A verification status associated with the user is set in a memory of the server system, based on the verification information. The server system receives an authorization request for a payment transaction from a payment terminal, the request including an identifier associated with the user, and having been provided to the payment terminal by a payment device different from the first computing device. Responsive to receipt of the authorization request, the verification status associated with the user is identified, and a determination as to whether to authorize the payment transaction is made at least partly on the basis of the identified verification status.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for performing a validity check of a user device having an application stored thereon. The apparatus comprises a coupling device operable to communicate with the user device via near field communication, a processor, and memory storing program code for execution by the processor and validity check data. The program code comprises executable instructions to receive a determinate user device identifier from the user device via the coupling device and to receive application data from the user device via the coupling device, the application data being characteristic of the application stored on the user device. The program code processes the user device identifier and the application data to generate a test token, and determines whether the test token is a valid token using the validity check data.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for performing a validity check of a user device having an application stored thereon. The apparatus comprises a coupling device operable to communicate with the user device via near field communication, a processor, and memory storing program code for execution by the processor and validity check data. The program code comprises executable instructions to receive a determinate user device identifier from the user device via the coupling device and to receive application data from the user device via the coupling device, the application data being characteristic of the application stored on the user device. The program code processes the user device identifier and the application data to generate a test token, and determines whether the test token is a valid token using the validity check data.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for performing a validity check of a user device having an application stored thereon. The apparatus comprises a coupling device operable to communicate with the user device via near field communication, a processor, and memory storing program code for execution by the processor and validity check data. The program code comprises executable instructions to receive a determinate user device identifier from the user device via the coupling device and to receive application data from the user device via the coupling device, the application data being characteristic of the application stored on the user device. The program code processes the user device identifier and the application data to generate a test token, and determines whether the test token is a valid token using the validity check data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for configuring and using a contactless application on a chip within a portable device comprising input/output connections arranged to communicate with other devices via a contact connection and via a contactless connection. One such method comprises a first process and a second process. The first process comprises receiving, at the chip and from a first other device, a set of computer instructions, to be executed by the chip, to create a contactless application in a data store of the chip and initialise at least one file associated with the contactless application. The second process comprises executing, by the chip of the portable device, the contactless application, to transmit data to a second other device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for configuring and using a contactless application on a chip within a portable device comprising input/output connections arranged to communicate with other devices via a contact connection and via a contactless connection. One such method comprises a first process and a second process. The first process comprises receiving, at the chip and from a first other device, a set of computer instructions, to be executed by the chip, to create a contactless application in a data store of the chip and initialise at least one file associated with the contactless application. The second process comprises executing, by the chip of the portable device, the contactless application, to transmit data to a second other device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for configuring a contactless application on a chip within a portable device comprising input/output means arranged to communicate with other devices via a contact connection and via a contactless connection. One such method comprises a first process and a second process. The first process comprises receiving, at the chip and from a first other device, a set of computer instructions, to be executed by the chip, to create a contactless application in a data store of the chip and initialise at least one file associated with the contactless application. The first process further comprises configuring the contactless application in accordance with the set of computer instructions. The second process comprises executing, by the chip of the portable device, the contactless application, whereby to transmit data to a second other device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for configuring a contactless application on a chip within a portable device comprising input/output means arranged to communicate with other devices via a contact connection and via a contactless connection. One such method comprises a first process and a second process. The first process comprises receiving, at the chip and from a first other device, a set of computer instructions, to be executed by the chip, to create a contactless application in a data store of the chip and initialise at least one file associated with the contactless application. The first process further comprises configuring the contactless application in accordance with the set of computer instructions. The second process comprises executing, by the chip of the portable device, the contactless application, whereby to transmit data to a second other device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for performing a validity check of a user device having an application stored thereon. The apparatus comprises a coupling device operable to communicate with the user device via near field communication, a processor, and memory storing program code for execution by the processor and validity check data. The program code comprises executable instructions to receive a determinate user device identifier from the user device via the coupling device and to receive application data from the user device via the coupling device, the application data being characteristic of the application stored on the user device. The program code processes the user device identifier and the application data to generate a test token, and determines whether the test token is a valid token using the validity check data.