Abstract: We provide a system and method for reverse osmosis treatment of water, including seawater and brackish water. Methods and systems of embodiments of the invention may include, for example, ultrafiltration followed by biofoulant removal, both of which precede reverse osmosis. In preferred embodiments the system is run at a low flux. For example, a flux of 6-8 GFD may be used with seawater. Additional embodiments may provide the above process in conjunction with a reverse-osmosis membrane cleaning system. The membrane cleaning system is a “clean in place” system that includes use of the natural pressure differential in the reverse osmosis system to remove biofoulants and their precursors.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a filtration module and/or a novel method of making a frameless filtration module for water or wastewater treatment that can produce filtrate that is free of particles, reduce precipitated hardness, colloids and organic compounds. The designed apparatus, which is either encapsulated or in cassette form, can be assembled and disbanded easily to suit diverse process requirements. The module configuration and assembly also helps in clean-in-place, repair or replacement activities to be performed in situ.

Abstract: We provide a system and method for reverse osmosis treatment of water, including seawater and brackish water. Methods and systems of embodiments of the invention may include, for example, ultrafiltration followed by biofoulant removal, both of which precede reverse osmosis. In preferred embodiments the system is run at a low flux. For example, a flux of 6-8 GFD may be used with seawater. Additional embodiments may provide the above process in conjunction with a reverse-osmosis membrane cleaning system. The membrane cleaning system is a “clean in place” system that includes use of the natural pressure differential in the reverse osmosis system to remove biofoulants and their precursors.

Abstract: We provide a process for treatment of produced water, including but not limited to water produced by a “steam flood” process for extraction of oil from oil sands, including the removal of color from the water. This removal may be accomplished through addition of color-removal polymers and flocculents. This process may also be useful for other water treatment processes including reverse osmosis and filtration.

Abstract: We provide a process for the neutralization and precipitation of high pH brines that eliminates the formation of “gelatinous silica” during neutralization. The high pH brine is neutralized in a two-step neutralization process. In the first step the salt concentration of a high pH brine is built up to a minimum level of 8-12%, and then its pH is reduced to 9-9.5. The partially neutralized brine is allowed a reaction period with mild agitation. Subsequently the pH is further reduced, typically to 8-9. A coagulant and/or a polymer can also be used to enhance the settling or filtration rate of the neutralized stream.

Abstract: A multipolymeric mixture is provided that includes a hydrophobic polymer, two different grades of a water-soluble polymer, water as non-solvent and a solvent suitable for all polymers involved. The dissolved hydrophobic polymer has the affinity to enmesh the water-soluble polymers to form a clear and viscous dope. Water-soluble polymers contribute to the pore formation process and hydrophilicity of the finally coagulated membrane according to the makeup of their molecular weight distribution. Water as a non-solvent takes the dope very near towards unstable zone, which helps in speeding up the membrane formation process in a diffusion induced phase inversion technique. The dope is then spun through a concentric orifice spinneret and solidified by passing it through a coagulation bath to form hollow fiber asymmetric membranes of ultra filtration grade with superior water permeability and separation characters even at higher feed turbidity.

Abstract: A multipolymeric mixture is provided that includes a hydrophobic polymer, two different grades of a water-soluble polymer, water as non-solvent and a solvent suitable for all polymers involved. The dissolved hydrophobic polymer has the affinity to enmesh the water-soluble polymers to form a clear and viscous dope. Water-soluble polymers contribute to the pore formation process and hydrophilicity of the finally coagulated membrane according to the makeup of their molecular weight distribution. Water as a non-solvent takes the dope very near towards unstable zone, which helps in speeding up the membrane formation process in a diffusion induced phase inversion technique. The dope is then spun through a concentric orifice spinneret and solidified by passing it through a coagulation bath to form hollow fiber asymmetric membranes of ultra filtration grade with superior water permeability and separation characters even at higher feed turbidity.

Abstract: We report an electro-deionization (EDI) device having split flow arrangement for the purification of second pass RO permeate water with high flow rate in which the feed water is fed through the center port and is diverted into each section of dilute chamber with equal flow rate, producing two product streams. The EDI device has concentrate chambers adjacent to dilute chambers in two sections of the stack, allowing independent flow through the separate sections. The split flow design reduces resin bed depth requirement for processing of second pass RO permeate water. This results in higher flow rate through the stack, elimination of the pressure drop limitation, and reduction of power consumption per unit volume of water.

Abstract: A multipolymeric mixture is provided that includes a hydrophobic polymer, two different grades of a water-soluble polymer, water as non-solvent and a solvent suitable for all polymers involved. The dissolved hydrophobic polymer has the affinity to enmesh the water-soluble polymers to form a clear and viscous dope. Water-soluble polymers contribute to the pore formation process and hydrophilicity of the finally coagulated membrane according to the makeup of their molecular weight distribution. Water as a non-solvent takes the dope very near towards unstable zone, which helps in speeding up the membrane formation process in a diffusion induced phase inversion technique. The dope is then spun through a concentric orifice spinneret and solidified by passing it through a coagulation bath to form hollow fiber asymmetric membranes of ultra filtration grade with superior water permeability and separation characters even at higher feed turbidity.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a filtration module and/or a novel method of making a frameless filtration module for water or wastewater treatment that can produce filtrate that is free of particles, reduce precipitated hardness, colloids and organic compounds. The designed apparatus, which is either encapsulated or in cassette form, can be assembled and disbanded easily to suit diverse process requirements. The module configuration and assembly also helps in clean-in-place, repair or replacement activities to be performed in situ.

Abstract: This invention presents an ion exchange media including a plurality of cation exchange zones and anion exchange zones in flow paths that are contained in a substantially nonporous resin transport framework. During electrodeionization and other potential applications the ion exchange media of the invention prevents unfavorable water splitting at resin-membrane interfaces and encourages water splitting at resin-resin interfaces where the water splitting may be constructively used to regenerate the resin.

Abstract: Disclosed is a high-recovery integrated recycling process to treat water and waste water having high hardness, silica, and other contaminants to facilitate operation of a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane at very high overall recovery when treating waste water containing high concentration of sparingly soluble inorganic salts like hardness, silica, and other components such as silica, etc. The RO membrane continuously operates in low or conservative recovery conditions, but can still achieve a very high overall system recovery. The process includes precipitation softening in a softening clarifier where the scale forming salts are reduced followed by filtration and reverse osmosis. The precipitated salts are removed as underflow from the clarifier. The softened or partially softened water is then filtered by a conventional filtration system, for example by a media filter. This is then fed to a reverse osmosis membrane unit that is designed to operate at an appropriate recovery to avoid scaling and fouling.

Abstract: A multipolymeric mixture is provided that includes a hydrophobic polymer, two different grades of a water-soluble polymer, water as non-solvent and a solvent suitable for all polymers involved. The dissolved hydrophobic polymer has the affinity to enmesh the water-soluble polymers to form a clear and viscous dope. Water-soluble polymers contribute to the pore formation process and hydrophilicity of the finally coagulated membrane according to the makeup of their molecular weight distribution. Water as a non-solvent takes the dope very near towards unstable zone, which helps in speeding up the membrane formation process in a diffusion induced phase inversion technique. The dope is then spun through a concentric orifice spinneret and solidified by passing it through a coagulation bath to form hollow fiber asymmetric membranes of ultra filtration grade with superior water permeability and separation characters even at higher feed turbidity.

Abstract: A liquid treatment process is described for sequential removal of ionic species of progressively decreasing ionic strength without precipitation or “scaling.” An aspect of the invention includes two or more electrodeionization operations within one or more electrodeionization stacks. The first electrodeionization operation is performed at a voltage calculated to remove strongly ionized species such as calcium and magnesium from the feed water without scaling. The product of the first electrodeionization operation is then subjected to a second electrodeionization operation. The second electrodeionization operation is performed at a voltage the same as the first electrodeionization operation, and is designed to remove more weakly ionized species such as silica and carbon dioxide, preventing scaling. More than two successive electrodeionization operations may be performed if desired. Multiple electrodeionization operations may occur in a single electrodeionization stack or in multiple electrodeionization stacks.

Abstract: This invention presents an ion exchange media including a plurality of cation exchange zones and anion exchange zones in flow paths that are contained in a substantially nonporous resin transport framework. During electrodeionization and other potential applications the ion exchange media of the invention prevents unfavorable water splitting at resin-membrane interfaces and encourages water splitting at resin-resin interfaces where the water splitting may be constructively used to regenerate the resin.

Abstract: This invention presents an ion exchange media including a plurality of cation exchange zones and anion exchange zones in flow paths that are contained in a substantially nonporous resin transport framework. During electrodeionization and other potential applications the ion exchange media of the invention prevents unfavorable water splitting at resin-membrane interfaces and encourages water splitting at resin—resin interfaces where the water splitting may be constructively used to regenerate the resin.

Abstract: A liquid treatment process is described for sequential removal of ionic species of progressively decreasing ionic strength without precipitation or “scaling.” An embodiment of the invention includes dual electrodeionization operations. The first electrodeionization operation is performed at a voltage calculated to remove strongly ionized species such as calcium and magnesium from the feed water without scaling. The product of the first electrodeionization operation is then subjected to a second electrodeionization operation. The second electrodeionization operation is performed at a voltage greater than the first electrodeionization operation, and is designed to remove more weakly ionized species such as silica and atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A liquid treatment process is described for sequential removal of ionic species of progressively decreasing ionic strength without precipitation or “scaling.” An aspect of the invention includes dual electrodeionization operations. The first electrodeionization operation is performed at a voltage calculated to remove strongly ionized species such as calcium and magnesium from the feed water without scaling. The product of the first electrodeionization operation is then subjected to a second electrodeionization operation. The second electrodeionization operation is performed at a voltage greater than the first electrodeionization operation, and is designed to remove more weakly ionized species such as silica and carbon dioxide, preventing scaling. More than two successive electrodeionization operations may be performed if desired. Multiple electrodeionization operations may occur in a single electrodeionization stack or in multiple electrodeionization stacks.

Abstract: This invention presents an ion exchange media including a plurality of cation exchange zones and anion exchange zones in flow paths that are contained in a substantially nonporous resin transport framework. During electrodeionization and other potential applications the ion exchange media of the invention prevents unfavorable water splitting at resin-membrane interfaces and encourages water splitting at resin-resin interfaces where the water splitting may be constructively used to regenerate the resin.

Abstract: A liquid treatment process is described for sequential removal of ionic species of progressively decreasing ionic strength without precipitation or “scaling.” An embodiment of the invention includes dual electrodeionization operations. The first electrodeionization operation is performed at a voltage calculated to remove strongly ionized species such as calcium and magnesium from the feed water without scaling. The product of the first electrodeionization operation is then subjected to a second electrodeionization operation. The second electrodeionization operation is performed at a voltage greater than the first electrodeionization operation, and is designed to remove more weakly ionized species such as silica and atmospheric carbon dioxide.