Abstract: A reverse osmosis apparatus including a reverse osmosis unit having a housing; a cylindrical drum rotatably disposed inside the housing wherein a lateral gap therebetween defines a intervening chamber, and including an outer cylindrical wall and an inner cylindrical wall to define an inner cylindrical feed chamber and an outer annular separation chamber therewithin; and at least one channeling structure defining a permeate channel extending radially from the inner cylindrical wall to the outer cylindrical wall, wherein a first channel end is closed and a second channel end opens into the intervening chamber. The at least one channeling structure including a membrane element extending lengthwise forming a semi-permeable interface between the permeate channel and a feed-flow-region in fluid communication with the inner cylindrical feed chamber. The apparatus including a pump to pressurize the inner cylindrical feed chamber, and a motor to rotate the cylindrical drum for generating centrifugal force.

Abstract: In the present invention, a method for determining at least one pore-related parameter of a porous structure is provided. In a preferred embodiment, an enhanced evapoporometry (EP) technique is provided to determine pore size distribution of continuous pores of a porous structure. In this enhanced EP technique, a volatile liquid, such as isopropoyl alcohol or water, is supplied to one side of a porous structure in order to enable the volatile liquid to penetrate and saturate the porous structure through capillary force. Thereafter, an immiscible non-volatile liquid, such as glycerol, mineral oils, silicon oils or hydrophilic ionic liquid, is supplied to the one side of the porous structure. As the volatile liquid evaporates progressively from the filled pores, the emptied pores may be immediately filled by the non-volatile liquid drawn upwards by capillary action. This prevents formation of a t-layer formed from the adsorption of vapour emanating from the volatile liquid that is used to saturate the pores.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method for determining at least one pore-related parameter of a porous structure is provided. The method includes supplying a volatile liquid into a chamber. The method also includes coating a first surface of the porous structure with an evaporation preventing substance. The method further includes placing the coated porous structure within the chamber. The method additionally includes determining an effective mass of the chamber over a period of time. The method also includes determining the at least one pore-related parameter of an uncoated second surface of the coated porous structure based on the effective mass determined. The second surface of the porous structure is opposite the first surface of the porous structure.

Abstract: A concurrent desalination and boron removal (CDBR) process and a system thereof are provided. The system includes: a plurality of single-stage reverse osmosis (SSRO) stages connected in series, and a countercurrent membrane cascade with recycle (CMCR). The process includes the following steps: introducing a retentate from one SSRO stage or a series of SSRO stages optimally as a feed to a CMCR; countercurrent a retentate flow and a permeate flow in the CMCR; permeate recycling to a retentate side in the CMCR; retentate self-recycling in at least one of membrane stages in the CMCR; introducing a permeate from the SSRO stage(s) as a feed to an LPMS; and blending permeate streams from the CMCR and LPMS to achieve concentrations in a water product.

Abstract: A cross-flow membrane filtration channel defined by at least one membrane, wherein at least one surface of the channel is inclined at an angle away from a centreline of the channel in a direction of feed flow in the channel.

Abstract: In the present invention, a method for determining at least one pore-related parameter of a porous structure is provided. In a preferred embodiment, an enhanced evapoporometry (EP) technique is provided to determine pore size distribution of continuous pores of a porous structure. In this enhanced EP technique, a volatile liquid, such as isopropoyl alcohol or water, is supplied to one side of a porous structure in order to enable the volatile liquid to penetrate and saturate the porous structure through capillary force. Thereafter, an immiscible non-volatile liquid, such as glycerol, mineral oils, silicon oils or hydrophilic ionic liquid, is supplied to the one side of the porous structure. As the volatile liquid evaporates progressively from the filled pores, the emptied pores may be immediately filled by the non-volatile liquid drawn upwards by capillary action. This prevents formation of a t-layer formed from the adsorption of vapour emanating from the volatile liquid that is used to saturate the pores.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method for determining at least one pore-related parameter of a porous structure is provided. The method includes supplying a volatile liquid into a chamber. The method also includes coating a first surface of the porous structure with an evaporation preventing substance. The method further includes placing the coated porous structure within the chamber. The method additionally includes determining an effective mass of the chamber over a period of time. The method also includes determining the at least one pore-related parameter of an uncoated second surface of the coated porous structure based on the effective mass determined. The second surface of the porous structure is opposite the first surface of the porous structure.

Abstract: A method for determining at least one pore-related parameter of a porous material is provided. The method includes supplying a volatile liquid into a chamber, placing a porous material within the chamber, spaced apart from and over the volatile liquid, determining an effective mass of the chamber over a period of time, and determining at least one pore-related parameter of the porous material based on the effective mass determined. An arrangement for determining at least one pore-related parameter of a porous material is also provided.

Abstract: A method for determining at least one pore-related parameter of a porous material is provided. The method includes supplying a volatile liquid into a chamber, placing a porous material within the chamber, spaced apart from and over the volatile liquid, determining an effective mass of the chamber over a period of time, and determining at least one pore-related parameter of the porous material based on the effective mass determined. An arrangement for determining at least one pore-related parameter of a porous material is also provided.

Abstract: A method of determining a state of biofouling of a membrane is provided. The membrane is contained within a flow cell and the flow cell has an outer surface coupled to a tranducer, The method comprises introducing inorganic particles into the flow cell such that the inorganic particles form a part of a top surface of a foulant layer on the membrane. The transducer then emits acoustic waves towards the membrane and an acoustic signature of reflected sound waves are detected. A state of biofouling of the membrane is determined based on the detected acoustic signature. A method and an apparatus are also provided for determining a state of biofouling in commercial membrane modules such as spiral wounded membrane modules.

Abstract: A method of determining a state of biofouling of a membrane is provided. The membrane is contained within a flow cell and the flow cell has an outer surface coupled to a tranducer, The method comprises introducing inorganic particles into the flow cell such that the inorganic particles form a part of a top surface of a foulant layer on the membrane. The transducer then emits acoustic waves towards the membrane and an acoustic signature of reflected sound waves are detected. A state of biofouling of the membrane is determined based on the detected acoustic signature. A method and an apparatus are also provided for determining a state of biofouling in commercial membrane modules such as spiral wounded membrane modules.

Abstract: The fouling state of a polymeric membrane within the high pressure housing of a spiral wound or a hollow fiber membrane module is determined. An ultra sonic transducer positioned with its emitting face in physical engagement with the outer surface of the housing is pulse energized by a pulser/receiver device. A membrane echo signal is detected by a receiver of the pulser/receiver device. A reference echo signal indicative of a fouled or an unfouled state of the membrane is compared to the echo signal to determine the membrane fouling state. The echo to reference comparing step can be based upon comparing amplitude domain signals, comparing time-domain signals, comparing combinations of amplitude domain and time-domain signals, and comparing transformations of amplitude domain and time-domain signals.