Abstract: The invention relates to a regeneratable filtering and adsorbing system, combining the properties of membrane filtration with those of particle-based adsorption in a closed housing.

Abstract: A separation membrane cleaning system and a separation membrane cleaning method. A separation membrane cleaning system includes: a membrane filtration bath; a treated water storage bath configured to store treated water produced by the membrane filtration bath and discharge the treated water during reverse cleaning or chemical cleaning; a chemical storage bath configured to supply a chemical; a first pipe fluidically communicated between the membrane filtration bath and the treated water storage bath to transport the treated water produced by the membrane filtration bath to the treated water storage bath, and a fourth pipe fluidically communicated with the first pipe to transport the chemical to the membrane filtration bath; a second pipe to transport the treated water from the treated water storage bath; and a third pipe fluidically communicated with the fourth pipe to transport the chemical from the chemical storage bath.

Abstract: A method of fractionating a dispersion of oxidic nanoparticles wherein at least one step of the method is a membrane crossflow filtration step, the flow of the dispersion over the membrane being brought about by means of driven rotating parts; and dispersions of oxidic nanoparticles that are obtainable by the method.

Abstract: A rapid one-pass liquid filtration system efficiently concentrates biological particles that are suspended in liquid from a dilute feed suspension. A sample concentrate or retentate suspension is retained while eliminating the separated fluid in a separate flow stream. Suspended biological particles include such materials as proteins/toxins, viruses, DNA, and/or bacteria in the size range of approximately 0.001 micron to 20 microns diameter. Concentration of these particles is advantageous for detection of target particles in a dilute suspension, because concentrating them into a small volume makes them easier to detect. Additional concentration stages may be added in “cascade” fashion, in order to concentrate particles below the size cut of each preceding stage remaining in the separated fluid in a concentrated sample suspension. This process can also be used to create a “band-pass” concentration for concentration of a particular target size particle within a narrow range.

Abstract: A method of purifying impure water contaminated with a filterable impurity and a dissolved impurity, such as seawater, comprising the steps of: providing impure water to a primary microfiltration or ultrafiltration unit to remove the filterable impurity and produce impure filtered water contaminated with a dissolved impurity; providing the impure filtered water contaminated with a dissolved impurity to a reverse osmosis unit to produce a potable water stream and a residual reverse osmosis stream; and treating the residual reverse osmosis stream prior to reuse. The treatment may be in the form of passing through a secondary filter (such as another microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane or a cartridge filter, and the subsequently treated reverse osmosis reject may be used to backwash the microfiltration or ultrafiltration unit.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane (6) in a membrane filtration system by flowing gas bubbles past the surfaces of the membrane (6) to scour accumulated solids therefrom. The method includes flowing a liquid past a supply of gas; creating a reduced pressure within the liquid flow to cause a flow of gas from the supply of gas (9) into the liquid flow and form gas bubbles therein and then flowing the liquid containing the gas bubbles past the surfaces of the membrane (6) to scour the surfaces thereof. Apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus according to the present invention includes a pump for pressurizing tap water, a reverse osmosis membrane for separating the pressurized tap water into waste water containing contaminant and filtered water and a tank for storing filtered water. Waste water is disposed through a first flow channel and a second flow channel mounted in parallel. The apparatus according to the present invention further includes a flow rate control unit having a flow rate control valve provided in the first flow channel to control flow rate of waste water flowing through the flow channel, a flow channel open/close valve provided in the second flow channel for opening/closing thereof, and a control device for controlling opening/closing the flow channel open/close valve.

Abstract: A system of separating oil and water from produced or fracturing water with an intended separation direction, the system includes: a unit for feeding the produced or fracturing water to a solid-fluid separator; a membrane system configured to output clean water; and a decanter configured to output solids, wherein the decanter or the membrane system is coupled to an output of the solid-fluid separator; wherein the membrane system or the decanter is configured to feed remaining fluid from the membrane system or decanter to an oil extractor system configured to output oil; and wherein the oil extractor system comprises a high speed separator configured to output the oil, and has a feedback conduit for feeding a remaining water containing fluid back to the membrane system.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for precipitating a water soluble salt or water soluble salts from water, including adding a water-miscible solvent to a water solution including an inorganic salt. The system, method and apparatus also allow for the separation of the precipitated salt, and for separation of the solvent from the water. In doing so, reclamation of water is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a filter arrangement comprising a plurality of elongate hollow filtration elements, each containing a back-washing mechanism. The back-washing mechanisms comprise at least one debris receiving portion having a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of the hollow filtration element.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane surface immersed in a liquid medium with a fluid flow, including the steps of providing a randomly generated intermittent or pulsed fluid flow along the membrane surface to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. A membrane module is also disclosed comprising a plurality of porous membranes (6) or a set of membrane modules (5) and a device (11) for providing a generally randomly generated, pulsed fluid flow such that, in use, said fluid flow moves past the surfaces of said membranes (6) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.

Abstract: A membrane filtration apparatus located in a filtration chamber has a number of membranes and an associated support structure having a plurality of input passages and output passages. Wastewater is delivered to the input passages at one side of the membranes and the output passages receive cleaned water at the other side of the membranes after it has passed through a membrane. Each of the input passages is open at top and bottom to the filtration chamber interior, but substantially closed laterally. In a method and apparatus for cleaning the filtration apparatus, gas bubbles are discharged into the wastewater below a first subset of the input passages to cause airlift induced circulation of the wastewater up through the first subset, the flow being directed across and down through a second subset of the input passages.

Abstract: A mass transfer process and device are provided that benefits enhanced mass transfer through a membrane as well as maintenance of membrane cleanliness via membrane surface vibration. Uniform amplitude and frequency vibration of the entire membrane in parallel to mass flux reduces internal and external concentration polarization, thereby improving mass flux, especially osmotic driven flux, through the membrane while affording minimal mechanical stress to the membrane. Vibration is provided by piezoelectric imbued membrane support medium wherein vibration is incited by oscillating electric fields generated by electrodes concomitant with the membrane support medium.

Abstract: In a reverse osmosis fluid purification system, an input fluid is received at an input of the purification system, and a fluid purification run cycle is performed on the input fluid. The fluid purification cycle includes pumping the input fluid through a membrane with a pump at a first pressure and first flow rate to generate product fluid and waste fluid. The product fluid is provided to an external system and the waste fluid is provided to a drain port. The membrane is then rinsed after performing the fluid purification run cycle by providing the input fluid to the pump and pumping the input fluid through the membrane at a second pressure less than the first pressure and a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: Compositions comprising an isolated peptide, which may for example optionally comprise a sequence selected from the group consisting of FDYDWY (SEQ ID NO: 2), SFSQNKSVHSFDYDWYNVSDQADLKN (SEQ ID NO: 3) or CSFSQNKSVHSFDYDWYNVSDQADLKNC (SEQ ID NO: 1), or any cyclized version thereof, and methods of using same, including for treatment of or prevention of formation of microbial biofilms and against adhesion of a cell to a surface.

Abstract: Provided are a sequencing batch type or batch type water-filtering apparatus and a method of operating the apparatus. The apparatus includes a raw water inflow pump and a membrane module including tubular type membranes arrayed in series. Accordingly, the apparatus maintains an appropriate cross-flow velocity, and is automatically controlled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate including a compound having blood anticoagulation activity and a hydrophilic polymer compound, wherein the amount of elution of the compound having blood anticoagulation activity is less than 0.6 ?g/ml, and a manufacturing method of a substrate, wherein after a compound having blood anticoagulation activity and a hydrophilic compound brought in contact with a substrate are irradiated with radiation, unreacted components are washed out.

Abstract: A purifying device and a process for deeply treating printing and dyeing wastewater are provided. The device includes a nanometer catalytic microelectrolysis system, a membrane filtration and separation system and a a membrane washing regeneration system. The method includes the following steps of: drawing the printing and dyeing wastewater by a first water pump (12), pumping a first part of the wastewater into a nanometer catalytic microelectrolysis tank (13) to perform catalysis microelectrolysis, and a second part of the wastewater into a neutralization tank (16) to mix with the water from the nanometer catalytic microelectrolysis tank (13) to precipitate, filtering the wastewater by a sand filtration tank (17), and then pumping the wastewater into an adsorption and filteration device of granular active carbon (18) for adsorption and filtration. The process has lower cost and higher energy efficiency, and can realize recycled water to be reused.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method for removing oil from a oil-containing liquid comprising oil and gas comprising: a source of oil-containing liquid; and a membrane contactor system in fluid communication with the source of oil-containing liquid, the membrane contactor system comprising one or more membrane contactors having a first and a second surface, wherein the first surface coalesces oil and removes gas from the oil-containing liquid, and the oil and gas are collected on the second surface from the oil-containing liquid.

Abstract: Systems and methods condition a filter assembly. Purging liquid is passed through the filter assembly to remove contaminants from the pores and voids of the filter medium and from the upstream and downstream sides of the filter medium.

Abstract: In a method for cleaning a separation membrane module in which filtration is performed through a separation membrane after mixing and stirring raw water containing particles having hardness higher than that of the separation membrane with an inorganic flocculant, (a) water on a membrane primary side in the separation membrane module is discharged outside the system after completion of the filtration; then (b) the membrane primary side in the separation membrane module is filled with water containing a chelating agent for a certain period of time; subsequently (c) the water containing the chelating agent on the membrane primary side in the separation membrane module is discharged outside the system; and then (d) backwashing discharge water in the separation membrane module is discharged while performing backwashing in which backwashing water is transferred from a membrane secondary side to the membrane primary side of the separation membrane module.

Abstract: A water desalination system including at least one reverse osmosis desalination unit, including at least one reverse osmosis membrane and having a saline water inlet at a feed side of the at least one reverse osmosis membrane and a permeate outlet at a permeate side of the at least one reverse osmosis membrane, and an intermittent cleaning control subsystem operative to provide intermittent cleaning of the at least one reverse osmosis membrane by at least one of narrowing or closing the permeate outlet, thereby causing an increase of pressure of the permeate at the permeate side of the at least one reverse osmosis and reducing the feed pressure, without significantly increasing the permeate pressure, thereby causing permeate to flow from the permeate side to the feed side of a membrane and flushing foulants to a location outside of the desalination unit.

Abstract: A method of assessing biofilm thickness in a membrane supported biofilm reactor (MSBR) of the type comprising a lumen containing a gas phase, a liquid phase, and a gas permeable membrane providing an interface between the gas and liquid phases, the method comprising the steps of charging the lumen with an inert gas, closing the lumen to establish an initial elevated pressure in the lumen, measuring the rate of change of pressure within the lumen, and correlating the rate of change of pressure (dP/dt) with biofilm thickness. The step of correlating dP/dt with biofilm thickness involves correlating dP/dt with the rate of diffusion of the inert gas (dn/dt), correlating dn/dt with an overall mass transfer coefficient (K), correlating K with the mass transfer coefficient of the biofilm (ICB), and correlating k? with the biofilm thickness.

Abstract: The present application provides an apparatus for removal of an ionic contaminant from a liquid comprising a branched polymer, a filtration membrane, and a filter casing. The application also provides a method of removing an ionic contaminant from a liquid, the method comprising directing ion-contaminated liquid into and draining treated liquid from an apparatus as described in the instant specification.

Abstract: A porous membrane with the membrane wall constructed of a hydrophobic polymer and a hydrophilic polymer, wherein when the membrane wall is divided into 3 sections in the film thickness direction to form region “a” containing one wall surface A of the membrane wall, region “c” containing the other wall surface C and region “b” between region “a” and region “c”, the hydrophilic polymer content ratio Ca in region “a” is greater than the hydrophilic polymer content ratio Cc in region “c”, and the mean pore size of the wall surface C is larger than the mean pore size of the wall surface A.

Abstract: Water treatment systems and methods are provided to minimize membrane fouling and the required maintenance that results therefrom. A water treatment system includes a pressure vessel with a plurality of spaced-apart membranes disposed therein, and an impeller or other means for circulating feed water through the interior of the vessel and past the membranes. Antifouling particles (such as diatomaceous earth or activated carbon) and/or pellets can be added to the feed water inhibit membrane fouling and extend the useful life of the membranes.

Abstract: A high-pressure pump P1 that increases the pressure of raw water, a high-pressure reverse osmosis device including a high-pressure reverse osmosis membrane for concentrating a salt content in high-pressure feed water, a first drain valve mounted on a permeated water line for supplying the permeated water downstream and temporarily draining permeated water of an initial start-up from a discharge line, a low-pressure pump that is mounted on a permeated water line provided downstream of the first drain valve and reduces the pressure of the permeated water, a low-pressure reverse osmosis device including a low-pressure reverse osmosis membrane for concentrating a salt content in low-pressure feed water, and a second drain valve mounted on a discharge line at the concentrated water side of the low-pressure reverse osmosis device that temporarily discharges the low-pressure feed water of the initial start-up supplied to the low-pressure reverse osmosis device.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane surface immersed in a liquid medium with a fluid flow, including the steps of providing a randomly generated intermittent or pulsed fluid flow along the membrane surface to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. A membrane module is also disclosed comprising a plurality of porous membranes (6) or a set of membrane modules (5) and a device (11) for providing a generally randomly generated, pulsed fluid flow such that, in use, said fluid flow moves past the surfaces of said membranes (6) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed is a versatile multi-use high water recovery process that integrates the use of water purification membranes including reverse osmosis and nanofiltration with ion exchange water softening resins in a number of configurations that optimize operation and achieve maximum membrane permeate recoveries while eliminating the use of fresh water, sodium chloride and other chemicals needed to regenerate the IX resin. The invention provides process mobility and flexibility that enable selection of optimum process configurations and features to address variability in the Influent Water quality.

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: An aerator device, a filter system including an aerator device, and a method of aerating a filter using an aerator device. An aerator device includes a housing having an interior cavity; a first plate in the interior cavity and defining a first cavity portion and a second cavity portion thereof, the first plate being spaced apart from a top wall of the housing to define a first opening through which the first cavity portion and the second cavity portion are in communication; and a second plate defining a first chamber and a second chamber of the second cavity portion, the first chamber and the second chamber being in communication with each other below a lower end of the second plate, the housing having an inlet opening in communication with the first cavity portion, and an outlet opening through the top wall and in communication with the second chamber.

Abstract: A water desalination system including at least one reverse osmosis desalination unit, including at least one reverse osmosis membrane and having a saline water inlet at a feed side of the at least one reverse osmosis membrane and a permeate outlet at a permeate side of the at least one reverse osmosis membrane, and an intermittent cleaning control subsystem operative to provide intermittent cleaning of the at least one reverse osmosis membrane by at least one of narrowing or closing the permeate outlet, thereby causing an increase of pressure of the permeate at the permeate side of the at least one reverse osmosis and reducing the feed pressure, without significantly increasing the permeate pressure, thereby causing permeate to flow from the permeate side to the feed side of a membrane and flushing foulants to a location outside of the desalination unit.

Abstract: A non-blocking filtration system wherein the suspension filtered continuously scrubs the filter, keeping it free of deposits of solid deposits while the filtrate is removed in a variety of biological and chemical applications, substantially reducing the cost of unit operations.

Abstract: A membrane with rejection properties for mono and divalent-salts, BOD and COD good resistance to cleaning chemicals and maintaining high permeability for water. A polymeric coating prepared from polydopamine or hydroquinone or catechol or mixtures thereof, is deposited. In another embodiment, coating process steps and conditions are taught to achieve thickness control to tune the rejection properties of the membranes.

Abstract: A system and process for reducing fouling in a catalytic bed-based deoxygenation unit include a filtration system having a plurality of selectively permeable membranes arranged to contact a raw seawater feed and provide a membrane permeate. The membrane permeate is comprised of a portion of the raw seawater feed from which contaminants, such as dissolved inorganic salts and organic constituents, have been removed by passing through the selectively permeable membranes. The system and process also include a catalyst bed-based deoxygenation unit that receives the membrane permeate. The filtration system may be a nanofiltration, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, or reverse osmosis membrane system.

Abstract: A system is provided for treating contaminated water. The system includes a bioreactor having an outlet for treated water and a filter coupled to receive treated water from the outlet of the bioreactor. The filter is configured to operate in an anoxic mode. The filter has: (a) a vessel configured to receive the treated water, (b) a membrane associated with the vessel and positioned to extract permeate from the received water, (c) a fluid outlet positioned to direct fluid toward the membrane to inhibit film build up on the membrane, (d) a fluid recirculator positioned to recirculate fluid between the vessel and the fluid outlet, and (e) an oxidant supply positioned to introduce an oxidant into the vessel, the oxidant supply being adjustable to control the oxidation-reduction potential of the received water in the vessel within a predetermined range.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing for the automatic instrument-based rapid reprocessing of an intact extracorporeal circuit for use in hemodialysis. The system includes a manifold with connectors for engaging a dialyzer as well as venous and arterial blood lines. The manifold is adapted to be moved from a dialysis machine to a reuse instrument without removing the dialyzer and associated blood lines. The system allows for reprocessing of the extracorporeal circuit wherein prior to the next treatment, there is no residual chemical disinfectant requiring testing, the extracorporeal circuit is pre-primed, the levels in the bubble traps are set, and all of the required quality assurance tests are performed and recorded.

Abstract: In a method for cleaning a membrane module including at least one of a microfiltration membrane and an ultrafiltration membrane through which raw water is membrane-filtered to obtain membrane filtrate, a chemical diffusion step is provided in which chemical-containing water is fed to a feed side of the membrane module and diffused from the feed side of the membrane module to a filtrated side of the membrane module is performed, and subsequently a backwashing step is provided in which the membrane module is backwashed by allowing the membrane filtrate to flow from the filtrated side to the feed side of the membrane module is performed, in which, in the chemical diffusion step, an execution time of the chemical diffusion step is controlled based on a concentration of the chemical diffused to the filtrated side of the membrane module.

Abstract: There is provided a method for cleaning a ceramic filter which can shorten an operation time required to clean the ceramic filter. The method for cleaning the ceramic filter includes: reducing a pressure of a space on a secondary side of the uncleaned ceramic filter, while supplying a cleaning medium to a space on a primary side of the uncleaned ceramic filter, thereby passing the cleaning medium through the ceramic uncleaned filter, so that the uncleaned ceramic filter is cleaned.

Abstract: A method of backwashing a membrane filtration system comprising at least one permeable membrane, preferably a hollow fiber membrane, the method comprising the step of applying a pressurized gas at a variable pressure to permeate remaining present in the system when filtration process is stopped or suspended to provide liquid for backwashing pores of the permeable membrane during a backwashing process. Also provided are methods of filtering solids from a liquid suspension using alternating liquid backwash pressures.

Abstract: A backwashing method incorporating a membrane filtration apparatus in which a ceramic filtration membrane including a substrate layer 11b having an extremely large number of filtration pores and a separating layer 11a having filtration pores smaller than those of the substrate layer is accommodated in a casing. Air controlled to a pressure p1 is supplied to the secondary side of the filtration membrane so as to drain the filtrated water in the membrane filtration apparatus gradually toward the primary side. After that, air pressure is increased to p3 so as to push the water in the filtration membrane toward the primary side together with the air, thereby peeling off any fouling substances. Unlike in conventional cases, a large amount of backwashing drain water is at no time drained at any one time, and thus, without reducing the effectiveness of backwashing, a backwashing drain pipe can be designed to have a small diameter.

Abstract: A circulation pump and an electrochemical ozone generator are integrated into the permeate return line of an RO system, and the permeate return line is connected in flow direction behind the circulation pump and the ozone generator by a recirculation line to the permeate supply line, which can form a closed circuit where the ozonized permeate circulates until all organic contaminants have been killed or decomposed by the ozone in that part of the line system. Valves are integrated, respectively, into the recirculation line and the permeate return line downstream of the branch of the recirculation line. During normal operation of the RO system, the recirculation line valve is connected for feeding connected dialysis devices while the permeate return line valve is open, so excessive permeate that was not taken by the dialysis devices can flow into the supply tank. Alternatively, the permeate can be discharged into an outlet.

Abstract: A water filtration device comprising a water pump for providing water, a first carbon filter that receives water from the water pump, a first ball valve having a first opening connected to the first carbon filter, a first ultrafiltration membrane that receives water from the first carbon filter after it passes through the first opening, a second ball valve having a second opening and connected downstream from the first ultrafiltration membrane, a second ultrafiltration membrane that receives water from the first carbon filter through the second opening, said second ultrafiltration membrane being positioned downstream said first carbon filter, wherein water can flow simultaneously through the first ultrafiltration membrane and the second ultrafiltration membrane from the first carbon filter, a second carbon filter connected downstream from the first and second ultrafiltration membranes that receives and filters water from the first and second ultrafiltration membranes, resulting in producing purified water.

Abstract: A dialysis unit includes both an inlet for guiding dialysis fluid in a direction of flow to a dialyser membrane and an outlet for discharging dialysate from the dialyser membrane. A heat pump configured to exchange thermal energy between a heat reservoir and the dialysis fluid in the inlet is coupled to the inlet.

Abstract: A filtration system include a vessel and a filter element, a first port through which a feed stream can enter the vessel, a second port through which a reject stream can exit the vessel, and a third port through which a permeate can exit the vessel, and a valve system that can be configured to alternately pass the feed stream into the vessel through the first and second ports.

Abstract: A forward osmosis device, method of manufacturing the forward osmosis device and method of using a solution produced using the forward osmosis device utilizes a forward osmosis membrane element positioned within a housing of the device between an input chamber and an output chamber to draw liquid from the input chamber to the output chamber via an osmotic process. The forward osmosis membrane element includes a layer of purifying additives on the forward osmosis membrane element to remove contaminants in the liquid as the liquid is to drawn through the forward osmosis membrane element. In an embodiment, the forward osmosis device is a forward osmosis intravenous (IV) bag.

Abstract: A method and a device for supply of a dialyser in a dialysis unit with dialysis fluid is disclosed. At least one dialysis fluid concentrate is mixed with water to produce the dialysis fluid. The dialysis fluid concentrate is prepared in a reservoir unit in a given amount. A control and arithmetic unit calculates the dialysis fluid rate (Qd) such that, after a given treatment time (TB) has passed, a given residual amount of dialysis fluid concentrate or no residual amount remains in the reservoir unit. It is preferable to empty the reservoir unit by the end of treatment.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for mechanical axial vibration in membrane separation treatment processes. The apparatus includes a separation membrane element having an axial dimension, a membrane support structure having the element therein, and means for vibrating the membrane element (hydrodynamically or using motors) in the axial dimension.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to apparatus, systems, and methods for reduction and/or removal of one or more contaminants (e.g., heavy metals, chromium, phosphorous, phosphorous compounds, nitrogen, nitrogen compounds) from a feed composition (e.g., a fluid). Apparatus, systems, and methods, in some embodiments, may be operable to decontaminate a fluid with comparatively little or no contaminant containing waste fluid.

Abstract: The cross-linked polyphosphonate composition for the removal of metal ions from wastewater is a cross-linked anionic polyelectrolyte polymer having the formula: The cross-linked anionic polyelectrolyte is made by cyclocopolymerizing diallylaminomethylphosphonic acid and 1,1,4,4-tetraallylpiperazinium dichloride (a cross-linker) to form a cross-linked polyzwitterionic acid (CPZA). The CPZA is then treated with a base, such as sodium hydroxide, to form a cross-linked anionic polyelectrolyte polymer having the above formula. The composition may be used to remove heavy metal ions, such as Cu2+ and Pb2+, from wastewater.