Abstract: A cooling tower blow-down, groundwater and wastewater re-use process and system is provided, which system may further include a cooling tower evaporation recovery system and process. Thus, blow-down from cooling equipment may be reused by appropriate treatment of the blow-down water, or treatment of other sources of water such as groundwater or wastewater, for use as make-up water in a cooling tower or other cooling equipment, and the capture of evaporation from cooling equipment is conducted to increase the efficiency and lower costs in the operation of such equipment.

Abstract: An object is to provide a fresh water generating apparatus that is capable of efficiently and stably producing fresh water. Provided is a fresh water generating apparatus equipped with a seawater-treating reverse osmosis membrane device that produces fresh water from seawater by a reverse osmosis membrane, including a mixing section that mixes wastewater as dilution water with seawater to produce mixed water, and a first seawater-treating reverse osmosis membrane device that acts as the seawater-treating reverse osmosis membrane device to filter the mixed water, in which the apparatus is configured so that used water that is wastewater resulting from the use of the produced fresh water as service water is mixed as dilution water with seawater at the mixing section.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for treating and disposing of wastewater produced by a facility. This aspect of the present invention is particularly well suited to manage and dispose of wastewater produced by an agricultural processing facility. Treated wastewater is selectively blended with untreated wastewater of the facility and the blended mixture is provided to a disposal unit for disposal. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a system for maximizing the efficiency of an impurity removal unit designed to remove at least one impurity from a liquid. More specifically, this system is preferably designed to blend influent entering the impurity removal unit with another source of liquid to ensure that the liquid treated by the impurity removal unit has an impurity concentration approximately equal to the maximum impurity concentration that the impurity removal unit can satisfactorily process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to surface modification of reverse osmosis membranes to introduce antifouling properties without compromising the separation properties of the original membranes. This approach utilizes: providing a coated membrane surface having enhanced hydrophilic characteristics that prevents the biofoulants from settling; have a surface that consists of hydrophilic brushes that unsettle any biofoulants that get through; and having antimicrobial ions present in the membrane coatings and able to remove or minimize any remaining biofoulants without leaching into the permeate. These coatings are made using dendritic polymers such as hyperbranched polymers or dendrimers.

Abstract: Disclosed is an economical process for the purification of water containing soluble and sparingly soluble inorganic compounds using single-stage or two-stage membrane processes that integrate membrane water purification with chemical precipitation softening and residual hardness and silica removal from the membrane concentrates using ion exchange resins and silica sequestering media, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods of preparing dialysate for use in a home dialysis system that is compact and light-weight relative to existing systems and consumes relatively low amounts of energy. The method includes coupling a household water stream to a dialysis system; filtering the water stream; heating the water stream to at least about 138 degrees Celsius in a non-batch process to produce a heated water stream; maintaining the heated water stream at or above at least about 138 degrees Celsius for at least about two seconds; cooling the heated water stream to produce a cooled water stream; ultrafiltering the cooled water stream; and mixing dialysate components into the cooled water stream in a non-batch process.

Abstract: A device for the tangential filtration of a fluid to be processed and intended to be divided into a filtrate and a retentate includes, in an outer case, a series of filtration elements of tubular form lying parallel to each other, at least one output for the filtrate, communicating with the filtrate collection receptacle, a first communication chamber in which are fitted the separation resources, communicating with respectively a first series and a second series of filtration elements forming the go and return circuits of a circulation loop for the fluid to be processed, where the separation resources include a turbine of a circulation pump. The input for the fluid to be processed opens into the first communication chamber of the outer case between the turbine of the circulation pump and the filtration elements of the series forming the return circuit of the circulation loop.

Abstract: One embodiment of a method to system for enhancing TOC removal while maintaining membrane filter performance is the implementation of a dual pH control system. This embodiment will enhance the ability to maximize TOC removal while maintaining optimum membrane filter performance. By adjusting pH, dosing a chemical coagulant and incorporating liquid-solids separation, a considerably higher degree of TOC removal is possible. By adjusting pH again after liquid-solids separation this embodiment can drastically increase the efficiency of the membrane microfiltration/ultrafiltration system. Thus pH control for soluble organic removal is critical. This pH level however may not be the ideal set point for minimizing membrane fouling which is the basis for this embodiment. An example: the pH set point for optimum soluble organic removal is designated to be 5.5. However, the optimum pH set point for optimum membrane performance is 7.0.

Abstract: A method of recording and monitoring the operation and status of devices operating to purify water employed in the operation of a dialysis clinic, by providing a software program that monitors water purification devices that include a water softener, brine tank and reverse osmosis machine. This computer program is a data logging system that enables the user to monitor and record the status and performance of water purification equipment that is housed and used in a dialysis clinic. The software program will be used by technicians that work in three shifts on a daily basis to ensure that the water being purified for dialysis treatment is within an acceptable range of purity. This software replaces a paper logging system and is more versatile in security, accuracy, function and reporting.

Abstract: A system and process for enhancing total organic carbon (“TOC”) removal from raw, untreated water while maintaining optimum membrane filter performance. The present invention overcomes many of the disadvantages of prior art water filtration systems by controlling the pH level of the water, prior to the water being directed through said membrane filter, so that the particulate charge of the water aligns with the electromagnetic surface charge of membrane filter. Maintaining the particulate charge of the water within an optimum charge window for the particular membrane filter enhances the membrane filter's performance by decreasing the fouling rate of the membrane filter.

Abstract: The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems and methods in which a feed fluid entering a filtration system is mixed with a portion of a reject fluid. The re-introduced reject fluid is preferably pressurized using a positive displacement pump, and more preferably using a work exchange pump having a translatable piston. The re-introduced reject fluid is preferably pressurized to within 10 psi, or more preferably to within 5 psi, of the uncombined feed fluid. The filtration system can have one or more filters.

Abstract: There are disclosed a ceramic porous membrane formed with less membrane formation times and having less defects, a small and uniform thickness and a high flux, and a ceramic filter. A silica membrane is formed on a titania UF membrane as an ultrafiltration membrane (a UF membrane) formed on a porous base member which is a microfiltration membrane (also referred to as an MF membrane) and having an average pore diameter smaller than that of the porous base member, and the silica membrane has an average pore diameter smaller than that of the titania UF membrane, and does not substantially permeates the titania UF membrane.

Abstract: A method and system for recycling and treating dyeing wastewater are provided. To begin with, the dyeing wastewater is added with an adsorbent for assisted decolorization and filtration. Then, the wastewater is filtered with a first filtration device having hydrophilic membranes. The liquid having passed through the hydrophilic membranes undergoes an RO membrane-base filtration process to produce recycled water and concentrated wastewater. The concentrated wastewater is delivered into a second filtration device having hydrophobic membranes, before a micro-bubbling process is performed on the concentrated wastewater in the second filtration device to turn the concentrated wastewater into a creamy-white nebulized working liquid of high gas content. The steam in the working liquid can readily pass through the hydrophobic membranes to produce an effluent that meets effluent standards.

Abstract: This invention relates to heterogenous pore polymer nanotube membranes useful in filtration, such as reverse osmosis desalination, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration and gas separation.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood processing method using a blood circuit comprising a pair of blood passages attached to opposite flow ends of a blood treatment device and said blood circuit is mounted on a blood pump console, the method includes: withdrawing blood from a vascular system of a human patient and drawing the blood into the blood circuit; pumping the withdrawn blood through one of the pair of blood passages using a first blood pump of the console and into the blood treatment device; pumping the treated blood from the treatment device through the other of the pair of blood passages using a second blood pump of the console; infusing the treated blood from the other blood passage and into the vascular system of the patient, and periodically reversing a flow direction of blood through the pair of blood passages and blood treatment device.

Abstract: A fluid purification system has cells whose purifying capability can be regenerated. Some of the cells are arranged in series to reach a high level of purification. An automatic valve network is controlled to cycle the cells in a way that levels the loads on each, thereby maximizing the service interval for replacing expired cells, enabling all of the cells to be replaced at the same time after having each contributing approximately equally to the purification load, and operated such that at any one time, at least one cell is regenerated so as to enable continuous up-time.

Abstract: A spiral would membrane element has a feed channel spacer providing a tortuous feed flow path through an open spacer mesh material. The feed flow path may force the feed liquid to flow across substantially all of an adjacent membrane surface. The length of the flow path and average cross-flow velocity are increased relative to a straight flow path. A rise in pressure drop that might otherwise be produced by the increased average cross-flow velocity is reduced by the open spacer mesh. In a system having two or more upstream and downstream spiral wound membrane elements, a downstream element may have a feed channel spacer providing a tortuous flow path while an upstream element has a feed channel spacer providing a less tortuous flow path or a straight flow path.

Abstract: Forward osmosis membranes include an active layer and a thin support layer. A bilayer substrate including a removable backing layer may allow forward osmosis membranes with reduced supporting layer thickness to be processed on existing manufacturing lines.

Abstract: A fresh water producing apparatus for producing fresh water from raw water containing solutes is disclosed. The fresh water producing apparatus comprises a first semipermeable membrane unit and a second semipermeable membrane unit. A first raw water supply line for supplying the raw water is connected to the first semipermeable membrane unit. A second raw water supply line for supplying the raw water is connected to the second semipermeable membrane unit. The first semipermeable membrane unit and the second semipermeable membrane unit are connected by a concentrated water line for supplying concentrated water of the first semipermeable membrane unit to the second semipermeable membrane unit.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and an apparatus for more efficiently and economically producing purified water from sea water or some other salty or brackish water source. The efficiency is derived from the co-location with a power plant or other thermal generating source that will heat the feed water. Reverse osmosis membrane filtration systems work optimally when the feed water is at certain higher temperature, where that temperature is typically higher than the feed water at ambient temperatures. By using the heated sea water as the byproduct of the power plant electricity generating process and if necessary mixing it with ambient temperature sea water, if needed to lower the water temperature, and using this feed water with a higher temperature than ambient water temperature, the efficiency of the reverse osmosis system can be increased.

Abstract: A system and process for treating a hydrocarbon feed mixture containing aromatic compounds is provided to separate the at least one aromatic compound from the hydrocarbon feed stream is provided. A supported ionic liquid membrane, which is a microporous polymeric support containing ionic liquid in its pores, is used to selectively extract aromatics. The hydrocarbon feed mixture is directed to a retentate side of the supported ionic liquid membrane. A permeate stream is drawn from the permeate, side of the supported ionic liquid membrane, which is an aromatic-rich hydrocarbon stream. An aromatic-lean hydrocarbon stream, which is the retentate portion of the original hydrocarbon feed, remains on the retentate side of the supported ionic liquid membrane.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for removing contaminants from wastewater with a high salinity content are provided. The methods include injecting a flocculant and other agents and mixing it with the wastewater. The mixture is held in a clarifying tank. The resulting clarified product is filtered through a micro filter. In the final stage, the micro filter output is passed through a series of reverse osmosis membrane. To present a stream with the appropriate salinity for the reverse osmosis filter, the micro filter output is mixed with previously cleaned water to reduce the concentration of total dissolved solids.

Abstract: A database and communications server allow for composure of an emergency disaster plan that is tailored to the demographic and geographic information provided by a subscriber to the disclosed system. In the event of an emergency, relevant portions of a family disaster plan are communicated to a subscriber and the family members of the subscriber. Each subscribing family member may communicate with the database, which in turn automatically distributes the message to all family members. After the disaster has ended, insurance information is relayed to the subscriber, and the subscriber's insurance companies are notified.

Abstract: A process for separating dissolved components from a solution, said process comprising a) introducing a first solution into a solar pond and irradiating the solution with solar energy, such that temperature and concentration gradients are established, whereby the temperature and concentration of solute at the base of the pond is greater than the temperature and concentration of solute at the surface of the pond, b) introducing a portion of the first solution from the pond into a first osmosis unit, and contacting the portion with one side of a selectively permeable membrane, c) contacting the other side of the selectively permeable membrane with a second solution having a lower solute concentration than the portion of first solution from the pond, such that solvent from the second solution passes across the membrane to dilute and pressurize the portion of first solution, d) removing the diluted portion of first solution from the first osmosis unit, and e) using the pressure generated in the diluted portion of

Abstract: A pump assembly to move water past a reverse osmosis membrane, the pump assembly having a first pump and a second pump each including a bore having a longitudinal axis and surrounding a chamber. First and second partition members extend longitudinally of the chamber. The second partition is moveable relative to the first partition member, and divides the chamber into a first sub chamber and a second sub chamber. A shaft is attached to the second member to cause angular movement thereof about the axis to change the volumes of the sub chambers. End caps are fitted to ends of each chamber to contain pressure, and ducting is provided to provide for the flow of water. The shaft of the first pump is coupled to the shaft of the second pump so that the first pump second partition angularly oscillates in phase with the second pump second partition.

Abstract: A mobile water conversion system including an electro-coagulation stage, a microfiltration stage, a cooling stage, a nanofiltration stage, and a reverse osmosis stage. The electro-coagulation stage receives heated input water, such as geothermal brackish water, and reduces total suspended solids. The microfiltration stage removes suspended solids and dissolved solids. The cooling stage provides cooled brine water. The nanofiltration stage removes hardness from the cooled brine water to provide sodium brine water. A portion of sodium brine water is provided to circulating water in the cooling stage. The reverse osmosis stage reduces sodium content and provides fresh water suitable for a specified purpose, such as fracking.

Abstract: A treatment system and process is described herein to separate constituent parts from aqueous-based products or by-products, such as wastewater from a cellulosic ethanol process. The treatment system may include an ultrafiltration system, a first reverse osmosis system and a second reverse osmosis system. The treatment system may be configured to operate in modified batch mode.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a device, comprising a hollow body having at least one open end and at least one barrier inside of the hollow body, which is non-permeable for liquids and solids under ambience conditions, however, becomes liquid-permeable by applying an external force like pressure, drag force or driving power to said barrier, wherein said barrier is spaced from at least one open end of the hollow body, the use of such a device for processing of a liquid sample, a method for preparation of said device and a method for isolation or purification of any biomolecules using said device.

Abstract: A desalination device that uses the natural and constant static pressure of the ocean depths to cause seawater to push against a reverse osmosis membrane with sufficient force to separate the molecules of water and salt. The resulting water, the permeate, is pumped to the surface using normal subsurface pumps.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system includes a gasification system configured to output grey water. The system also includes a grey water zero liquid discharge (ZLD) system configured to receive the grey water and to generate a first stream of distillate. The grey water ZLD system comprises an ammonia stripping system. An amount of water into and out of the grey water ZLD system is approximately equal.

Abstract: An improved control valve for a reverse osmosis (RO) water purification system for supplying relatively pure water for on-demand dispensing, wherein the improved control valve positively terminates pure water production and brine outflow to a waste or drain when a pure water reservoir reaches a substantially filled condition. The control valve responds to a predetermined pressure differential between a tap or feed water inflow and produced pure water to close a pure water outflow line when the pure water reservoir reaches a substantially filled condition, thereby positively preventing further production of pure water. Shortly thereafter, the control valve closes a brine outflow line thereby positively preventing further water flow through the system until at least a predetermined volume of the reservoir-stored pure water is dispensed. When this occurs, the control valve re-opens in sequence the brine outflow and the pure water outflow lines.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for reducing the demand of wastewater volume flowing through a wastewater collection piping system thereby increasing the effective capacity of the system. A portion of the wastewater is diverted from a sewer main. The solids are separated from the liquid; for example, by a centrifugal separator such as a vortex or cyclone separator. The recovered liquid can be treated and made available for reuse or disposed of. The separated or concentrated solids are reintroduced into the sewer main dynamically in a portion that adjusts the wastewater loading, or alternatively, the solids loading, in the sewer main to a predetermined amount or predetermined range. The system can be adapted to reducing demand of wastewater volume flowing within a wastewater treatment plant by diverting the wastewater in the flow path between the wastewater plant inlet and the biological processing stage and reintroducing separated solids downstream.

Abstract: A method for yielding concentrated ethanol from an ethanol water solution yielded from ethanol fermentation of a water solution of saccharide generated by a saccharification of the lignocellulose by enzyme is provided. Water is separated from the ethanol water solution yielded from ethanol fermentation of the water solution of saccharide generated by the saccharification of the lignocellulose by enzyme with pervaporation method using a water separation membrane. Condensate prepared by condensing ethanol vapor existing in a space above a liquid level of the ethanol water solution is collected.

Abstract: A pumping machine, that can serve a system as the sole main pump for pressurizing a primary liquid flow, incorporates, in a single machine, a rotor-drum type AP (axial piston) pump and a PX (pressure exchanger) that recovers energy from a secondary liquid flow such as the brine discharge from an RO seawater desalination system, with benefits including fewer moving parts and small machine size along with lower capital and operating costs. A single rotor-drum containing the cylinders and pistons is located between two end blocks, one or both configured with manifold passageways, ports and sliding valves. A swash-plate at one end reciprocates the pistons axially when the rotor-drum is rotated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of thin film composite membranes by interfacial polymerisation, in particular through the reaction of polyfunctional acyl halides with polyfunctional amines where the polyfunctional acyl halide is applied first to the support medium.

Abstract: In a desalination system, water is treated, for example by reverse osmosis, to produce desalinated product water and a reject stream. Salt from the reject stream is transferred to a flow of low salinity wastewater, such as effluent from a municipal wastewater treatment plant. For example, the reject stream may be fed to the high salinity cell in an electrodialysis (ED) unit. The adjacent low salinity cell receives the low salinity wastewater. The high salinity and low salinity cells are separated by ion exchange membranes. The salty wastewater is discharged, for example to the ocean. The salt-reduced reject stream is treated to extract more product water from it, for example by recycling it to the feed water. Less feed water is needed to produce a given volume of product water. If a thermal desalination unit is combined with divalent ion selective ion exchange membranes, then scaling is reduced.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enhanced water treatment comprise inorganic filter systems for impurity removal. Embodiments for water impurity removal include introducing contaminated water into an impurity removal system having an inorganic filter. The inorganic filter comprises an inorganic membrane layer supported by an inorganic support. The inorganic membrane layer comprises pores sized from about 1,000 Daltons to about 10 microns for filtering impurities such as kinetic hydrate inhibitor. Other pre-treatment and post-treatment stages may be included. The inorganic membrane layer or inorganic membrane support may comprise a ceramic such as alumina, zirconia, silica, silicon carbide, and mixed oxides.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fresh water generating apparatus that is capable of efficiently producing fresh water according to an intended use, while utilizing wastewater. Provided is a fresh water generating apparatus equipped with a seawater-treating reverse osmosis membrane device that produces fresh water from seawater by a reverse osmosis membrane, which includes: a mixing section that mixes wastewater as dilution water with a portion of seawater to be subjected to membrane treatment to produce mixed water; a first seawater-treating reverse osmosis membrane device that acts as the seawater-treating reverse osmosis membrane device to filter the mixed water; and a second seawater-treating reverse osmosis membrane device that acts as the seawater-treating reverse osmosis membrane device to filter the remaining portion of the seawater to be subjected to membrane treatment, in an unmixed state with the dilution water.

Abstract: A system for treating fractionated water from an oil and gas well. The system comprising a filter system, a diffusive membrane system, a plurality of membrane sensors, and at least one membrane controller. The filter system is fluidly connected to the diffusive membrane system, wherein the filter system comprises a plurality of straining filter banks. The diffusive membrane system comprises a plurality of membrane banks each having an inlet and an outlet. The plurality of membrane sensors are positioned at the outlet of each of the plurality of membrane banks, and the plurality of membrane sensors are configured to detect the total dissolved solids level at the outlet of each of the plurality of membrane banks.

Abstract: A method of membrane separation and membrane separation apparatus, with which not only a supply liquid can be evaluated but also the problems, such as scale, occurring on reverse osmosis membrane can be monitored in a highly straightforward fashion. There is provided a membrane separation apparatus equipped with reverse osmosis membrane module (3) so as to be adapted for feeding of a supply liquid and obtaining of a permeated liquid and a concentrated liquid, characterized by comprising a feeding-side membrane separation means (10) which includes a separation membrane (11) of which the membrane face (11a) can be monitored and guides the supply liquid so as to separate the membrane, and a concentrating-side membrane separation means (20) which includes a separation membrane (21) of which the membrane face (21a) can be monitored and guides the concentrated liquid so as to separate the membrane separation thereof.

Abstract: We disclose a water-based solution containing xylitol that helps reduce the risk of dental problems. The solution may be pre-packaged in a readably consumable form, or it may be packaged as a concentrate that can be added to beverage at the time of consumption. In addition to xylitol, other additives may be added to the solution including fluoride, flavoring, vitamins, caffeine, carbonation, electrolytes, minerals, sugars, and sugar alcohols.

Abstract: A liquid separation device is provided, and is capable of suppressing the lowering of filtration function due to an increase in flow channel resistance of permeated liquid which results in a separation membrane falling in a groove of a permeated liquid flow channel material along with accompanied breakage of the separation membrane surface. A permeated liquid flow channel material is disposed on the back side of a separation membrane composed of a sheet-like material having a linear groove and a linear crest alternately arrayed on one surface or both surfaces, wherein a groove width of the linear groove in the sheet-like material is 10 to 200 ?m, and a ratio of the groove width of the linear groove to the pitch of the linear groove is 0.45 or more.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process that uses reverse osmosis (RO) or nanofiltration (NF) membranes and ion exchange (IX) water softening resins to maximize the production of drinking water, purified industrial service water or recycled purified municipal or industrial effluents. The membrane and ion exchange units are configured in a manner that enables operation of the system at high permeate recoveries in the range 90% to 99%, thus producing purified drinking water with a minimum volume of wastewater to drains and a very low membrane cleaning or membrane replacement frequency. The process mitigates membrane fouling and scale formation and minimizes the use of water treatment chemicals including acidic and alkali solutions and sodium chloride salt that is normally required to regenerate the IX resin.

Abstract: A reverse osmosis system and method for operating the same includes a pressure tank having a first end and a second end, the pressure tank has a first volume adjacent to the first end and a second volume adjacent to the second end and a third volume between the first volume and the second volume and a fluid passage fluidically coupling the second volume to the first volume. The reverse osmosis system also includes a plurality of membranes disposed within the third volume generating permeate and a permeate manifold receiving permeate from the membranes and fluidically communicating permeate out of the pressure tank. A feed line couples feed fluid into the pressure tank. A first pump pressurizes the feed line. A second pump is disposed within the tank and circulates brine fluid from the second volume through the fluid passage.

Abstract: A modular water purification system has a high pressure pump interchangeably received into one of two or more alternative power modules that can rely on different energy sources, such as an combustion engine module or an electric motor module. The pump applies water pressure to a reverse osmosis filter element. The system is reconfigurable for a given deployment, such as with a higher pressure pump operation for a high dissolved solute concentration, such as sea water desalination, or at a lower pressure for fresh water. Modules for deploying parallel paths each having a high pressure pump and reverse osmosis filter can be supplied as an addendum, or included in the supplied unit. The supplied unit is dimensioned so that the modules are stackable atop one another and in abutment to fill out a rectilinear volume on a pallet.

Abstract: Integrated membrane treatment systems for treatment of an aqueous solution. In embodiments, components, such as an MBR, are integrated with means to recover energy from the system, for example from an RO concentrate, to operate the other components. In embodiments including biological treatment, RO is integrated with other components, such as an MBR with the ROs ability to remove inorganic nitrogen enabling biological treatment to be performed with only partial nitrification and the MBR operated without active pH control. In embodiments, RO is integrated with a chlorine generator to convert chlorides present in the RO concentrate for an in-situ source of oxidizing biocides for disinfection purposes. Chloramines may be generated in-situ from residual ammonia and chlorides in the RO reject. In embodiments, carrier media is employed in a membrane tank to enhance removal of residual organics by the MBR and to also improve effectiveness of membrane scouring.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for desalinating seawater utilizing a two stage seawater desalination system, a first stage including at least one high performance nanofiltration membrane to receive seawater feed pressurized by a first stage pump sufficiently and to produce a first permeate, and a second stage including at least one high performance nanofiltration membrane to receive the first permeate pressurized by a second stage pump to between about 200 psi and about 300 psi to produce potable water.

Abstract: A separation arrangement isolates chlorine, sodium and possibly other ions from water. The ion-laden water is applied to at least one graphene sheet perforated with apertures dimensioned to pass water molecules and to not pass the smallest relevant ion. The deionized water flowing through the perforated graphene sheet is collected. The ions which are not passed can be purged. In another embodiment, the ion-laden water is applied to a first graphene sheet perforated with apertures dimensioned to block chlorine ions and through a second graphene sheet perforated with apertures dimensioned to block sodium ions. The concentrated chlorine and sodium ions accumulating at the first and second perforated graphene sheets can be separately harvested.

Abstract: A method of producing desalinated water and recovering minerals from the feedwater uses membrane separation and electrodialysis brine concentration. This process can recover all of the minerals as high purity industrial minerals, including capturing the calcium and sulfate as agricultural grade gypsum and boron as high purity boric acid. In addition the process allows the use of low cost lime or dolime to produce valuable magnesium hydroxide.

Abstract: A method for reducing a boron concentration in a boron-containing aqueous liquid involves administering micelle(s) for selective boron adsorption to the boron-containing aqueous liquid to produce boron-bonded micelle(s), wherein the micelle(s) comprise a reaction product of an N-substituted-glucamine and a glycidyl ether; passing the micelle-containing aqueous liquid through a membrane to separate the boron-bonded micelle(s) from the aqueous liquid; and recovering a permeate having a reduced boron concentration from the membrane. A material capable of selectively adsorbing boron from a boron-containing aqueous liquid contains at least one micelle having a hydrophobic tail and a head comprising a hydrophilic functional group having formula (I): R1—O-A??(I) R1 represents a hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted aromatic, linear aliphatic, and branched aliphatic hydrocarbon groups and mixtures thereof, and A contains hydroxyl and amine groups.