The present invention relates to modification to permeate channels and permeate materials in a cross-flow filtration system to improve performance in counter current filtration having both retentate channels and permeate channels wherein a solution is pumped through one of the channels and drawn through a membrane to one of the other channels to assist in positive pressure driven filtration by using the osmotic pressure, concentration, or preferential solubility difference between the retentate and permeate flow streams thereby increasing or altering the flux through the membrane separating the flow streams.

The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, a modified surface comprising an optically active monomer, a polymeric material having a surface onto which the optically active monomer is covalently bound. In one aspect, a membrane comprising an optically active monomer, a poly(aryl sulfone) membrane having a surface onto which the optically active monomer is covalently bound. The present disclosure also relates to a method of modifying a surface, the method comprising applying sufficient energy to a surface to induce covalent bonding with an optically active monomer, and contacting the optically active monomer with the surface. In one aspect, a method of modifying a surface of a poly(aryl sulfone) membrane is disclosed. In another aspect, a method of synthesizing an optically active monomer is disclosed. In one aspect, a method of filtration of chiral compounds is disclosed.

An osmotic food production system designed to produce fruits, vegetables, and freshwater from urine or saltwater. In some embodiments the osmotic food production system also produces oxygen. In some embodiments, the osmotic food production system is portable and capable of transporting on a vehicle capable of space travel. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to address the existing problems of food production, waste disposal/utilization, oxygen generation, and water conservation in an efficient way to allow for prolonged space travel or colonization of distant planets and moons.

The present invention relates to a support for a filtration membrane configuration formed with a first set of projections and a second set of projections in opposite directions. At least some of the first projections may be shaped with top areas forming contact face towards a filtration membrane configuration. The support for a filtration membrane may be formed with a first set of projections and a second set of projections in opposite directions, where at least some of the first projections are connected to a porous sheet forming support for said filtration membrane. The filtration membrane may be positioned directly on the porous sheet, or other in a sandwiched construction including other elements.

Draw compounds and draw solutions comprising said draw compounds for use in forward osmosis solvent purification systems. The draw compound may be a linear random, sequential, or block molecular chain consisting of at least one oxide monomer or diol monomer and have a temperature-dependent affinity with a feed solvent. The draw compound may further include a first terminal group and a second terminal group, at least one of the first terminal group and the second terminal group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, an amine group, a carboxylic group, an allyl group, and a C1 to C14 substituted and unsubstituted alkyl group. The draw compound may also be a branched random, sequential, or block molecular chain consisting of at least one oxide monomer or diol monomer.

A forward osmosis membrane having a low water resistance and an excellent mechanical strength includes a support unit and a selective layer. The support unit includes a plurality of nanostructures, and has opposite first and second surfaces which are defined by the nanostructures. Each of the nanostructures includes a carbon nanotube and a hydrophilic film coated around the carbon nanotube. The hydrophilic film includes a first hydrophilic polymeric material and a second hydrophilic polymeric material. The second hydrophilic polymeric materials of the nanostructures are cross-linked. The selective layer covers and contacts the first surface of the support unit.

In this disclosure, a process of recycling acid, base and the salt reagents required in the Li recovery process is introduced. A membrane electrolysis cell which incorporates an oxygen depolarized cathode is implemented to generate the required chemicals onsite. The system can utilize a portion of the salar brine or other lithium-containing brine or solid waste to generate hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbonate salts. Simultaneous generation of acid and base allows for taking advantage of both chemicals during the conventional Li recovery from brines and mineral rocks. The desalinated water can also be used for the washing steps on the recovery process or returned into the evaporation ponds. The method also can be used for the direct conversion of lithium salts to the high value LiOH product. The method does not produce any solid effluent which makes it easy-to-adopt for use in existing industrial Li recovery plants.

A porous membrane comprising stacked layers of nanosheets, each nanosheet comprising one to three atomic layers of a 2D material comprising or consisting of one or more transition metal dichalcogenides is provided. The nanosheets have pores and the membrane comprises a network of water permeation pathways including through-pathways formed by the pores, horizontal pathways formed by gaps between the layers, and vertical pathways formed by gaps between adjacent nanosheets and stacking defects between the layers. Also provided is a method for making the membrane.

An ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) system that reduces atmospheric CO.sub.2 and mitigates ocean acidification by electrochemically processing feedstock solution (e.g., seawater or brine) to generate an alkalinity product that is then supplied to the ocean. The OAE system includes a base-generating device and a control circuit disposed within a modular system housing deployed near a salt feedstock. The base-generating device (e.g., a bipolar electrodialysis (BPED) system) generates a base substance that is then used to generate the ocean alkalinity product. The control circuit controls the base-generating device such that the alkalinity product is supplied to the ocean only when (1) sufficient low/zero-carbon electricity is available, (2) it is safe to operate the base-generating device, and (3) supplying the alkalinity product will not endanger sea life. Modified BPED systems include features that facilitate autonomous system operations including enhanced maintenance cycle operations and a reduced reliance on external fresh water sources.

An aqueous feed stream having a first total dissolved solids (TDS) level is flowed to a forward osmosis separator. The aqueous feed stream includes seawater. An aqueous draw stream having a second TDS level is flowed to the forward osmosis separator. The second TDS level is greater than the first TDS level. A disposal stream and an injection fluid stream is produced by the forward osmosis separator by allowing water to pass from the aqueous feed stream to the aqueous draw stream through a membrane of the forward osmosis separator based on a difference between the first TDS level and the seconds TDS level. The injection fluid stream is flowed from the osmosis separator to a subterranean formation.