Wastewater sludge is treated by combining the sludge with a carbon-based dielectric additive that includes carbon to yield a modified sludge, irradiating the modified sludge with microwave radiation to yield a treated sludge, and providing the treated sludge to an anaerobic digester.

A system for redox polymer electrodialysis includes: a first electrode; a second electrode positioned in opposition to the first electrode; a pair of size-exclusion membranes positioned between the first and second electrodes; an ion exchange membrane positioned between the pair of size-exclusion membranes, the ion exchange membrane defining a feed channel and an accumulating channel between the size-exclusion membranes; and a redox channel containing the first and second electrodes and being separated from the feed and/or accumulating channels by the pair of size-exclusion membranes.

A particulate carbon adsorbent for use in anaerobic digestion is provided. The particulate carbon adsorbent is substantially planar and comprising between 40-90 wt % carbon. Methods of manufacture of the particulate carbon adsorbent are also provided.

Disclosed herein are the water clarification compositions and method of using the disclosed water clarification compositions for clarifying a water system or waste water source. Specifically, the disclosed compositions comprise and methods use multiple charged cationic or anionic compounds that are derived from polyamines through an aza-Michael addition with an activated olefin having an ionic group. The disclosed water clarification methods or compositions are found to be more effective than those methods or compositions including commonly used single quaternary compounds for reducing turbidity in water systems or waste water sources.

Methods and systems for killing, preventing, or inhibiting the growth and spread of invasive Dreissenid mussel species, such as Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and Quagga mussels (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) are provided herein. The treatment methods and systems utilize a nonnative source of chlorophyll introduced to a body of water to increase the chlorophyll concentrations in bodies of water. The increased chlorophyll concentration effectively kills or prevents the spreading of the invasive mussel species in the bodies of water. The methods and systems of the present invention advantageously avoid the use of heavy metals or pesticides that may pose health risks to humans. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention can use treatment doses that are nonharmful to other aquatic life.

Provided herein are copolymers and copolymer compositions that are both hydrophilic and oleophobic. The copolymers include structural units derived from a fluoroalkyl monomer and a zwitterionic monomer. It further relates to membranes formed by coating a porous substrate with the copolymeric compositions. The copolymeric coating imparts hydrophilicity and oleophobicity/oil-tolerance to the membranes. The uses of such membranes as microfiltration membrane or ultrafiltration membrane are also provided.

The instant disclosure is directed to devices and methods for water filtration. A filter may comprise electrospun polymer fibers comprising an effective amount of an additive. The additive may be configured to react with chlorine. A method of manufacturing such a filter may comprise mixing a homogeneous solution comprising a polymer, a solvent, and an effective amount of an additive. The method may further comprise electrospinning the mixture onto a mandrel to form a scaffold comprising electrospun polymer fibers and the additive, and removing the scaffold from the mandrel to form a filter. A method of filtering a chlorine-containing liquid may comprise exposing the chlorine-containing liquid to such a filter, and exposing the chlorine-containing liquid to the filter may produce a purified liquid. The method may further include collecting the purified liquid. The purified liquid may contain about 85% less chlorine than the chlorine-containing liquid.

A sulphur denitrification system includes a liquid input fluidly coupled to a source of saltwater that includes nitrate; a liquid output fluidly coupled to the source of saltwater; a plurality of vertically-oriented tanks, at least one of the tanks including a liquid inlet that is fluidly coupled to the liquid input to receive a flow of the saltwater, a volume configured to enclose a plurality of sulphur particles that support denitrification bacteria that biologically transform the nitrate into at least one of nitrous oxide or nitrogen gas, and a liquid outlet fluidly coupled to the liquid output and the liquid inlets of the tanks; and a circulation system configured to circulate a portion of the saltwater though the liquid input to the liquid inlets of the plurality of tanks, through the plurality of tanks, and from the liquid outlets of the tanks to the liquid output and the liquid inlets of the tanks.

Disclosed is a process for enriching silicate content in drinking water that includes separating raw water via reverse osmosis into a permeate comprising demineralised raw water and a retentate comprising mineral enriched raw water. The permeate is mixed with a water glass solution comprising sodium silicate and/or potassium silicate. An ion exchange process is used to reduce the concentration of sodium and/or potassium ions in at least part of the mixture. At least part of the retentate is supplied to the mixture after reducing the concentration of sodium and/or potassium ions to provide a silicate-enriched drinking water. Also disclosed is an apparatus for producing a drinking water enriched with silicate. The apparatus includes a reverse osmosis unit, a mixing unit, an ion exchanger, and a feed unit for feeding at least part of the retentate to the mixture after reducing the concentration of sodium and/or potassium ions.

Methods of conditioning a membrane utilized for water purification are provided. The methods monitor membrane performance during water purification or membrane conditioning via fluorometric measurement. The monitoring allows for the detection of removal efficiency of the fluorescing substance. A conditioner is introduced in the feed stream to increase the detected removal efficiency of a fluorescing substance by the membrane. The conditioner generally extends the useful life of the membrane being conditioned.