Processes, systems, and techniques for treating produced water drawn from a subterranean formation. The produced water is provided and contains dissolved solids and magnesium, calcium, and sodium ions. The produced water is desalinated using an electrically-driven membrane separation apparatus that includes alternating anion exchange membranes and cation exchange membranes defining opposing sides of alternating product and concentrate chambers. The desalinating involves flowing the produced water through the product chamber, flowing a second water through the concentrate chamber, and applying an electric potential across the cation and anion exchange membranes as the produced and second waters flow through the product and concentrate chambers, respectively. The product water is consequently produced and has a total dissolved solids content of between 300 mg/L and 8,000 mg/L, a total concentration of calcium ions and magnesium ions less than 100 mg/L, and a sodium adsorption ratio of 20 to 90.

An apparatus is for injuring or killing undesired organisms in water in a channel. The apparatus has an insert which is arranged to be releasably attached to the channel on the inside of the channel, a plurality of electrodes that are attached to the insert, the insert being formed from an electrically insulating material and the plurality of electrodes being connected to a power-supply unit. A method for using the apparatus in the channel is described as well.

An electrolyzed water generating device 1 has an electrolysis chamber 40, a first feeding body 41 and a second feeding body 41 to which a DC voltage is applied, a diaphragm 43 disposed between the first feeding body 41 and the second feeding body 42 to divide the electrolysis chamber 40 into a first-polar chamber 40a and a second-polar chamber 40b, a control unit 5 for switching a polarity of the first feeding body 41 to an anode or a cathode and a polarity of the second feeding body 42 to a cathode or an anode, a flow rate sensor 22 detecting an amount of flowing water into the electrolysis chamber 40 on the cathode side per unit time, and a current detecting means 44 detecting a DC current supplied to the first feeding body 41 and the second feeding body 42. The surfaces of the first feeding body 41 and the second feeding body 42 are formed of a hydrogen storage metal. The control unit 5 calculates a concentration of hydrogen storage metal colloid based on the DC current and an integrated value of the amount of flowing water after switching the polarities.

A sprayer apparatus includes a spray nozzle in fluid communication with a reservoir for an aqueous salt solution; at least two electrodes spaced apart from each other integrated into the reservoir; a controller structured to apply electricity to the at least two electrodes, wherein the controller controls an application of electricity to cause a first one of the at least two electrodes to be positively charged and a second one of the at least two electrodes to be negatively charged; and wherein the sprayer apparatus is configured to produce air bubbles during application of electricity, wherein the air bubbles cause agitation and mixing of the aqueous salt solution.

Systems and methods for sanitizing pool and spa water are provided. An electrolytic chlorinator is provided which includes a combined flow, temperature, and salt concentration sensor. The electrolytic chlorinator could include an acid tank for in-situ cleaning of the electrolytic chlorinator or acidification of pool/spa water where needed. A delayed polarity reversal technique is provided for de-scaling and managing passivation of the blades of an electrolytic chlorinator. The electrolytic chlorinator could include a sacrificial anode for protecting components of the chlorinator as well as other pool/spa components. The electrolytic chlorinator could include an integral, electrically-controlled acid generator, a brine tank for periodically superchlorinating and/or shocking pool/spa water, and/or a plurality of chemical tanks/feeds for periodically injecting chemicals into the chlorinator. A combined ultraviolet (UV)/Ozone and salt (electrolytic) chlorine generator is provided, as well as: filters having integral UV sanitizers; reflective linings for UV sanitization systems; means for injecting bubbles into pool/spa water; and a system for acquiring and analyzing samples of pool/spa water using an unmanned aircraft (drone).

Methods of treating a fluid mixture include performing a first treatment on the mixture with electrochemically produced ions to separate an aqueous phase and a hydrophobic phase and performing a second electrochemical treatment on the separated aqueous phase to thereby remove aqueous contaminants from the aqueous phase wherein substantially laminar flow of fluid occurs between electrodes in the second electrochemical treatment.

The invention relates to a system and to a method for purifying faecal-free and surfactant-containing domestic wastewater, in particular grey water and kitchen wastewater. An electrochemical treatment unit (3) and a device for introducing gas (11, 12, 14) are provided. Furthermore, at least two dirty water tanks (1, 21) are present, wherein domestic wastewater to be purified is fed to the first dirty water tank (21) from at least one first consumer, and wherein domestic wastewater to be purified is fed to the second dirty water tank (1) from at least one second consumer. In addition, at least two clear water tanks are present, wherein the purified domestic wastewater originating from the first dirty water tank is fed to the first clear water tank (22), and wherein the purified domestic wastewater originating from the second dirty water tank is fed to the second clear water tank (6).

Described herein is an ion pump system implementing an electronic ratchet mechanism produced by modulating a spatially varying electric potential distribution that can result in a net ionic current and voltage. The ion pumping membrane system includes an ion-permeable layer that can also be integrated with ion-selective membranes. The electric potential distribution within the ion-permeable layer is modulated through external stimuli. When immersed in solution, ions within the ion-permeable layer experience a time varying, spatially asymmetric electric field distribution resulting in ratchet-driven direct ion pumping, which can be used in applications such as desalination.

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.

An apparatus includes a reservoir for an aqueous salt solution, at least two electrodes spaced apart from each other integrated into the reservoir, a control module electrically coupled to the at least two electrodes, wherein the control module controls application of electricity to cause a first one of the at least two electrodes to be positively charged and a second one of the at least two electrodes to be negatively charged, and an impeller disposed in the reservoir for mixing the aqueous salt solution in the reservoir.