The present invention relates to a separation membrane element including a supply-side channel member, in which: the supply-side channel member has a net shape in which plural fibrous rows X including fibrous objects A and plural fibrous rows Y including fibrous objects B cross each other sterically to form intersections; at least one of the fibrous objects A and the fibrous objects B have a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion along a longitudinal direction; at least one of the fibrous objects A and the fibrous objects B include a thread that is thinner at a central portion located between intersection portions than at the large diameter portion; and a fiber between an arbitrary intersection and an adjacent intersection is a tapered fiber whose diameter increases like a taper in a direction from one intersection to the other intersection.

[Problem] Provided is a semipermeable membrane that achieves chemical resistance (chlorine resistance, acid resistance, alkali resistance), membrane performance, and membrane strength by sulfonating a polyphenylene-based semipermeable membrane base material under specific conditions. [Solution] A polyphenylene-based semipermeable membrane that is composed of a material containing a polyphenylene-based resin, wherein the semipermeable membrane has a first surface of which at least a portion is sulfonated, and wherein, when concentration distribution of elemental sulfur derived from a sulfonic acid group is measured by elemental analysis in a cross section in a thickness direction of the semipermeable membrane, a ratio of a sulfonated layer obtained by the following expression is 50% or less: Ratio of Sulfonated Layer (%)=Sulfonated Layer Thickness/(Sulfonated Layer Thickness+Non-Sulfonated Layer Thickness)×100.

A perfluorocarbon-free membrane composed of a non-perfluorocarbon material having a first side and a second side opposite of the first side. The perfluorocarbon-free membrane also includes a plurality of pores, each having an inlet and outlet and each passing through the non-perfluorocarbon material so that each pore provides fluidic communication between the first and second sides of the non-perfluorocarbon material. A portion of the non-perfluorocarbon material extends over the inlet and outlet of each the plurality of pores so that a cross-sectional area of the inlets and outlets in a direction of the extension of the non-perfluorocarbon material is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the respective pore in the direction of the extension of the non-perfluorocarbon material. The perfluorocarbon-free membrane does not include a hydrophobic perfluorocarbon coating.

Cross-linked polyvinyl polymers comprising charged groups and methods of making are disclosed. The polymers are effective and durable adsorbent of dyes from aqueous solutions. Also, a method of removal of dyes from contaminated water is disclosed.

Disclosed are a wet non-woven fabric, the use of the wet non-woven fabric as a supporting layer of a water treatment membrane, a method for preparing the wet non-woven fabric, and a water treatment membrane containing the wet non-woven fabric. The wet non-woven fabric has an average pore size of no greater than 20 .Math.m, a maximum pore size of no greater than 40 .Math.m, and a maximum pore size/average pore size ratio of no less than 1 and no greater than 12.

The present invention relates to shallow water subsea desalination system with a subsea desalination template (20) located on a seabed. A retrievable subsea RO-module (4) is located in a subsea RO-module zone (23) of the subsea desalination template (20) and is connected to a RO-module connection. A seawater booster pump assembly (1) includes a seawater inlet (7) and an outlet in fluid connection with a seawater inlet side of the RO-cartridge assembly. A retrievable subsea booster module (2) includes the seawater booster pump assembly (1). A pressure regulator (11) is in fluid connection with a retentate side of the least one retrievable subsea RO-module (4).

Processes of extracting mineral deposits in ore include treating a saline source, e.g., seawater, to reduce a concentration of one or more multivalent ions (e.g., Ca.sup.2+, Mg.sup.2+, SO.sub.4.sup.2−) dissolved in the saline source by passing the seawater through one or more nanofilters to produce treated saline water while maintain a certain concentration of dissolved monovalent ions (e.g., (Na.sup.+, K.sup.+ and Cl.sup.−) in the treated saline water. The treated saline water can be used in an operation to extract minerals from ore such as in a flotation operation to extract minerals from ore, or to consolidate tailings generated from an extraction of minerals from ore, or both.

A composite semipermeable membrane 12 of the present invention includes a porous support membrane 12a and a skin layer 12b supported by the porous support membrane 12a. The membrane surface of the composite semipermeable membrane 12 has an elastic modulus of 250 MPa or more and 500 MPa or less as calculated by force curve measurement using AFM in water. A spiral membrane element 20 of the present invention includes the composite semipermeable membrane 12 of the present invention. A water treatment system 100 of the present invention includes the spiral membrane element 20 of the present invention.

A wave driven variable leverage pump for water desalination is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a variable leverage pump comprises a platform and a paddle comprising at least one lever arm extending therefrom. The at least one lever arm is pivotally coupled with the platform. The pump further comprises a pump having a first end pivotally coupled with the platform, and a second end pivotally coupled with the paddle. A pivot point of the at least one lever arm is located above a pivot point of the pump relative to the platform.

A reverse osmosis apparatus for a seawater desalination system is provided. The reverse osmosis apparatus includes a barrel in which a plurality of vessels receiving reverse osmosis membrane units are arranged, a feed tank provided in an intermediate portion of the barrel and connected to a seawater inlet, a first water tank provided inside a first end portion of the barrel and connected to a plurality of first vessels connected to a first side of the feed tank, and a second water tank provided inside a second end portion of the barrel and connected to a plurality of second vessels connected to a second side of the feed tank.