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.

A desalination and cooling system includes a single effect water-lithium bromide vapor absorption cycle (VAC) system and a forward osmosis with thermal-recovery (FO-TR) desalination system. The FO system employs a Thermo-Responsive Draw Solution (TRDS) Fresh water flows from the FS to the TRDS without application of pressure on the saline water. Afterwards, only thermal energy is required to extract fresh water from the TRDS and recover or regenerate the draw solution. The VAC system serves as a cooling source for cooling or air conditioning applications, generating waste heat as a result. The waste heat generated by the VAC system provides the thermal energy needed to recover the draw solution (DS). The VAC system can be powered by low-grade heat sources like solar thermal energy.

Provided herein is forward osmosis-based water purification process, that includes contacting a solution of a soluble draw agent with a dehydrated insoluble draw agent, separating the now hydrated insoluble draw agent from the now concentrated draw solution, and exerting a stimulus on the hydrated insoluble draw agent for extracting water therefrom, thereby regenerating a dehydrated insoluble draw agent, wherein the osmotic concentration (osmolality) of the insoluble draw agent is greater than the osmotic concentration of the diluted draw solution, and the insoluble draw agent is impermeable to the soluble draw agent.

Concentrating nutrients in breast milk may be achieved using an apparatus comprising a first sheet of material comprising a forward osmotic membrane, a second sheet of material sealed to the first sheet of material about a common outer perimeter thereof, the first sheet of material arranged so that water can traverse the forward osmotic membrane to an interior of the first and second sheets, and a dry carbohydrate within the interior of the first and second sheets exhibiting an osmotic draw property to draw water from un-concentrated, expressed human milk to form concentrated human milk. After a predetermined time, or upon the milk remaining after drawing of water through the membrane being a desired amount, the water draw can end.

Provided are metal oxide ceramic materials and intermediate materials thereof (e.g., nanozirconia gels, nanozirconia green bodies, pre-sintered ceramic bodies, zirconia dental ceramic materials, and dental articles). The nanozirconia gels are formable gels. Also provided are methods of making and using the metal oxide materials and intermediate materials. The nanozirconia gels can be made using, for example, osmotic processing. The nanozirconia gels can be used to make nanozirconia green bodies, pre-sintered ceramic bodies, zirconia dental ceramic materials, and dental article. The nanozirconia green bodies, pre-sintered ceramic bodies, zirconia dental ceramic materials, and dental articles have desirable properties (e.g., optical properties and mechanical properties).

Provided are metal oxide ceramic materials and intermediate materials thereof (e.g., nanozirconia gels, nanozirconia green bodies, pre-sintered ceramic bodies, zirconia dental ceramic materials, and dental articles). The nanozirconia gels are formable gels. Also provided are methods of making and using the metal oxide materials and intermediate materials. The nanozirconia gels can be made using, for example, osmotic processing. The nanozirconia gels can be used to make nanozirconia green bodies, pre-sintered ceramic bodies, zirconia dental ceramic materials, and dental article. The nanozirconia green bodies, pre-sintered ceramic bodies, zirconia dental ceramic materials, and dental articles have desirable properties (e.g., optical properties and mechanical properties).

Systems, methods and apparatuses to concentrate lithium containing solutions using forward osmosis units are provided, which, for example, can include providing at least one forward osmosis unit having at least one lithium containing solution chamber having at least one first inlet and at least one first outlet, at least one brine chamber having at least one second inlet and at least one second outlet, and at least one selectively permeable membrane positioned between the at least one lithium containing solution chamber and the at least one brine chamber, and conveying a lithium containing solution through the at least one lithium containing solution chamber and a concentrated brine solution through the at least one brine chamber, said conveying causing water from the lithium containing solution to be drawn through the at least one selectively permeable membrane and into the concentrated brine solution, such that a concentrated lithium containing solution exits through the first outlet and a less concentrated brine solution exits through the second outlet.

A precipitation system for precipitating the target component is provided. The precipitation system includes: a reverse osmosis module; a precipitation device; a membrane separation device that includes a semipermeable membrane module including a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a semipermeable membrane, and that makes the feed solution after precipitation of the target component in the precipitation device flow to each of the first chamber and the second chamber and pressurizes the feed solution in the first chamber to transfer water into the second chamber via the semipermeable membrane and thereby concentrate the feed solution in the first chamber and dilute the feed solution in the second chamber; first return means for returning the feed solution concentrated in the membrane separation device to the precipitation device; and second return means for returning the feed solution diluted in the membrane separation device to the reverse osmosis module.

A composite hollow fiber membrane according to one aspect of the present invention is provided with a semipermeable membrane layer, a support layer that has a hollow fiber shape and is porous, and an intermediate layer interposed between the semipermeable membrane layer and the support layer. The semipermeable membrane layer contains a crosslinked polyamide formed of a polyfunctional amine compound and a polyfunctional acid halide compound. The intermediate layer includes a layer portion made of the same material as the support layer, and the crosslinked polyamide impregnating the layer portion.

An extracted material for forward osmosis is provided. The extracted material includes a first ionic compound, a second ionic compound and a third ionic compound, which are represented by formula {K[A.sup.+(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)(R.sup.3)].sub.p}(X.sup.−).sub.c(Y.sup.−).sub.d. X.sup.− is the same as Y.sup.− in the first ionic compound. X.sup.− is the same as Y.sup.− in the second ionic compound. X.sup.− in the first ionic compound is different from X.sup.− in the second ionic compound. X.sup.− differs from Y.sup.− in the third ionic compound. X.sup.− in the third ionic compound is the same as X.sup.− in the first ionic compound or X.sup.− in the second ionic compound. Y.sup.− in the third ionic compound is the same as Y.sup.− in the first ionic compound or Y.sup.− in the second ionic compound. A method for preparing an extracted material and a forward-osmosis water desalination system using the same are also provided.