The present invention provides a nanocomposite coating comprising: a two-dimensional material; and a polymer, wherein the nanocomposite coating is semi-permeable and is for providing on porous material to improve selectivity towards one phase over others thereby enabling separation of that phase by mass transfer. There is also provided a phase transformation and mass transfer unit comprising porous material coated with the nanocomposite coating, and a low temperature liquid phase separation method comprising flowing liquid mixture through a phase transformation and mass transfer unit comprising porous material coated with the nanocomposite coating.

The present invention provides a nanocomposite coating comprising: a two-dimensional material; and a polymer, wherein the nanocomposite coating is semi-permeable and is for providing on porous material to improve selectivity towards one phase over others thereby enabling separation of that phase by mass transfer. There is also provided a phase transformation and mass transfer unit comprising porous material coated with the nanocomposite coating, and a low temperature liquid phase separation method comprising flowing liquid mixture through a phase transformation and mass transfer unit comprising porous material coated with the nanocomposite coating.

A fluid separation apparatus comprising a fluid separation membrane is provided. The fluid separation apparatus comprises a fluid separation membrane extending in one direction and having a cross-section with a closed curve shape, wherein the fluid separation membrane has a thickness of 0.1 mm to 2 mm, and an outer diameter of 60 mm to 360 mm when the cross-section is adjusted to be circular.

A fluid separation apparatus comprising a fluid separation membrane is provided. The fluid separation apparatus comprises a fluid separation membrane extending in one direction and having a cross-section with a closed curve shape, wherein the fluid separation membrane has a thickness of 0.1 mm to 2 mm, and an outer diameter of 60 mm to 360 mm when the cross-section is adjusted to be circular.

A device for filtering liquids, including a filtration module and an ultrasound emission module, where the ultrasound emission module is fixed distant from the filtration module using a fixing means, and the ultrasound emission module is equipped coaxially along its axis with a weight or is equipped perpendicular to its axis with at least one weight, the filtration module and the ultrasound module equipped with its at least one weight going into resonance via the fixing means when the ultrasound emission module emits ultrasound.

A device for filtering liquids, including a filtration module and an ultrasound emission module, where the ultrasound emission module is fixed distant from the filtration module using a fixing means, and the ultrasound emission module is equipped coaxially along its axis with a weight or is equipped perpendicular to its axis with at least one weight, the filtration module and the ultrasound module equipped with its at least one weight going into resonance via the fixing means when the ultrasound emission module emits ultrasound.

A method of concentrating lithium containing solutions includes inputting a feed brine solution to an initial separation stage, the feed brine solution including lithium sulfate and one or more of sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, calcium sulfate, and sodium chloride dissolved in water. In the initial separation stage, the feed brine solution is introduced to a pre-treatment membrane at a pressure that is less than the osmotic pressure of the feed brine solution. An initial permeate that passes through the pre-treatment membrane becomes the feed to a final separation stage, and an initial retentate that does not pass through the pre-treatment membrane includes a precipitate of at least one of the salts other than lithium sulfate. In the final separation stage, the initial permeate is introduced to a nanofiltration membrane at a pressure that is less than the osmotic pressure of the initial permeate. A final retentate that does not pass through the nanofiltration membrane is combined with the initial retentate to obtain a product solution having a higher concentration of dissolved lithium sulfate than the feed brine solution.

A method of concentrating lithium containing solutions includes inputting a feed brine solution to an initial separation stage, the feed brine solution including lithium sulfate and one or more of sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, calcium sulfate, and sodium chloride dissolved in water. In the initial separation stage, the feed brine solution is introduced to a pre-treatment membrane at a pressure that is less than the osmotic pressure of the feed brine solution. An initial permeate that passes through the pre-treatment membrane becomes the feed to a final separation stage, and an initial retentate that does not pass through the pre-treatment membrane includes a precipitate of at least one of the salts other than lithium sulfate. In the final separation stage, the initial permeate is introduced to a nanofiltration membrane at a pressure that is less than the osmotic pressure of the initial permeate. A final retentate that does not pass through the nanofiltration membrane is combined with the initial retentate to obtain a product solution having a higher concentration of dissolved lithium sulfate than the feed brine solution.

The invention relates to a gas-liquid separator (2) for separating at least one liquid component, in particular H.sub.2O, from a gaseous component, in particular H.sub.2, the separator comprising at least one container (6) which is supplied with a medium via an inlet (16), at least the liquid component of the medium being separated in at least one container (6) and the separated component of the medium being discharged from the at least one container (6) via a discharge valve (46) with the remaining gaseous component of the medium, in particular H.sub.2, being recirculated into an outflow line (5) via a first outlet (18). According to the invention, in addition to the liquid component, in particular H.sub.2O, a gaseous component N.sub.2 is separated from the medium by the gas-liquid separator (2).

The invention relates to a gas-liquid separator (2) for separating at least one liquid component, in particular H.sub.2O, from a gaseous component, in particular H.sub.2, the separator comprising at least one container (6) which is supplied with a medium via an inlet (16), at least the liquid component of the medium being separated in at least one container (6) and the separated component of the medium being discharged from the at least one container (6) via a discharge valve (46) with the remaining gaseous component of the medium, in particular H.sub.2, being recirculated into an outflow line (5) via a first outlet (18). According to the invention, in addition to the liquid component, in particular H.sub.2O, a gaseous component N.sub.2 is separated from the medium by the gas-liquid separator (2).