A serial filtration system for liquid purification includes a preliminary-stage reverse-osmosis (RO) module and a first-stage, high-permeability, reverse-osmosis (HiRO) module. Both modules include (a) a chamber including an inlet, a retentate outlet, and a permeate outlet, and (b) at least one membrane separating the chamber into a retentate side on an upstream side of the membrane and a permeate side on a downstream side of the membrane. The membrane in the preliminary stage is an RO membrane, while the membrane in the first stage is an oxidized membrane. The first-stage inlet is in fluid communication with the preliminary-stage, retentate outlet; and the oxidized membrane in the first stage, comprises an oxidized polyamide active layer coated on a porous support, wherein the oxidized polyamide active layer has an atomic oxygen/nitrogen ratio of at least 1.5.

An ion-exchange apparatus includes a raw-water tank 1, a treatment section, an ion exchanger and a hydrophilic layer. The raw-water section contains a liquid to be treated with impurity ions. The treatment tank 2 contains a treatment material with exchange ions exchangeable with the impurity ions. The ion exchanger 3 enables the passage of the impurity ions from the raw-water tank 1 to the treatment tank 2 and the passage of the exchange ions from the treatment tank 2 to the raw-water tank 1. The hydrophilic layer M, with a water contact angle of 30° or less, is disposed on at least a surface of the ion exchanger adjacent to the treatment tank 2.

An inexpensive ion-exchange apparatus with an increased ion-exchange capacity has a raw-water tank (1), a treatment tank (2) and an ion exchanger (3). The raw-water tank (1) contains a to be treated liquid. The liquid contains impurity ions. The treatment tank (2) contains a treatment material that contains exchange ions exchangeable with the impurity ions. The ion exchanger (3) enables passage of the impurity ions from the raw-water tank (1) to the treatment tank (2) and the passage of the exchange ions from the treatment tank (2) to the raw-water tank (1). The treatment material in the treatment tank (2) has a higher molarity than the to be treated liquid in the raw-water tank 1.

A process for separating solvent from a feed solution, said process comprising: contacting a feed solution comprising solutes dissolved in a solvent with one side of a nanofiltration membrane, applying hydraulic pressure to the feed solution, such that solvent and some of the dissolved salts from the feed solution flow through the nanofiltration membrane to provide a permeate solution on the permeate-side of the nanofiltration membrane and a concentrated solution on the retentate-side of the nanofiltration membrane; contacting the permeate solution from the nanofiltration membrane with one side of a reverse osmosis membrane and applying hydraulic pressure to the permeate solution, such that solvent from the permeate solution flows through the reverse osmosis membrane to leave a concentrated solution on the retentate-side of the reverse osmosis membrane, using the concentrated solution from the retentate-side of the reverse osmosis membrane as at least part of the feed solution to the nanofiltration membrane; withdrawing at least a portion of the concentrated solution from the retentate-side of the nanofiltration membrane.

A process for separating solvent from a feed solution, said process comprising: contacting a feed solution comprising solutes dissolved in a solvent with one side of a nanofiltration membrane, applying hydraulic pressure to the feed solution, such that solvent and some of the dissolved salts from the feed solution flow through the nanofiltration membrane to provide a permeate solution on the permeate-side of the nanofiltration membrane and a concentrated solution on the retentate-side of the nanofiltration membrane; contacting the permeate solution from the nanofiltration membrane with one side of a reverse osmosis membrane and applying hydraulic pressure to the permeate solution, such that solvent from the permeate solution flows through the reverse osmosis membrane to leave a concentrated solution on the retentate-side of the reverse osmosis membrane, using the concentrated solution from the retentate-side of the reverse osmosis membrane as at least part of the feed solution to the nanofiltration membrane; withdrawing at least a portion of the concentrated solution from the retentate-side of the nanofiltration membrane.

A desalination brine dispersal apparatus and method employ airlift to remove, oxygenate and disperse brine from a desalination apparatus. The apparatus includes a brine removal conduit having a brine inlet that receives brine from the desalination apparatus, a plurality of brine outlets submerged in seawater and one or more air introduction points located at depths below the brine outlets. The supplied air oxygenates and moves brine through the brine removal conduit and outlets via airlift and disperses the brine into seawater away from the brine removal conduit. The apparatus avoids the formation of concentrated, high shear brine plumes and can disperse brine into seawater over a wide area well away from the brine removal conduit.

A desalination brine dispersal apparatus and method employ airlift to remove, oxygenate and disperse brine from a desalination apparatus. The apparatus includes a brine removal conduit having a brine inlet that receives brine from the desalination apparatus, a plurality of brine outlets submerged in seawater and one or more air introduction points located at depths below the brine outlets. The supplied air oxygenates and moves brine through the brine removal conduit and outlets via airlift and disperses the brine into seawater away from the brine removal conduit. The apparatus avoids the formation of concentrated, high shear brine plumes and can disperse brine into seawater over a wide area well away from the brine removal conduit.

Embodiments provide methods and structures for purification or volume reduction of a brine by an advanced vacuum distillation process (AVMD) to achieve higher flux by passage of vapors through an AVMD distillation unit. In one example, brine is circulated in a tank. The tank may include one or more membrane pouches that are submerged in the circulating brine or placed above the water level of the hot circulating brine. In other embodiments the membrane pouches are outside of the tank that includes the hot circulating brine but still in communication with it. The circulating brine is heated, allowing creation of water vapor. Using a vacuum, the water vapor is drawn through the membrane, where it may be condensed and subjected to further beneficial use. This process can concentrate to levels to generate crystals or solids, which can be separated and utilized.

A D-allulose syrup including, besides D-allulose, a D-allulose dimer mass content, expressed in terms of dry mass, greater than 1.5%. Also, a method for producing the syrup and the use thereof for producing food or pharmaceutical products.

A D-allulose syrup including, besides D-allulose, a D-allulose dimer mass content, expressed in terms of dry mass, greater than 1.5%. Also, a method for producing the syrup and the use thereof for producing food or pharmaceutical products.