Embodiments of a fluid filtration system constructed in accordance with principles of the present disclosure can be used to automatically condition the single use filter for efficient use thereof. For example, in embodiments, the fluid filtration system can include a filter conditioning program containing at least one of a filter priming module, a filter flushing module, and a filter pressurizing module.

A method of removing chemical contaminants from a composition comprising an active, a solvent, and a contaminant can include providing an initial feed supply, wherein the initial feed supply comprises the active, the solvent, and the contaminant, wherein the contaminant can include 1,4 dioxane, dimethyl dioxane, or a combination thereof; including filtering the initial feed stock through a nanofilter and using reverse osmosis.

[PROBLEM] To provide an evaluation method and evaluation device with which the practical performance of a forward osmosis membrane can more accurately be measured.

[SOLVING MEANS] Provided is a method for evaluating a forward osmosis membrane module. The method includes the steps of, in a forward osmosis membrane module having spaces which are partitioned by a forward osmosis membrane including a porous support body and a separation function layer stacked thereon, connecting a feed solution line to a space on the separation function layer side, and connecting a draw solution line to a space on the porous support body side, and moving a solvent in the feed solution into the draw solution via the forward osmosis membrane while adjusting a physical pressure differential across the forward osmosis membrane to a constant value within the range of more than 0 kPa to 200 kPa.

A method of operating a dual reverse osmosis/pressure retarded osmosis plant, including when electricity costs less than a first predetermined price, moderate salinity water is pumped into the first portion of a pressure vessel having first and second portions separated by a water permeable/salt impermeable osmotic membrane to yield desalinated permeate in the second portion and brine in the first portion. Further, when electricity costs greater than the first predetermined price, low salinity water is pumped into the second portion and brine is pumped into the first portion to yield pressurized moderate salinity water in the second portion which is run through an energy recovery device to generate electricity. The salinity of the low salinity water is lower than the salinity of the moderate salinity water, and the salinity of the moderate salinity water is lower than the salinity of the brine.

A drying method for a separation membrane includes supplying a gas for drying to the separation membrane so that a value obtained by dividing the difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of a flow rate of the gas for drying on a membrane surface of the separation membrane by the minimum value of the flow rate is less than or equal to 15%. The gas for drying is less than or equal to 40 degree C. and contains a water-soluble gas that has a solubility in 1 cm.sup.3 of water of greater than or equal to 0.5 cm.sup.3 in conditions of 40 degree C. and 1 atmosphere.

A ultrapure water supply system 10 includes a pure water tank 16 provided vertically below a use point 30, a return pipe 32 through which ultrapure water is returned from the use point 30 to the pure water tank 16, a first pressure regulating valve 40 that is provided at a first position H1 of the return pipe 32 and adjusts a first pressure upstream of the first position H1 and a second pressure regulating valve 42 that is provided at a second position H2 downstream of the first position H1 and vertically below the first position H1 of the return pipe 32 and adjusts a second pressure downstream of the first position H1 and upstream of the second position H2.

A device for tangential flow filtration includes a filter unit having first and second fluid openings, a filter element and a permeate opening, a first flow connection to connect the first fluid opening to a reservoir, a second flow connection to connect the second fluid opening to the reservoir, a first centrifugal pump in the first flow connection to convey the fluid from the reservoir to the filter unit, a first controller to actuate the first centrifugal pump, the filter unit designed such that the fluid for tangential flow filtration is capable of flowing substantially parallel to the filter element, a second centrifugal pump in the second flow connection, with which a counter-pressure is capable of being generated at the second fluid opening, and a second controller to actuate the second centrifugal pump.

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 pervaporation membrane formed on a porous support containing a composition encompassing a polysiloxane, a crosslinker and a catalyst are disclosed and claimed. Also disclosed are the fabrication of membranes which exhibit unique separation properties, and their use in the separation of organic volatiles from biomass and/or organic waste, including butanol, ethanol, and the like.

A predictive system for monitoring fouling of membranes of a desalination or water softening plant includes ultrafiltration (UF) membranes, reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, and/or nanofiltration (NF) membranes. In addition, the system includes one or more UF skids including a plurality of UF units. Each UF unit contains therein a plurality of UF membranes. Further, the system includes one or more RO/NF skids including one or more RO/NF arrays. Each of the one or more RO/NF arrays includes a plurality of RO units, with each RO unit containing therein a plurality of RO membranes, a plurality of NF units, with each NF unit containing therein a plurality of NF membranes, or a combination thereof. Still further, the system includes UF sensors and/or RO/NF sensors. The system also includes a controller comprising a processor in signal communication with the UF sensors and/or the RO/NF sensors.