A system for treatment of a polluted effluent includes an outer chamber and a computerized control system. The system is configured to treat an effluent/catalyst mixture that includes the polluted effluent in admixture with a purification slurry. The slurry includes particles of one or more catalysts and/or organoclays. The treatment of the effluent/catalyst mixture is carried out by contact between the particles of the catalysts and/or organoclays and the polluted effluent to mineralize or degrade pollutants in the polluted effluent.

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.

A method for determining a fouling index ROFix in a filtration system includes supplying a liquid feed across a filtration membrane; measuring an initial filtrate flow rate Q.sub.0 of the liquid feed using a cross-flow filtration mode; measuring filtrate volumes V.sub.i at various corresponding times t.sub.i using the cross-flow filtration mode; fitting a straight line for the filtrate volumes V.sub.i and the corresponding times t.sub.i; and calculating a slope of the straight line. The slope or a parameter related to the slope is the ROFix index, and wherein the cross-flow filtration mode allows the liquid feed to exit the filtration system.

A device and method are described for the treatment of blood, which device may be used in conjunction with or in place of a failed Kidney. The device includes an ultrafiltration unit to remove proteins, red and white blood cells and other high molecular weight components, a nanofiltration unit to remove glucose, at least one electrodeionization unit to transport ions from the blood stream, and a reverse osmosis unit to modulate the flow of water, to both the blood and urine streams. In one embodiment, a specialized electrodeionization unit is provided having multiple chambers defining multiple dilute fluid channels, each channel filled with an ion specific resin wafer, and electrodes at the extremity of the device and proximate each of the resin filled dilute channels. By selective application of voltages to these electrodes, the ion transport functionality of a given dilute channel can be turned on or off.

A conditioning system for a filter module is disclosed. The conditioning system may generally include an inlet, a heat exchanger, a magnetically levitated pump, a channel provided to bypass the heat exchanger, a controller, an outlet, and a base. The system may have components lined with corrosion-resistant materials. A method of conditioning a filter module is also disclosed. The method may generally include measuring TOC in a source of ultrapure water, heating the ultrapure water, rinsing a filter module with the heated water, flushing the filter module with ambient temperature water, and repeating the rinsing with heated water and flushing with ambient temperature water. A method of facilitating conditioning of the filter module is also disclosed. The method may generally include providing a portable filter module conditioning system and providing instructions for installation or use.

The present invention concerns an electronic safety system for an RO device which is configured to be used with at least one dialysis device (e.g., a hemodialysis or a peritoneal dialysis device). The system comprises the RO device, which is configured for the production of ultrapure water and which includes a sensor unit for collecting sensor data and whereby the RO device comprises an electronic data interface in order to send the sensor data collected by the sensor unit; and it also comprises an analysis unit which is configured to analyze a water sample with regards to safety requirements and for example with regard to contamination and to generate result data whereby the analysis unit also includes an analysis interface in order to send the generated result data in electronic form; and a network for the data exchange between the medical entities, for example between the RO device and the analysis unit.

A membrane surface monitoring system (MSM) and membrane surface monitoring cell for direct and unambiguous detection of membrane surface fouling and mineral scaling. The system includes a membrane surface monitoring system cell, a control valve, a retentate flow meter/transmitter and a controller. The MSM cell has a visually-observable membrane, an edge-lit light guide, an edge illumination light source, a retentate module, and a permeate module. A pressurized inlet stream is fed into the MSM cell. The feed contacts a membrane sheet, leading to membrane-based separation operation to produce retentate and permeate streams. The MSM cell integrates surface illumination and imaging components to allow direct real-time visualization and spectral imaging of the membrane surface in real time. The pressure on the feed-side of the MSM cells is approximately that of the membrane plant element being monitored such that the plant control system can adjust plant operating conditions.

Disclosed techniques include desalination using pressure vessels. Access to a set of at least three pressure vessels is obtained. The pressure vessels are interconnected using piping and computer-controlled switching valves. A first pressure vessel of the set is filled with a prepurified liquid. A second pressure vessel of the set is filled with a pressurized gas. The pressurized gas is sharp interface immiscible with the prepurified liquid. The switching valves are controlled to enable the pressurized gas in the second pressure vessel to force the prepurified liquid from the first pressure vessel into a reverse osmosis chamber. The switching valves are controlled to enable a third pressure vessel of the set to fill with additional prepurified liquid. The switching valves are controlled to enable the pressurized gas that entered the first pressure vessel to force the additional prepurified liquid from the third pressure vessel into the reverse osmosis chamber.

A membrane surface monitoring system (MSM) and membrane surface monitoring cell for direct and unambiguous detection of membrane surface fouling and mineral scaling. The system includes a membrane surface monitoring system cell, a control valve, a retentate flow meter/transmitter and a controller. The MSM cell has a visually-observable membrane, an edge-lit light guide, an edge illumination light source, a retentate module, and a permeate module. A pressurized inlet stream is fed into the MSM cell. The feed contacts a membrane sheet, leading to membrane-based separation operation to produce retentate and permeate streams. The MSM cell integrates surface illumination and imaging components to allow direct real-time visualization and spectral imaging of the membrane surface in real time. The pressure on the feed-side of the MSM cells is approximately that of the membrane plant element being monitored such that the plant control system can adjust plant operating conditions.

A method of filtering a large volume of a medium using a pre-sterilizable, at least partially automated single-use filtration device which includes an unfiltrate inlet, a filtrate outlet, a main line running between the unfiltrate inlet and the filtrate outlet, filter elements arranged in the main line, a venting line and sensors for detecting specific process parameters and regulating means for adjusting specific process parameters, wherein the sensors and regulating means are connected to an external monitoring and control system which is adapted for evaluating and processing sensor data and for piloting the regulating means based on one or more control algorithms, comprises the following process steps: a) filling the single-use filtration device with medium with low flow; b) venting the single-use filtration device through the venting line; c) closing the venting line; d) rinsing the single-use filtration device, in particular the filter elements; e) filtering the medium by means of the filter elements; f) re-rinsing with high flow; and g) closing the main line; wherein the process steps f) and g) are optional.