The disclosure generally relates to methods and apparatus for the efficient quantitative recovery of valuable biological fluids from filtration systems, more particularly to efficient quantitative recovery of valuable biological fluids from high precision separation systems suitable for use in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

Raw liquid is fed along a raw liquid and drain liquid mixing line to a liquid purification device. Drain liquid is fed along a recirculation line to be mixed with raw liquid. After a set period of time, the liquid purification process is interrupted to flush the liquid purification device by a liquid to remove contaminants built up on the inside surface of the liquid purification device. Downstream of the liquid purification device, the liquid is discharged at high speed into a drain. Prior to flushing, the purification process is interrupted at least once for a time sufficient to enable disruption of a polarized layer of contaminants. A mixture of raw liquid and drain liquid is used as the liquid medium for flushing such that less raw liquid is used for flushing and the service life of the water purification device increases.

A membrane separation process is described. The process comprises pumping of a fluid stream through a membrane module to produce a permeate during a plurality of membrane operating cycles. Each membrane operating cycle comprises a filtration cycle and a relaxation cycle. Concentration polarisation is controlled during the process by controlling duration of filtration cycles and relaxation cycles to relatively short duration to maintain the degree of concentration polarisation below a target.

The present invention relates to a hollow fiber membrane module provided with: a tubular casing having a first end and a second end in the axial direction; a plurality of hollow fiber membranes; a first potting part; and a second potting part, the hollow fiber membrane module further having a flow regulation structure in which a fluid flowing outside the hollow fiber membranes from the second end side toward the first end side forms a flow directed to the radial center on the second end side of the first potting part, and further forms a radial flow directed from the radial center to the radially outer peripheral side on the second end side of the first potting part.

A method for water filtration to reduce scaling is disclosed herein. The method includes determining that a pump has been inactive for a threshold period of time. The method also includes closing a first valve to a filtered drinking water tank and opening a second valve to a source water tank based on determining that the pump has been inactive for the threshold period of time. The method further includes activating, based on the first valve being closed and the second valve being opened, the pump for a period of time to circulate water from the source water tank through a filter system and back to the source water tank.

A cleaning-in-place method includes terminating a cleaning-in-place cycle if a deviation of a currently detected value of a backwash hydraulic parameter (P) from a value of the same backwash hydraulic parameter (P) detected in a previous backwash cycle (32, 34, 36 38) in the same cleaning-in-place cycle exceeds a predefined deviation limit value. A filter device is provided having a control device for carrying out a respective cleaning-in-place method.

Disclosed herein is apparatus for recovering an acid or a base during a uranium extraction process. The apparatus contacts contacting a feed stream comprising the acid or base and the uranium with an ultrafiltration membrane to produce an ultrafiltration retentate and an ultrafiltration permeate, and contacting the ultrafiltration permeate with a nanofiltration membrane. The nanofiltration retentate produced comprises a majority of the uranium from the feed stream, and the nanofiltration permeate produced comprises a majority of the acid or base from the feed stream.

A method for processing a fluid with forward osmosis process includes providing one or more tubular membranes each including a tubular nonwoven base layer on the outside of the tubular membrane forming an outer shell of the tubular membrane and providing a lumen for feed flow; a polymer substrate layer on the lumen-side of the tubular membrane comprising three regions, including a region where the polymer substrate layer is partially intruded into the tubular base layer, a region with an open macrovoid structure and a region with an asymmetrical foamy layer, where the partially intruded region forms an intermediate layer; and a functional top layer on the polymer substrate layer. The tubular base layer comprises a longitudinal weld. The method includes providing the feed flow through the lumen and providing a draw solution on the outer shell side of the tubular membrane; and processing the feed flow with the membrane.

The present disclosure is directed to filtering technologies that combine elements of continuous and batch NF/RO based on the constraints of the end-user facility to achieve a target balance between, for instance, recovery and power consumption, and to reduce long term operating cost of a plant. A method for extending batch operation into a second induction period with antiscalant injection is also disclosed herein, with the second induction period allowing for yet higher water recovery.

This disclosure provides a novel flush method using a recovery flush technique that minimizes yield losses due to inadequate flushing and prevents or reduces dilution of a target protein during a recovery flush.