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.

Processes and systems for filtering a liquid sample are provided. Batches of a liquid sample can be routed to two or more cycling tanks (e.g., first and second cycling tanks). Upon filling a first cycling tank, a first batch of the liquid sample can be routed to a filtration assembly by a continuous diafiltration process that includes routing produced retentate back to the first cycling tank or to a collection vessel. Upon filling a second cycling tank, a second batch of the liquid sample is routed to the filtration assembly by a continuous diafiltration process that includes routing produced retentate back to the second cycling tank or to the collection vessel. The filling and continuous diafiltration of batches of the liquid sample continues to alternate between the two or more cycling tanks until a total product volume is processed.

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.

The present invention relates to a method for removing metal ions from an aqueous system comprising a step of filtering the aqueous system through a loaded membrane which contains a carrier membrane based on a polyarylene ethersulfone which carries anionic groups, and a cationic polymer which is a polymer comprising primary and/or secondary amino groups. The invention further relates to a loaded membrane which contains a carrier membrane based on a polyarylene ethersulfone which carries anionic groups, and a cationic polymer which is a polymer comprising primary and/or secondary amino groups.

A method for the treatment of water using reverse osmosis (RO) membranes and nano-filtration membranes wherein the permeate of the membranes is fluid connected to a feed water source via a pressurized storage buffer tank as well as to the fluid connection to use, the method comprising the steps of supplying treated water through a sanitary fully pressurized buffer tank, and supplying waste water through a recirc loop which contains recirculated concentrate and storing treated water in the buffer tank with low total dissolved solids of less than 10% of feed water, low pH of less than pH 7, and of low total organic carbon of less than 25% of feed water ensuring sanitary storage. It further includes opening a waste valve in the recirc loop which purges recirculated concentrate in order to rapidly reduce the conductivity of the water in the recirc loop. It further includes the steps of operating the waste valve such that it maintains the conductivity of the recirculated waste water in the recirc loop within a pre selected range of values and opening the waste valve when a measured conductivity setpoint is exceeded, and closing the waste valve when a measured conductivity setpoint is met.

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.

Methods of operating an electrochemical separation device is disclosed. The methods include operating the electrochemical separation device in an active mode until the resistance reaches a predetermined threshold, regenerating the electrochemical separation device in a passive mode until the resistance reaches a predetermined threshold, and resuming operation of the electrochemical separation device in the active mode. The methods also include operating the electrochemical separation device in an active mode for a predetermined period of time, regenerating the electrochemical separation device in a passive mode for a predetermined period of time, and resuming operation of the electrochemical separation device in the active mode. Water treatment systems include the electrochemical separation device and a control module are also disclosed. Methods of facilitating operation of the electrochemical separation device by providing a control sequence are also disclosed.

A diffusiophoretic water filter with a flushing system is provided. The flushing system preferably includes a reverse flow flushing system and/or a cleaning agent delivery system and/or a non-laminar flow flushing system. Methods are also provided.

An apparatus for extracting a material from a liquid includes a concentration stage having a filter, a first path from the filter, and a second path from the filter. Under this configuration, the concentration stage accepts an initial liquid volume. A first liquid not having material collected by the filter is passed along the first path, and concentrated liquid having material therein, which is entrapped by the filter, is directed to the second path. The apparatus also includes an aerosolizing stage coupled to the concentration stage that converts the concentrated liquid into an aerosol and a drying stage that dries the aerosol such that material extracted from the aerosol onto a material substrate.

A management device for a water treatment facility includes: a transmembrane pressure difference prediction unit configured to predict a general trend in a transmembrane pressure difference in a water treatment system based on an operation information, the operation information being related to the water treatment system including a membrane separation device installed therein; a chemical solution cleaning planning unit configured to devise such a chemical solution cleaning plan that chemical solution cleaning is performed before a period when a value of the transmembrane pressure difference predicted reaches a specified value; and a chemical solution order placement information generation unit configured to generate chemical solution order placement information based on the and the cleaning chemical solution stock information.