A device for decomplexation and enhanced removal of copper based on self-induced Fenton-like reaction constructed by electrochemistry coupled with membrane separation is disclosed. The device includes a reactor, two electrocatalytic anodes capable of generating hydroxyl radicals, an electrocatalytic cathode membrane assembly, a direct current power supply, an aeration system, an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe. The device of the present invention has a simple construction. Using this device to treat industrial wastewater containing copper complexes under specific conditions allows the decomplexation and the removal of the industrial wastewater containing the copper complexes to be simultaneously realized at a low consumption and a high efficiency. The coupling of electrochemistry with membrane separation can be achieved to protect the cathode from being contaminated by pollutants in the sewage and prolong the service life of the electrode.

A membrane wettability system including a power source configured to generate a current; a measuring device configured to measure the current; a first conducting spacer that is electrically connected to one of the measuring device and the power source; and a second conducting spacer that is electrically connected to another one of the measuring device and the power source. The first conducting spacer is physically separated from the second conducting spacer by a membrane, which is not conducting the current.

A membrane assembly for separating a feed liquid into a permeate and a retentate includes a semipermeable membrane and conductive members for applying a voltage effective for charging a semipermeable surface of the membrane, thereby reducing or preventing fouling or scaling of the membrane. The conductive members may be positioned adjacent to the semipermeable membrane, and may be configured as feed spacers or permeate spacers. Alternatively or additionally, the membrane may be electrically conductive. Power from an external source may be supplied to one or more of the conductive members, or also the membrane if conductive, which may be done wirelessly. One or more membrane assemblies may be provided in a container. One or more membrane assemblies may be provided in a stacked configuration, or wrapped around a tube in a spiral configuration.

A filter for use in filtering a fluid slurry that includes particles of varying size, such as pool water including debris, is provided. The filter is in electrical communication with a sensor and includes a housing having an inlet to receive the fluid slurry, an outlet, and an internal chamber. An actuator can be coupled to the filter media to move at least a portion of the filter media to vary a dimension of the pores. The filter also includes a controller connected to the actuator that is capable of receiving a signal from the sensor and controls the actuator to change the dimension of the pores based on the signal.

A biofouling/biofilm removal system includes a filtration module configured to separate a permeate from a feed; a first inert electrode placed at an inlet of the filtration module; a second inert electrode placed at an outlet of the filtration module; and a power source configured to apply a current between the first and second electrodes. The inlet is configured to receive the feed and the outlet is configured to discard a concentrate, and the current applied between the first and second electrodes initiates electrochemical reactions inside the feed and along a biofilm formed in the filtration module, but not into the permeate.

A device for decomplexation and enhanced removal of copper based on self-induced Fenton-like reaction constructed by electrochemistry coupled with membrane separation is disclosed. The device includes a reactor, two electrocatalytic anodes capable of generating hydroxyl radicals, an electrocatalytic cathode membrane assembly, a direct current power supply, an aeration system, an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe. The device of the present invention has a simple construction. Using this device to treat industrial wastewater containing copper complexes under specific conditions allows the decomplexation and the removal of the industrial wastewater containing the copper complexes to be simultaneously realized at a low consumption and a high efficiency. The coupling of electrochemistry with membrane separation can be achieved to protect the cathode from being contaminated by pollutants in the sewage and prolong the service life of the electrode.

A flexible electrocatalytic membrane for removing nitrate from water, a preparation method and use thereof are provided. The method of the present invention includes dropwise adding an aramid fiber solution into deionized water to prepare an aramid nanofiber sol, then reacting an ethanol solution containing 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene and ferric nitrate with the aramid nanofiber sol to prepare a conductive aramid nanofiber sol, and finally dropwise adding MXene nanosheets ultrasonically pretreated by a tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution into the conductive aramid nanofiber sol to prepare the flexible electrocatalytic membrane. The prepared flexible electrocatalytic membrane possesses good mechanical strength and flexibility, and can not only effectively remove nitrate but also avoid failure of electrocatalytic materials due to surface fouling in the process of electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate, and thus has a long service life.

A membrane assembly for separating a feed liquid into a permeate and a retentate includes a semipermeable membrane and conductive members for applying a voltage effective for charging a semipermeable surface of the membrane, thereby reducing or preventing fouling or scaling of the membrane. The conductive members may be positioned adjacent to the semipermeable membrane, and may be configured as feed spacers or permeate spacers. Alternatively or additionally, the membrane may be electrically conductive. Power from an external source may be supplied to one or more of the conductive members, or also the membrane if conductive, which may be done wirelessly. One or more membrane assemblies may be provided in a container. One or more membrane assemblies may be provided in a stacked configuration, or wrapped around a tube in a spiral configuration.

A variable pore size filter media including an upper plate, a retainer, and a support profile disposed between the upper plate and the retainer. The variable pore size filter media also includes a plurality of wire rings disposed on the support profile and longitudinally distributed within a region between the upper plate and the retainer, the plurality of wire rings being distributed in a non-contiguous manner to form a plurality of spaces therebetween. The variable pore size filter media further includes a plurality of pores defined by the plurality of spaces between the plurality of wire rings and a pore size adjustment mechanism configured to vary a respective distance between each of the plurality of wire rings to increase or decrease a respective size of each of the plurality of pores by increasing or decreasing a size of each of the plurality of spaces.

Provided are a filter device and a washing method therefor. The filter device comprises a membrane housing (1); a spacer (2) having an ion transmittance and separating the membrane housing (1) into a first chamber (11) and a second chamber (12); a membrane element (6) disposed in the first chamber (11); a first electrode (4) disposed in the first chamber (11); and a second electrode (5) disposed in the second chamber (12). The method comprises respectively connecting a positive electrode and a negative electrode to the first electrode (4) and the second electrode (5), such that the first electrode (4) and the second electrode (5), water in the first chamber (11) and water in the second chamber (12) form an electrolytic cell, thus generating acidic water or alkaline water in the first chamber (11). The acidic water and/or the alkaline water are/is used for washing the member element.