The present invention relates to a particulate material separation assembly. It comprises a filtration membrane and an antifouling device. The antifouling device comprises one or more magnets and a plurality of magnetisable particles. The one or more magnets cause the plurality of magnetisable particles to self-assemble into dynamic bristles, thereby forming a brush. The particulate material separation assembly is particularly useful in the context of micro algae harvesting.

The water purification system for flow-coupled installation with a tap water inflow for producing a relatively purified water outflow includes a purification unit having a tap water inlet port for receiving tap water inflow and a purified water outlet port for dispensing purified water outflow from said purification unit. A particulate catalyst retained within the purification unit is in flow through relation relative to the water inflow and purified water outflow and catalyzes contaminants as the tap water inflow travels through the purification unit. An electrically induced particulate agitator associated translates vibration to the particulate catalyst for substantially preventing channeling therein during relatively slow tap water inflow through the purification unit.

The water purification system for flow-coupled installation with a tap water inflow for producing a relatively purified water outflow includes a purification unit having a tap water inlet port for receiving tap water inflow and a purified water outlet port for dispensing purified water outflow from said purification unit. A particulate catalyst retained within the purification unit is in flow through relation relative to the water inflow and purified water outflow and catalyzes contaminants as the tap water inflow travels through the purification unit. A sound wave particulate agitator associated translates vibration to the particulate catalyst for substantially preventing channeling therein during relatively slow tap water inflow through the purification unit.

A method of separating heavy water from normal through application of acoustic pressure shock waves to a fluid including heavy water and normal water and recovering separated normal water.

The water purification system for flow-coupled installation with a tap water inflow for producing a relatively purified water outflow includes a purification unit having a tap water inlet port for receiving tap water inflow and a purified water outlet port for dispensing purified water outflow from said purification unit. A particulate catalyst retained within the purification unit is in flow through relation relative to said the water inflow and purified water outflow and catalyzes contaminants as the tap water inflow travels through the purification unit. A spring agitator particulate agitator associated translates vibration to the particulate catalyst for substantially preventing channeling therein during relatively slow tap water inflow through the purification unit.

A method of separating material, such as foam, sludge, oil or grease, at a fluid's surface, by applying acoustic pressure shock waves to the material and the fluid's surface such that acoustic pressure shock waves are propagated in liquid medium of the fluid and in gas medium above the fluid surface.

A method of activating and dewatering sludge through application of acoustic pressure shock waves to wastewater.

Acoustic pressure shock waves are applied to a membrane in a fluid to prevent attachment of or dislodge biological or solid matter for membrane cleaning or desalination with a membrane.

Provided is a biochar-anaerobic membrane biological treatment system and process. The system mainly includes a reaction tank, a membrane module, a macroporous gas distribution device, low-temperature pyrolysis biochar. The application of the process to sewage treatment shows that: under the conditions that the hydraulic retention time is 3.2-7.2 h, the membrane flux is 12.0-17.8 L/m.sup.2/h, and the sludge concentration of 7.2-15.6 g/L, multiple objectives of promoting organic micropollutants (OMPs) biotransformation, accelerating methane production and strengthening membrane fouling control were achieved. The system improved OMPs removal efficiency by more than 20%, decreased membrane fouling rate by 50%, and reaching an organic matter removal efficiency of more than 86% at low temperature. The system and process solve the problems of poor OMPs removal efficiency, serious membrane fouling, and low methane yield at low temperature in the anaerobic membrane biological treatment system.

A method of desalinating water through application of acoustic pressure shock waves to a slush to separate ice crystals from brine and recovering desalinated water from the separated ice crystals.