A method of treating fluids, including for recovery of water apart from impurities or undesired matter, utilizes application of shock waves to the fluids.

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.

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.

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.

A system and a method for purifying a produced water using a nanomembrane formed from polymeric waste are provided. The method includes placing the nanomembrane into an aqueous solution, wherein a surface of the nanomembrane is functionalized with carboxyl groups. Carbon dioxide is injected into the aqueous solution, and bivalent alkaline earth cations are adsorbed on the surface of the nanomembrane in the presence of carbonate ions (CO.sub.3.sup.2) to form carbonate crystals on the surface of the nanomembrane.

A method of treating fluids, including for recovery of water apart from impurities or undesired matter, utilizes application of shock waves to the fluids.