The invention relates to a processing device in the form of a crystallizer or reactor comprising a tube, at the opposite end regions of which an inlet and an outlet are provided for a crystallization or reaction medium. A helixical web is provided which runs about a longitudinal axis of the tube and which rests against the inner face of the tube casing, and the web is mounted so as to be rotatable about the aforementioned longitudinal axis of the tube. The device also has a drive for rotating the web.

A wastewater purification system is provided. The wastewater purification system comprises a chamber. One or more wastewater nozzles are positioned near the top of the chamber. An intake duct is further provided to supply chilled air into the chamber, and one or more exhaust ducts are provided to remove the chilled air from the chamber. One or more perforated receptacles positioned near the bottom of the chamber to collect solid byproducts, and a watertight receptacle at the bottom of the chamber to collect a liquid product. The wastewater enters the chamber as wastewater droplets via the one or more wastewater nozzles, wherein the wastewater undergoes freeze separation due to heat exchange with a high mass flow of the chilled air between the intake duct and the one or more exhaust ducts.

A method and reactor system for depolymerizing a terephthalate polymer into reusable raw material are described, as well as a raw material obtainable by the method. The method inter alia comprises providing the polymer and a solvent such as ethylene glycol as a reaction mixture in a reactor. A reusable catalyst complex comprising a catalyst entity, a metal containing nanoparticle, and a bridging moiety connecting the catalyst entity to the metal containing nanoparticle is dispersed in the reaction mixture and the reaction mixture heated to depolymerize the polymer into monomers comprising bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-terephthalate (BHET). 2-hydroxyethyl[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl]terephthalate (BHEET) is formed as byproduct. The BHET is recovered from the depolymerized product stream and a BHET-depleted stream is formed. A mass fraction of BHEET in the depolymerized product stream and/or in the BHET-depleted stream is monitored and, optionally, adjusted to below a predetermined limit value of the BHEET-mass fraction in the depolymerized product stream.

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for relocating blocks of ice produced by freezing contained water in a downward vertical direction in order to separate, minerals, organic matter and other impurities from seawater, brackish water, wastewater or other water resources. Generally, salt and other impurities will be rejected into feed water below the frozen water and may be drained from the tank through a drain pipe after a block of ice is formed. Additional feed water may then be pumped into the tank to raise the block of ice for removal or ejection from the tank. Surfaces of the block of ice that contact the tank may be heated to facilitate relocation of the block of ice.

A method for forming, or crystallising, clathrates hydrates of a host molecule in a liquid including water includes the following consecutive steps: cooling the liquid to a temperature no higher than the crystallisation temperature of the clathrates hydrates; and placing the cooled liquid in contact with host molecules that are capable of forming clathrates hydrates and are adsorbed on a solid support that has a large specific surface area and is made of a hydrophobic and apolar material, whereby the host molecules are desorbed from the solid support that has a large specific surface area and is made of a hydrophobic and apolar material, and react with the water of the liquid in order to provide a liquid containing clathrates hydrates and the solid support.

A process to prevent fouling using a desublimating heat exchanger is disclosed. An outlet stream from the desublimating heat exchanger may be split into a plurality of parallel streams. The parallel streams may be sent through a plurality of discrete unit operations, and the unit operations may change the temperature of at least one of the parallel streams. Parallel streams of differing temperature may emerge from the unit operations. The parallel streams which are of a similar temperature may be mixed to form a warm stream and a cool stream. The warm stream and the cool stream may be sent to a mixing chamber. A mixed stream of substantially uniform temperature may emerge from the mixing chamber, and the mixed stream may be recycled back to the desublimating heat exchanger. The mixing chamber may be separate from the desublimating heat exchanger, or the parallel streams of differing temperature may be mixed in the desublimating heat exchanger.

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for separating salts, minerals, organic matter and other impurities from seawater, brackish water, wastewater or other water resources by freezing contained water in a downward vertical direction. Generally, feed water is pumped into a tank and a refrigerant contacts the upper surface of the feed water to form a layer of ice. During this process, salt and other impurities are rejected from the ice layer into the feed water below. By continuing this process, the feed water will freeze in a downward direction as the ice layer thickens. Salt and other impurities will continue to be rejected into the feed water and may be drained from the tank through a drain pipe after a block of ice is formed. Additional feed water may then be pumped into the tank to raise the block of ice for removal or ejection from the tank.

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

A method and reactor system for depolymerizing a terephthalate polymer into reusable raw material are described, as well as a raw material obtainable by the method. The method inter alia comprises providing the polymer and a solvent such as ethylene glycol as a reaction mixture in a reactor. A heterogeneous catalyst, such as a metal containing particle, and/or a homogeneous catalyst is provided in the reaction mixture and the reaction mixture heated to depolymerize the polymer. Monomer comprising bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-terephthalate (BHET), and 2-hydroxyethyl[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl]terephthalate (BHEET) as byproduct are formed. The BHET is recovered from a depolymerized product stream exiting the reactor and a BHET-depleted stream is formed. A mass fraction of BHEET in the depolymerized product stream and/or in the BHET-depleted stream is monitored and adjusted to below a predetermined limit value of the BHEET-mass fraction in the depolymerized product stream.

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