The present disclosure relates to a membrane extraction apparatus for extracting a component from a first liquid. The apparatus may incorporate a housing comprised of first and second mating housing halves, with each housing half having an open faced channel formed therein such that the channels at least partially overlay one another when the two housing halves are secured together. A membrane filter is disposed between the two housing halves to overlay the open faced channels. The membrane filter extracts the component from the first liquid and transfers the component into the second liquid as the first and second liquids flow through the first and second housing halves.

Method of separation of a radiometal ion from a target metal ion, comprising a first liquid-liquid extraction step in which an organic phase comprising an extractant and an interfacial tension modifier is mixed with an aqueous phase comprising the radiometal ion and the target metal ion in order that the radiometal ion is at least partially transferred to the organic phase, followed by a first phase separation step, wherein the phase separation is carried out in flow comprising the use of a microfiltration membrane to separate the phases based on the interfacial tension between the phases such that a permeate phase passes through the membrane and a retentate phase does not.

An apparatus for reducing the alcohol content of an alcoholic beverage. According to one embodiment, the apparatus includes a primary circuit through which the alcoholic beverage circulates, a secondary circuit through which an alcohol extracting liquid circulates, and at least one filter with a gas-permeable hydrophobic membrane, the filter being configured so that one of the sides of the membrane is in contact with the alcoholic beverage circulating through the primary circuit and so that the other side of the membrane is in contact with the alcohol extracting liquid circulating through the secondary circuit. The apparatus also includes an extraction and filling circuit configured to guide the alcoholic beverage from a container to the primary circuit and for guiding the alcoholic beverage, once its alcohol content has been reduced, from the primary circuit to the container.

The present disclosure relates to a method that includes utilizing a microorganism for the converting of a substrate to an acid contained in a mixture that includes the acid and water, maintaining a pH of the mixture to less than 5, and treating the mixture with a first stream comprising an organic.

Methods of separating components traditionally considered as waste material from mold-fermented compositions are described. The waste components can be separated either from unfiltered compositions or from a separation stream separated from a composition. In some embodiments, filamentous fungus used in the production of the mold-fermented composition is specifically targeted for separation. Incorporation of separated waste components into various products are also described herein. In some embodiments, the separated components are used in alternative meat products and other foods designed for human consumption. Separated components can also be used in animal feed, as feed stock for other fermentation processes, or for use in treating food, creating cosmetics, or chemical processes.

A method of preparing a Senna obtusifolia seed extract rich in anthraquinones and a galactomannan extract includes the following steps: (1) crushing Senna obtusifolia seeds into a Senna obtusifolia seed powder; (2) extracting the Senna obtusifolia seed powder with 40-85% ethanol, filtering to obtain an extract solution and a residue; (3) concentrating the extract solution under vacuum to obtain a concentrated extract solution, spray-drying the concentrated extract solution to obtain the Senna obtusifolia seed extract; (4) extracting the residue with membrane filtered water, conducting a centrifugation to obtain a supernatant; (5) adding ammonium sulfate and ethanol to the supernatant to form a two-phase aqueous system, collecting a bottom layer of the two-phase aqueous system; and (6) conducting an ultrafiltration of the bottom layer with a cut-off molecular weight of 50 k-200 k to obtain a galactomannan extract solution, drying the galactomannan extract solution under vacuum to obtain the galactomannan extract.

Single-stage and multi-stage systems and methods for the recovery of critical elements in substantially pure form from lithium ion batteries are provided. The systems and methods include supported membrane solvent extraction using an immobilized organic phase within the pores of permeable hollow fibers. The permeable hollow fibers are contacted by a feed solution on one side, and a strip solution on another side, to provide the simultaneous extraction and stripping of elements from dissolved lithium ion cathode materials, while rejecting other elements from the feed solution. The single- and multi-stage systems and methods can selectively recover cobalt, manganese, nickel, lithium, aluminum and other elements from spent battery cathodes and are not limited by equilibrium constraints as compared to traditional solvent extraction processes.

Described herein are methods of recovering lithium from dilute lithium sources. The methods include concentrating a dilute aqueous lithium source to yield an extraction feed having an extraction lithium concentration; extracting lithium from the extraction feed using direct lithium extraction in an extraction stage to yield a lithium intermediate; concentrating a stream obtained from the lithium intermediate in a concentration stage to yield a lithium concentrate; and converting lithium in the lithium concentrate to lithium hydroxide.

Described herein are methods of recovering lithium from dilute lithium sources. The methods include concentrating a dilute aqueous lithium source to yield an extraction feed having an extraction lithium concentration; extracting lithium from the extraction feed using direct lithium extraction in an extraction stage to yield a lithium intermediate; concentrating a stream obtained from the lithium intermediate in a concentration stage to yield a lithium concentrate; and converting lithium in the lithium concentrate to lithium hydroxide.

Described herein are methods of recovering lithium from dilute lithium sources. The methods include extracting lithium from an extraction feed using direct lithium extraction in an extraction stage to yield a lithium intermediate, performing one or more concentration operations, each concentration operation concentrating an input stream to yield an output feed, wherein the input stream is obtained from the lithium intermediate and/or the extraction feed is obtained from the output feed. At least one of the concentration operations includes a membrane separation operation having a plurality of reactors in series each having a semi-permeable membrane, such as a counter-flow reverse osmosis operation. Methods may also include generating a low TDS stream as a permeate from any of the one or more concentration operations, wherein the low TDS stream is recycled or used as fresh water.