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.

Embodiments of a process for producing high grade coke from crude oil residue include at least partially separating, in a solvent extraction unit, the crude oil residue into a deasphalted oil (DAO)-containing stream and an asphaltene containing-stream, producing a pressurized, heated DAO-containing stream, where the pressurized, heated DAO-containing stream, mixing a supercritical water stream with the pressurized, heated DAO-containing stream to create a combined feed stream, introducing the combined feed stream to an upgrading reactor system operating at supercritical temperature and pressure to yield one or more upgrading reactor output streams comprising upgraded product and a slurry mixture, where the slurry mixture comprises sulfur and one or more additional metals. The process also may include calcining the slurry mixture at a temperature of from 700 C. to 1900 C. to produce a product stream comprising the high grade coke.

The present application provides a method for extracting an extractable component from a feed liquid using a porous membrane. One embodiment of the method includes temperature-swing solvent extraction of water from saline water using a porous membrane.

A phase separator and associated method for removal of water from a sample containing analytes in an organic solvent including a vertically extending body portion for vertical extension into a receptacle, the body portion including at least one vertically extending membrane portion on at least one side thereof and a port for introduction of solvent.

The present invention provides a device for separating and purifying the collagen Type 2 in chicken bones, comprising a liquid fluid container, a raw liquid container, a membrane separation tank, a mixing tube, two high pressure metering motors, a precooler, two preheaters, a temperature controller, two one-way valves, two inlet control valves and two outlet control valves. The liquid extract of defatted chicken bones discharged from the raw liquid container and the liquid CO2 discharged from the liquid fluid container can be mixed uniformly in the mixing tube, and then fed into the membrane separation tank. The membrane separation tank produces small-molecular-weight peptides and large-molecular-weight collagen Type 2 harmlessly and efficiently.

A salt ion membrane may be paired with an absorption device to provide advantaged separation processes comprising: introducing a first aqueous salt stream and a mixed feed stream comprising at least one olefin and at least one paraffin to a salt ion membrane under conditions effective to form at least two phases; obtaining an olefin-rich permeate stream and an olefin-lean retentate stream from the salt ion membrane, in which the olefin-rich permeate stream and/or the olefin-lean retentate stream further comprises a salt ion membrane aqueous salt phase; introducing at least a portion of the olefin-lean retentate stream and a second aqueous salt stream to an absorption device under conditions effective to promote olefin extraction; obtaining an olefin-rich aqueous salt stream from the absorption device; and providing at least a portion of the olefin-rich aqueous salt stream as at least a portion of the first aqueous salt stream.

The invention relates to methods for preparing a concentrated cannabinoid product optionally also containing an array of terpenes, flavonoids, and other phytoconstituents from a cannabinoid-containing extract feed. The cannabinoid-containing extract feed is contacted with an adsorbent to produce a pre-treated extract which is then subjected to one or more filtration steps, and recovering the concentrated cannabinoid product utilizing an extractant or an evaporator.

A device for extraction of pollutants by multichannel tubular membrane containing at least one fluid channel allowing the fluid to go through a feed inlet to an outlet end characterized in that membrane comprises at least an extraction channel filled with molten salt in order to adsorb said pollutants having to be extracted from the said fluid. Advantageously, the membrane is a ceramic membrane. An application is for the treatment of traces of pollutants in a liquid or gaseous fluid. For example, the removal of small pollutants as volatile organic compounds from an aqueous stream in industrial wastewater treatment or other water treatment applications, or the separation of aromatic compounds form an hydrocarbon feed in petrochemical applications. Another application is in the removal of water traces in products of high added value as pharmaceutical, cosmetic or biocarburant for example.

Embodiments may also include a system for reducing a solvent concentration in a plurality of microparticles. The system may include a solvent extraction tank. In the solvent extraction tank, a mixture including the plurality of microparticles and the solvent may be contacted with water to form an aqueous suspension. A first portion of the solvent may dissolve into the water of the aqueous suspension to reduce the solvent concentration in the plurality of microparticles. The system may also include a concentration unit in fluid communication with the solvent extraction tank. The concentration unit may further reduce the solvent concentration in the plurality of microparticles. A microparticle concentrate may be formed. The system may further include a washing unit. In the washing unit, the microparticle concentrate may be contacted with a washing solution and may form an amalgam of washed particles.

Embodiments of a process for producing high grade coke from crude oil residue include at least partially separating, in a solvent extraction unit, the crude oil residue into a deasphalted oil (DAO)-containing stream and an asphaltene containing-stream, producing a pressurized, heated DAO-containing stream, where the pressurized, heated DAO-containing stream, mixing a supercritical water stream with the pressurized, heated DAO-containing stream to create a combined feed stream, introducing the combined feed stream to an upgrading reactor system operating at supercritical temperature and pressure to yield one or more upgrading reactor output streams comprising upgraded product and a slurry mixture, where the slurry mixture comprises sulfur and one or more additional metals. The process also may include calcining the slurry mixture at a temperature of from 700 C. to 1900 C. to produce a product stream comprising the high grade coke.