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.

A hybrid electro-pressure driven method for the recovery, purification, and concentration of lithium salts is described. A fractionating electrodialysis stack equipped with selective ion exchange membranes is used to separate a lithium containing brine into a monovalent enriched fraction and a divalent enriched fraction. The monovalent enriched fraction is further processed to remove remaining impurities by use of pressure driven nanofiltration. An optional concentrating electrodialysis device may further concentrate the monovalent enriched fraction in lithium content. The method may be combined with a subsequent solvent extraction and electrolysis step to produce lithium hydroxide, a Li+ selective sorbent step for producing purified lithium chloride, or a Li+ selective sorbent and precipitative step to produce lithium carbonate.

A membrane-based inverted liquid-liquid extraction method for extracting an analyte from an unsupported aqueous liquid sample includes sealing the unsupported aqueous liquid sample in a porous membrane bag, immersing the porous membrane bag in an organic solvent, and extracting the analyte from the unsupported aqueous liquid sample to produce an extract within the organic solvent. The unsupported aqueous liquid sample is immiscible with the organic solvent. The porous membrane bag does not contain a solid sorbent.

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 may include a method for reducing a solvent concentration in a plurality of microparticles. The method may involve contacting a mixture including the plurality of microparticles and the solvent 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 from a first solvent concentration in the mixture to a second solvent concentration in the aqueous suspension. The method may also include transferring the aqueous suspension to a concentration unit that may further reduce the solvent concentration from the second solvent concentration to a third solvent concentration. The method may further include transferring a microparticle concentrate with the third solvent concentration to a washing unit to form an amalgam of washed microparticles with a fourth solvent concentration. The method may also include drying the amalgam of washed microparticles.

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 solvent extraction system includes an elongated solvent extraction chamber having first and second ends, at least one first port for providing a continuous phase into the solvent extraction chamber and at least one second port for removing content from the solvent extraction chamber, a dispersed phase inlet in fluid communication with the first end of the solvent extraction chamber and a membrane having pores. Diameters of the pores are from 1 to 100 m and do not differ by more than 20%, and center-to-center distances between the pores are from 10 to 1000 m and do not differ more than 20%. The membrane is positioned at the first end of the solvent extraction chamber relative to the dispersed phase inlet such that a liquid provided into the solvent extraction chamber through the dispersed phase inlet must pass through the membrane.

This disclosure provides an optimized, energy-efficient, and sustainable solution for continuous in situ bio-based chemical recovery by integrating high pressure reverse osmosis with extraction processes. These systems achieve higher recovery efficiency while reducing production costs and environmental impact.

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.