Methods and systems for filtering of biological particles are disclosed. Filtering membranes separate adjacent chambers. Through osmotic or electrokinetic processes, flow of particles is carried out through the filtering membranes. Cells, viruses and cell waste can be filtered depending on the size of the pores of the membrane. A polymer brush can be applied to a surface of the membrane to enhance filtering and prevent fouling.

Integrated, sequential stages of nanofiltration, forward osmosis, and reverse osmosis and related membranes provide an Integrated Osmosis structure, systems and methods. By optimally placing and using the desired characteristics of each membrane, performance and cost effectiveness not attainable individually is obtained. Integrated Osmosis systems provide high diffusive and osmotic permeability, high rejection, low power consumption, high mass transfer, and favorable Peclet number, by manipulating convection, advection and diffusion, low concentration polarization gradients, low reverse salt flux and effective restoration of performance after cleaning fouled membranes. Benefits include increased permeate recovery and decreased waste concentrate volume from reverse osmosis processes or other elevated osmotic pressure solutions. Integrated Osmosis first employs nanofiltration for selective harvesting of solutes, proffering a reduced osmotic pressure permeate. Forward osmosis dewaters the lowered osmotic pressure permeate generating a dilute draw solution which serves as feed to a reverse osmosis process. Reverse osmosis permeate provides freshwater and concentrate provides draw solution for the forward osmosis process.

The present disclosure describes methods and systems for separating a fluid. The methods and systems include a plurality of osmosis modules operably coupled together. At least some of the plurality of osmosis modules include an osmosis membrane, a feed side on a first side of the osmosis membrane; a draw side on a second side of the osmosis membrane; a feed inlet operably coupled to the feed side; a draw inlet operably coupled to the draw side; a feed outlet operably coupled to the feed side; a draw outlet operably coupled to the draw side. The at least some of the plurality of osmosis units further including a feed recirculation loop operably coupled to the feed inlet, the feed outlet, and a feed inlet of a downstream osmosis module; and a draw recirculation loop operably coupled to the draw inlet, the draw outlet, and a draw inlet of a downstream osmosis module.

The invention generally relates to osmotically driven membrane systems and processes and more particularly to systems and processes for handling feed streams without pretreatment and increased brine concentration for zero liquid discharge, including forward osmosis separation (FO), direct osmotic concentration (DOC), pressure-assisted forward osmosis (PAFO), and pressure retarded osmosis (PRO). The system includes: a plurality of forward osmosis units, each having a semi-permeable membrane assembly and a tank; and a separation system in fluid communication with the plurality of forward osmosis units and configured to separate the dilute draw solution into the concentrated draw solution and a solvent system.

A system and process for concentrating a lithium stream is disclosed. The lithium stream is directed to a reverse osmosis unit which produces a concentrate containing lithium compounds. The RO concentrate is directed through two pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) modules connected in series. The two PRO modules further concentrate the RO concentrate and at the same time yield a diluted brine that is effective to drive an energy recovery device. The RO concentrate leaving the PRO modules is directed to an osmotically assisted reverse osmosis (OARO) module which also further concentrates the RO concentrate.

Methods and systems are described that produce an ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage from a high gravity alcoholic beverage stream using an efficient, low waste, combination reverse osmosis and forward osmosis system. Utilizing a reverse osmosis system prior to using a forward osmosis system in removing water content from a high gravity alcoholic beverage stream significantly reduces a draw solution load when compared to a process that utilizes a forward osmosis system alone or prior to using any other dewatering system.

A method of processing brine comprising lithium. The method may include providing a feed brine and a draw brine to a first forward osmosis (FO) module, the feed brine and/or the draw brine comprising lithium, and forming a feed brine concentrate and a dilute draw brine; and providing the dilute draw brine to a first nanofiltration (NF) module, and forming a first NF retentate, at least a portion of which is optionally recycled to the FO module, and forming a first NF permeate comprising at least a portion of the lithium. The method may additionally include providing a first brine to an initial NF module that is upstream of the first FO module, and forming the feed brine that is provided to the FO module, and forming an initial NF retentate, at least a portion of which is optionally recycled to the first FO module and/or the first NF module.

A system and method for producing very high concentration brine streams from which commercially efficiently obtained minerals may be obtained is produced by a dual membrane brine concentrator system (DTRI Concentrator). The system includes a nano-filtration system which removes divalent ions from the seawater, a brine concentrator such as a hollow fine fiber forward osmosis system which receives and further concentrates the brine rejected from the nano-filtration system, a SWRO system which receives the NF system permeate and removes monovalent ions, and another brine concentrator which further concentrates the brine rejected from SWRO system. Various permeate and reject brine flow may be forwarded through the Dual Membrane Brine Concentrator system, and multiple stages of the system components may be used, to enhance brine concentration and improve system efficiency.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a desalination system. The desalination system may comprise a first liquid reservoir. The desalination system may also comprise a first heater. The desalination system may also comprise a second liquid reservoir. The desalination system may further comprise a second heater. Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a power generation system. The power generation system may comprise a first liquid reservoir. The power generation system may also comprise a first thermally responsive liquid.

A saline water pre-treatment or treatment system using nanofiltration and hybrid forward osmosis: the system comprising: a feed solution, a pressure pump, a nanofiltration module, and a hybrid forward osmosis module.