Provided is a method for processing a feed solution, which is an organic solution containing a small amount of water, using forward osmosis under a non-heated condition to obtain a dehydrated feed solution without causing degradation or change in quality of a solute. This method is for dehydrating a feed solution containing a first organic solvent, water, and a first solute, and comprises a dehydration step for bring the feed solution and an organic draw solution containing a second organic solvent into contact with each other through a forward osmosis membrane to obtain a dehydrated feed solution that has the moisture content thereof reduced to less than 1 mass % through dehydration. In one mode, the initial moisture content of the feed solution in the dehydration step is not less than 1 mass % but less than 30 mass %, and the initial moisture content of the organic draw solution is less than the initial moisture content of the feed solution.

A method for reducing the volume of a raw material liquid, the raw material liquid containing at least a valuable and a first solvent, wherein the raw material liquid further contains an accessory component other than the valuable and the first solvent, or contains a mixed solvent including the first solvent and a second solvent as a solvent, and the method for reducing the volume of the raw material liquid is performed by combining a first process in which the first solvent is removed from the raw material liquid and a second process in which the concentration of the second solvent or the accessory component is adjusted from the raw material liquid using a dialysis method with a dialysis membrane.

Provided herein is an apparatus for producing dialysis fluid including a forward osmosis unit used for diluting a dialysis concentrate for producing dialysis fluid. The FO-unit includes a FO-membrane that separates a first side from a second side. The apparatus also comprises a first flow path including a first side and a control arrangement providing priming fluid from a source to the first flow path. A return path fluidly connects an inlet port of the first side to an outlet port of the first side to allow priming fluid from the outlet port to circulate to the inlet port via the return path. The apparatus further comprises a gas collection chamber arranged in the first flow path between the first side and the return path. The gas collection chamber removes gas from first flow path. The present disclosure also relates to a method for priming a FO-unit.

A hollow fiber type semipermeable membrane which achieves both water permeability and selectivity in high level and performs efficient treatment using small membrane area utilizing the concentration difference from high concentration liquid having high osmotic pressure. The hollow fiber type semipermeable membrane is characterized in that, when an aqueous solution of 25? C. having NaCl concentration of 35 g/L and pressure of 1.0 MPa is flown into an outer side of the hollow fiber type semipermeable membrane having length of about 70 cm while freshwater of 25? C. having NaCl concentration of 0 g/L is flown into an inner side of one open end of the hollow fiber type semipermeable membrane and discharged from another open end at 10 kPa or less, the permeation flow rate is 30 to 70 L/m.sup.2/day. An inner diameter thereof is 50 to 200 ?m; and the hollow ratio thereof is 24 to 42%.

The hybrid desalination system is a desalination system for seawater which uses both filtering and treatment from a reverse osmosis filter system as well as evaporative distillation for the production of potable water. The hybrid desalination system includes a recovery system, which may be a reverse osmosis system, a forward osmosis system, or a combination thereof, for at least partially desalinating a volume of saltwater and outputting a treated fluid. A boiler is in fluid communication with the recovery system for receiving the treated fluid and producing pure water by evaporative desalination. The boiler includes an internal heating coil for passing a heated working fluid therethrough. A collection tank is in communication with to the boiler for receiving the pure water. At least one solar parabolic trough is in fluid communication with the internal heating coil of the boiler for heating the heated working fluid.

Provided is a controller for an energy generation system, the controller exerting optimum control so that, while a waste of energy is eliminated, any operation trouble is not caused. The controller for the energy generation system of the present invention is a controller for an energy generation system that uses a forward osmosis membrane, the controller including: a first regulation unit for regulating the discharge of non-permeating water from the forward osmosis membrane; a second regulation unit for regulating the supply of fresh water to the forward osmosis membrane; a third regulation unit for regulating the supply of salt water to the forward osmosis membrane; a fourth regulation unit for regulating the discharge of mixed water from the forward osmosis membrane; and a control unit for controlling the first regulation unit, the second regulation unit, the third regulation unit, and the fourth regulation unit.

A method of operating a pressure-retarded osmosis plant, the plant comprising at least one osmosis element having a semi-permeable membrane, the semi-permeable membrane defining a feed side and a permeate side of the osmosis element, the method comprising, in a first mode of operation, supplying a feed stream having a relatively high concentration of solute to the feed side, supplying a permeate stream having a relatively low concentration of solute to an inlet of the permeate side, and receiving a feed outlet stream from the feed side wherein permeate has passed through the semi-permeable membrane from the permeate side to the feed side, in a second mode of operation, supplying a backwash stream having a relatively low concentration to the feed side of the osmosis element such that water passes through the semi-permeable membrane, and receiving a permeate outlet stream from an outlet of the permeate side, the method further comprising alternately performing the first mode of operation, to perform a production step, and performing the second mode of operation, to reduce fouling of the semi-permeable membrane.

Forward osmosis membranes include an active layer and a thin support layer. A bilayer substrate including a removable backing layer may allow forward osmosis membranes with reduced supporting layer thickness to be processed on existing manufacturing lines.

A thin film composite (TFC) forward osmosis (FO) membrane includes a porous support with surfaces having thereon a hydrophilic self-assembled monolayer. An active layer on the support is sufficiently dense to remove an ionic species from a liquid.

Provided is a forward osmosis membrane-based water treatment system (including water desalination) using a switchable polar solvent as the draw solvent that is switched through the addition and removal of carbon dioxide. Provided is the use of a membrane system that designed to operate within the chemistry and properties of switchable polar solvents to promote water draw through the forward osmosis membrane, and a method of removing and reintroducing carbon dioxide to the switchable solvent.