A forward osmosis apparatus includes a diluting component for bringing a feed solution and a draw solution containing a cation source and an anion source in an ionized state into contact through a semi-permeable membrane and diluting the draw solution with water separated from the feed solution by means of the semi-permeable membrane; a separator for separating the draw solution that has been diluted by the diluting component into the cation source and anion source and into water; and a dissolving apparatus, returning the cation source and the anion source that have been separated by the separator to, and dissolving the cation source and anion source in, the draw solution that has been diluted, wherein the molecular weight of the cation source in an uncharged state is 31 or greater and the Henry's law constant of each of the anion source and cation source is 1.0104 (Pa/mol.Math.fraction) or greater in a standard state.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an osmotic milk concentrator having a nutrient fortified draw solution and related methods. The osmotic milk concentrator includes at least one draw material reservoir, at least one human milk reservoir, at least one semi-permeable membrane between the at least one draw material reservoir and the at least one human milk reservoir.

The present invention discloses and claims a more efficient and economical method and system for osmotic energy production and capture using responsive compounds and molecules. The present invention is an energy harvest system enabled by stimuli responsive draw solutions that are competent in terms of energy production, geographic location flexibility, and the affordable, efficient and economical production and delivery of osmotic power. Specifically, the present invention is a novel osmotic power system that uses stimuli responsive draw solutions, economically feasible larger permeable membranes, and low grade heat sources to deliver osmotic power more efficiently and economically with less negative environmental impact, greater power output, and located in more geographically diverse areas of the world than previously thought possible for supporting such a power source.

A method of regenerating an ammonium bicarbonate solution includes supplying a diluted ammonium bicarbonate solution to an upper portion of a distillation unit, an upper portion of an ammonia condenser, and an upper portion of an absorber; distilling the diluted solution to discharge a first gas mixture, supplying the first gas mixture to a lower portion of the ammonium condenser; bringing the first gas mixture into contact with the diluted solution to be separated into a first mixed solution and a second gas mixture, supplying the first mixed solution to the upper portion of the absorber, and supplying the second gas mixture to a lower portion of the absorber; and bringing the second gas mixture into contact with the diluted solution supplied to the upper portion of the absorber and the first mixed solution supplied to the upper portion of the absorber to recover a concentrated ammonium bicarbonate solution.

A device for controlling acidity of electrolytes and the oxidation states or concentrations of selected constituents for treatment of liquid media using electricity for electrochemical separation and regeneration of forward osmosis draw solutions includes a FO unit arranged for osmotic solvent separation from a feed water stream, and an electrochemical solvent separation and draw solution regeneration unit incorporating an electrochemical cell, arranged to use diluted draw solutions to generate a concentrated draw solution, a TPW stream and an osmotic agent. The concentrated draw solution may be arranged to reenter the forward osmosis unit.

A thermo-sensitive water absorbent is used as a draw material in production of fresh water by a forward osmosis process. The thermo-sensitive water absorbent has a cloud point, and coagulates when heated, the thereto-sensitive water absorbent being a block copolymer containing at least a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part, having a glycerin structure as a basic structure, and including an ethylene oxide group and a group consisting of propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide.

A thermo-sensitive water absorbent is used as a draw material in production of fresh water by a forward osmosis process. The thermo-sensitive water absorbent has a cloud point, and coagulates when heated, the thermo-sensitive water absorbent being a block copolymer containing at least a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part, having a glycerin structure as a basic structure, and including an ethylene oxide group and a group consisting of propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide.

A thermo-sensitive water absorbent is used as a draw material in production of fresh water by a forward osmosis process. The thermo-sensitive water absorbent has a cloud point, and coagulates when heated, the thermo-sensitive water absorbent being a block copolymer containing at least a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part, having a glycerin structure as a basic structure, and including an ethylene oxide group and a group consisting of propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide.

Systems, methods and apparatuses to concentrate lithium containing solutions using forward osmosis units are provided, which, for example, can include providing at least one forward osmosis unit having at least one lithium containing solution chamber having at least one first inlet and at least one first outlet, at least one brine chamber having at least one second inlet and at least one second outlet, and at least one selectively permeable membrane positioned between the at least one lithium containing solution chamber and the at least one brine chamber, and conveying a lithium containing solution through the at least one lithium containing solution chamber and a concentrated brine solution through the at least one brine chamber, said conveying causing water from the lithium containing solution to be drawn through the at least one selectively permeable membrane and into the concentrated brine solution, such that a concentrated lithium containing solution exits through the first outlet and a less concentrated brine solution exits through the second outlet.

The present disclosure is directed to a forward osmosis system/process utilized primarily in conjunction with a subsurface irrigation system/process. Saline wastewater or naturally saline water is treated using forward osmosis membranes that draw at least partially purified water from the wastewater into an osmotic draw solution (draw solution). The resulting diluted osmotic draw solution is then circulated through the subsurface irrigation system including one or more tubular membranes that reject the draw solution while permitting water in the diluted draw solution to pass through.