According to one embodiment of the present invention, a forward osmosis-type fresh water composite system includes: a fuel cell device that has a cathode electrode in which carbon dioxide supplied from a plant is converted into carbonate ion (CO.sub.3.sup.2?) and an anode electrode that produces electric energy by reacting the carbonate ion (CO.sub.3.sup.2?) with hydrogen and discharges the carbon dioxide; and a carbon dioxide collection unit that reacts the carbon dioxide supplied from the fuel cell device and water supplied from the outside with ammonia separated from a draw solution separation unit so as to produce a high-concentration draw solution and then supplies the high-concentration draw solution to a forward osmosis separation device.

The present application provides a switchable forward osmosis system, and processes thereof. In particular, this application provides a process for treating an aqueous feed stream, comprising: forward osmosis using an aqueous draw solution having a draw solute concentration of ?20 wt %, the draw solute comprising ionized trimethylamine and a counter ion; wherein, the feed stream: (i) comprises ?5 wt % total dissolved solids; (ii) is at a temperature of ?20? C.; (iii) is at a temperature between ?30? C.-?60? C.; (iv) has an acidic pH or a basic pH; (v) comprises organic content; (vi) comprises suspended solids; (vii) or any combination of two or more of i)-v). Also provided herein are the related system and draw solution for performing the process, and various uses thereof for treating typically difficult to dewater feed streams.

A ballast water treatment apparatus for a ship includes a water collection part for collecting sea water, a forward osmosis process unit for producing ballast water and treatment water obtained by desalinating the sea water collected through the water collection part, and a ballast water tank for storing the ballast water produced by the forward osmosis process unit. Since the sea water is treated using a forward osmosis process, fresh water required within the ship can be supplied and the treated sea water can be used as ballast water. In addition, since waste heat and carbon dioxide generated in the ship are used to treat the sea water, the ballast water can be treated and produced in a low-cost and high efficient manner.

This invention is an onboard pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) unit for charging or recharging the battery of an electric conveyance or for feeding the conveyance's motor directly. The PRO unit exploits the combined use of osmotic pressure, a water-submerged hollow fiber membrane system, a concentrated aqueous solution of superparamagnetic nanoparticles (a ferrofluid) as a draw solution, and a solenoid-type permanent magnetic field, to create a high pressure water flow that acts upon one or more hydroturbine generators to produce electricity. After the pressurized water acts upon the hydroturbine generators, it is returned to the feed side of the membrane system to once again become permeate, in effect making the entire system a closed loop, continuously re-circulating process. The membrane cells may be heated to increase power density.

A method of treating a fluid comprises introducing a feed fluid stream comprising multiple materials to first side of a semi-permeable membrane. A draw fluid stream having a higher temperature than the feed fluid stream is introduced to second, opposing side of the semi-permeable membrane to form a thermal gradient across the semi-permeable membrane. One or more of the multiple materials of the feed fluid stream is drawn through the semi-permeable membrane and into the draw fluid stream via thermal gradient osmosis. A fluid treatment system and a thermal gradient osmosis apparatus are also described.

Provided are metal oxide ceramic materials and intermediate materials thereof (e.g., nanozirconia gels, nanozirconia green bodies, pre-sintered ceramic bodies, zirconia dental ceramic materials, and dental articles). The nanozirconia gels are formable gels. Also provided are methods of making and using the metal oxide materials and intermediate materials. The nanozirconia gels can be made using, for example, osmotic processing. The nanozirconia gels can be used to make nanozirconia green bodies, pre-sintered ceramic bodies, zirconia dental ceramic materials, and dental article. The nanozirconia green bodies, pre-sintered ceramic bodies, zirconia dental ceramic materials, and dental articles have desirable properties (e.g., optical properties and mechanical properties).

In one embodiment, a renewable energy storage system includes a forward osmosis system, a hydro-turbine, and a separation (e.g., CEDI) system powered by one or more natural regenerating energy sources, such as wind or solar. In another embodiment, a renewable energy storage system includes a forward osmosis system, a hydro-turbine, a solar thermal heat exchanger through which the diluted osmotic draw solution can be directed for purposes of heating up the draw solution, and a solvent-water separator configured to separate the draw solution from the water. One example method includes drawing water across a forward osmosis membrane in a forward osmosis system such that the water drawn across the membrane dilutes an osmotic draw solution; directing the diluted osmotic draw solution to drive a hydro-turbine to produce energy; and separating the water from the draw solution using one or more natural regenerating energy sources.

In one embodiment, a renewable energy generation and storage system and method is provided for storing both electrical and thermal energy that includes a forward osmosis system for drawing water across a membrane such that the water drawn across the membrane is used to dilute an osmotic ionic draw solution and the diluted osmotic ionic draw solution is used to drive a hydro-turbine; an FO-EED separation system for separating the drawn water from the ionic draw solution using renewable electrical energy and an osmotic polymer introduced in the FO-EED system during use, so that the ionic draw solution is re-concentrated by using electrical energy, such that the water from the ionic solution combines with the concentrated osmotic polymer; a coalescer configured to receive compressed CO.sub.2 to separate the water from the polymer by having the polymer absorb the compressed CO.sub.2 during use; and using thermal energy for separating the CO.sub.2 from the polymer, thereby regenerating a concentrated polymer solution.

A method is provided for using forward osmosis to remove impurities dissolved in an aqueous-based feed solution, where the method includes directing a solvent past a first side of a forward osmosis membrane and the feed solution is directed past a second side of the forward osmosis membrane, the solvent having a higher osmotic pressure than the feed solution so as to draw water across the membrane thereby diluting the solvent and concentrating the impurities in the feed solution, where the solvent is an amine-terminated branched PEG, such as amine-terminated glycerol ethoxylate, amine-terminated trimethylolpropane ethoxylate, or amine-terminated pentaerithritol ethoxylate, for example. The method further includes regenerating the solvent by exposing the diluted solvent to a gas containing CO2, whereby the CO2 is absorbed by the solvent, facilitating substantial separation of the solvent from water.

A method is disclosed for purifying, by direct osmosis, a first liquid including water and at least one impurity, in which the method comprises the consecutive steps of: contacting the first liquid with a first side of a semi-permeable membrane, a second aqueous liquid containing an osmotic agent being in contact with the second side of the semi-permeable membrane, whereby water is extracted by direct osmosis from the first liquid through the semi-permeable membrane and passes into the second liquid containing the osmotic agent; forming clathrates hydrates of a host molecule in the second liquid containing the osmotic agent into which the water has passed; separating the clathrates hydrates from the second liquid containing the osmotic agent; and dissociating the separated clathrates hydrates to obtain pure water and the host molecule.