Separation processes using forward osmosis are disclosed generally involving the extraction of a solvent from a first solution to concentrate a solute therein by using a second concentrated solution to draw the solvent from the first solution across a semi-permeable membrane. One or both of the solute and solvent may be a desired product. By manipulating the equilibrium of the soluble and insoluble species of solute within the second solution, a saturated second solution can be used to generate osmotic pressure on the first solution. The various species of solute within the second solution can be recovered and recycled through the process to affect the changes in equilibrium and eliminate waste products. Enhanced efficiency may result from using low grade waste heat from industrial or commercial sources.

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).

The embodiments disclosed herein include forward osmosis hydration and dewatering devices. The forwards osmosis devices disclosed herein include one or more forward osmosis membranes and one or more barriers. The barriers are configured to protect the forward osmosis membranes from damage, such as damage caused by contact between at least one osmotic agent or another ingredients of the forward osmosis device.

A forward osmosis system is provided. The system includes forward osmosis container having a semipermeable membrane dividing the forward osmosis chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber, a draw solution water removal unit including a quantity of draw solution solvent and water, wherein the draw solution solvent includes a nonaqueous liquid and a condenser configured to receive either water vapor or draw solution solvent vapor from the draw solution water removal unit and provide condensed draw solution solvent to the second chamber. The second chamber provides a water diluted draw solution solvent to the draw solution water removal unit. The first chamber takes in received water including a dissolved solute at an input mass per unit of volume and provides a fluid output having an output mass per unit of volume greater than the input mass per unit of volume.

A draw solute for a forward osmosis process, the draw solute comprising: a thermally responsive ionic compound having at least one of: a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and an upper critical solution temperature (UCST), the draw solute being regeneratable from a diluted aqueous draw solution after forward osmosis via one of: liquid-liquid phase separation and solid-liquid phase separation, the draw solute being regeneratable when the diluted aqueous draw solution is at a temperature selected from one of: above the LCST and below the UCST.

A water mass transfer process providing a method and system to benefit conversion of poor quality water to attain high quality feed water or make-up water for a boiler. Wherein a low volatile solute is imbued within the water of a boiler, sufficiently so the elevated osmotic pressure of the boiler water can serve as a draw solution for forward osmosis based extraction of clean, high quality make-up water from poor quality water sources.

According to one embodiment, an amine-containing water concentration system includes an osmotic pressure generator and a carbon dioxide introducing unit. The osmotic pressure generator includes a treatment vessel, a first chamber to which the water to be treated is supplied, a second chamber capable of storing a working medium, and a semipermeable membrane that partitions the first chamber and the second chamber, which are located in the treatment vessel. The carbon dioxide introducing unit is capable of introducing carbon dioxide into the water to be treated.

Provided are a forward osmosis membrane, a forward osmosis membrane module, and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein a forward osmosis membrane, which achieves an extremely favorable reduction in the reverse diffusion of salt compared to the prior art and has a predetermined water permeability, is developed thereby bringing about: practicality in that a liquid-like raw material solution used in actual concentration operations can be concentrated with suppressed diffusion of an induction solution even when used multiple times; and durability in that the performance of the membrane can be maintained within a predetermined range even when a raw material solution having an osmotic pressure is concentrated multiple times. According to an aspect, provided is a forward osmosis membrane having a polymeric separation active layer disposed on the surface of a microporous support membrane, wherein when purified water is placed as a raw material solution on the separation active layer side and 3.5 mass % of a sodium chloride aqueous solution is placed as an induction solution on the support membrane side, with the forward osmosis membrane therebetween, the amount R1 of reverse diffusion of salt into the raw material solution is 0.65 g/(m.sup.2×hr) or less, and the amount F1 of water permeation into the induction solution is at least 3.5 kg/(m.sup.2×hr).

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).

Provided are a system and a method of treating wastewater. The system includes a forward osmosis (FO) liquid concentration apparatus and an electrodialysis (ED) apparatus. The FO liquid concentration apparatus increases the concentration of the salt in the wastewater to between 7% and 14%. The ED apparatus is disposed downstream of the FO liquid concentration apparatus and coupled to the FO liquid concentration apparatus to receive the wastewater introduced by the FO liquid concentration apparatus, and make the salt in the wastewater into an acid solution and a basic solution.