A method for fractionating a sulfuric acid process stream having at least 1 wt % sulfuric acid, using a treatment system comprising three filtration assemblies each having membranes that are suitable to pass less than 10% salt in a standard test such that average passage of sulfuric acid from the first and third filtration assemblies is less than 30% and average passage of sulfuric acid from second filtration assembly is more than 70%. The system produces a fraction of the stream with a pH between 4 and 10, and a second fraction that contains at least 20 weight percent of sulfuric acid.

A desalination apparatus 12 (liquid treatment apparatus) includes a first water treatment unit 26 (liquid treatment unit) that includes a reverse osmosis membrane and in which a treated liquid is separated into a permeate that permeates the reverse osmosis membrane and a concentrate other than the permeate, a water recovery unit 28 (liquid recovery unit) that includes a reverse osmosis membrane and in which the concentrate is separated into a recovered liquid that permeates the reverse osmosis membrane and a waste liquid other than the recovered liquid, and a pressure increasing means that increases a liquid pressure of the concentrate, such that a state capable of separating into the recovered liquid and the waste liquid in the liquid recovery unit continues, and that directly feeds the concentrate from the liquid treatment unit to the liquid recovery unit.

A desalination apparatus 12 (liquid treatment apparatus) includes a first water treatment unit 26 (liquid treatment unit) that includes a reverse osmosis membrane and in which a treated liquid is separated into a permeate that permeates the reverse osmosis membrane and a concentrate other than the permeate, a water recovery unit 28 (liquid recovery unit) that includes a reverse osmosis membrane and in which the concentrate is separated into a recovered liquid that permeates the reverse osmosis membrane and a waste liquid other than the recovered liquid, and a pressure increasing means that increases a liquid pressure of the concentrate, such that a state capable of separating into the recovered liquid and the waste liquid in the liquid recovery unit continues, and that directly feeds the concentrate from the liquid treatment unit to the liquid recovery unit.

The present invention provides a novel floating and renewable energy-powered desalination vessel, which also functions as a wind turbine generator and wave energy generator platform. With energy derived from the wind and waves, the vessel performs reverse osmosis within a vertically positioned cylindrical section extending below a buoyancy chamber. The cylindrical section contains reverse osmosis membranes located above a seawater screening and filtration system, which serve as ballast. The entire vessel and power systems are configured to have the center of mass below the center of buoyancy, forming a vertically stable floating structure with minimum pitch, roll, and wave heave in high sea states. The electric power generated is utilized internally to produce desalinated water or hydrogen from the desalinated water's electrolysis, power an onboard data center, or power delivery to a shoreside power grid. In addition to a wind turbine generator and a wave energy generator, a photovoltaic array or a marine current generator may be utilized to power these applications. Alternatively, the desalination vessel operates with the assistance of shore-based power provided by cable.

The present invention provides a novel floating and renewable energy-powered desalination vessel, which also functions as a wind turbine generator and wave energy generator platform. With energy derived from the wind and waves, the vessel performs reverse osmosis within a vertically positioned cylindrical section extending below a buoyancy chamber. The cylindrical section contains reverse osmosis membranes located above a seawater screening and filtration system, which serve as ballast. The entire vessel and power systems are configured to have the center of mass below the center of buoyancy, forming a vertically stable floating structure with minimum pitch, roll, and wave heave in high sea states. The electric power generated is utilized internally to produce desalinated water or hydrogen from the desalinated water's electrolysis, power an onboard data center, or power delivery to a shoreside power grid. In addition to a wind turbine generator and a wave energy generator, a photovoltaic array or a marine current generator may be utilized to power these applications. Alternatively, the desalination vessel operates with the assistance of shore-based power provided by cable.

A feed of at least one of (a) a source liquid including a solvent with a dissolved impurity and (b) a retentate of the source liquid is pumped in a substantially closed loop through a liquid-separation module. The liquid-separation module includes a membrane that passes at least partially purified solvent to a permeate side of the membrane while diverting the impurity in a retentate on the retentate side of the membrane. The purified solvent is extracted from the permeate side of the membrane; and the retentate from the liquid-separation module is pumped to or through a pressurized reservoir with a variable volume for the feed component and recirculated as a component of the feed. Over time, the volume for the feed is reduced and the pressure applied to the feed in the reservoir is increased to balance against an increasing difference in osmotic pressure across the membrane.

A feed of at least one of (a) a source liquid including a solvent with a dissolved impurity and (b) a retentate of the source liquid is pumped in a substantially closed loop through a liquid-separation module. The liquid-separation module includes a membrane that passes at least partially purified solvent to a permeate side of the membrane while diverting the impurity in a retentate on the retentate side of the membrane. The purified solvent is extracted from the permeate side of the membrane; and the retentate from the liquid-separation module is pumped to or through a pressurized reservoir with a variable volume for the feed component and recirculated as a component of the feed. Over time, the volume for the feed is reduced and the pressure applied to the feed in the reservoir is increased to balance against an increasing difference in osmotic pressure across the membrane.

A liquid purification system with purified water mineralization, which uses predominantly water from various resources. The main problem of existing liquid purification systems, particularly membrane systems, is that during purification process not only dangerous debris (residual oil, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, mechanical particles and other) are removed, but even minerals necessary for human (calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium and other), so mineralization step is needed after purification step to normalize mineral composition. In the state of the art are known liquid purification systems with integral mineralization means and also devices for mineralization, which can be connected to liquid purification systems. The working principle of systems, known in the state of the art, is that purified liquid flows through the vessel with mineralization additive, which is partly dissolved, and the liquid becomes mineralized. The main drawback of the systems known in the state of the art is that due to peculiarities of the dissolving process and/or mineralization additive content it is impossible to control mineralization process, so the mineralization level is minor, and the pH is higher than the permitted value. Liquid purification system containing raw liquid line, liquid purification unit, mineralization unit, purified liquid line is characterized in that, mineralization of liquid is done by controlled dispensing of mineralization solution, obtained by selective raw or drainage liquids or their mixture.

A liquid purification system with purified water mineralization, which uses predominantly water from various resources. The main problem of existing liquid purification systems, particularly membrane systems, is that during purification process not only dangerous debris (residual oil, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, mechanical particles and other) are removed, but even minerals necessary for human (calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium and other), so mineralization step is needed after purification step to normalize mineral composition. In the state of the art are known liquid purification systems with integral mineralization means and also devices for mineralization, which can be connected to liquid purification systems. The working principle of systems, known in the state of the art, is that purified liquid flows through the vessel with mineralization additive, which is partly dissolved, and the liquid becomes mineralized. The main drawback of the systems known in the state of the art is that due to peculiarities of the dissolving process and/or mineralization additive content it is impossible to control mineralization process, so the mineralization level is minor, and the pH is higher than the permitted value. Liquid purification system containing raw liquid line, liquid purification unit, mineralization unit, purified liquid line is characterized in that, mineralization of liquid is done by controlled dispensing of mineralization solution, obtained by selective raw or drainage liquids or their mixture.

Systems and processes for purifying and concentrating a liquid feed stream are disclosed. In the systems, the concentrated liquid output from the high pressure side of a reverse osmosis stage is used as the draw solution in the low pressure side of the reverse osmosis stage in a configuration called osmotically assisted reverse osmosis. This reduces the osmotic pressure differential across the membrane, permitting high solute concentrations to be obtained, hastening the purification of the liquid. Reduced system pressures are also obtained by arranging multiple osmotically assisted reverse osmosis stages in a cross-current arrangement. Overall system energy consumption is reduced compared to conventional thermal processes for high concentration streams.