A membrane separation process is described. The process comprises pumping of a fluid stream through a membrane module to produce a permeate during a plurality of membrane operating cycles. Each membrane operating cycle comprises a filtration cycle and a relaxation cycle. Concentration polarisation is controlled during the process by controlling duration of filtration cycles and relaxation cycles to relatively short duration to maintain the degree of concentration polarisation below a target.

A membrane separation process is described. The process comprises pumping of a fluid stream through a membrane module to produce a permeate during a plurality of membrane operating cycles. Each membrane operating cycle comprises a filtration cycle and a relaxation cycle. Concentration polarisation is controlled during the process by controlling duration of filtration cycles and relaxation cycles to relatively short duration to maintain the degree of concentration polarisation below a target.

Disclosed is an apparatus for water treatment, including a membrane separator for solid-liquid separation; and a particle fractionator which has at least two exits of a fractionated solid-liquid mixture produced therein, wherein a liquor containing particles of different sizes including submicron particles is fed to the particle fractionator before a membrane separation by the membrane separator, and wherein a first fraction of the fractionated solid-liquid mixture is returned to the membrane separator from one exit of the at least two exits of the particle fractionator, the first fraction being less than the liquor in terms of content of the submicron particles. This apparatus enables a rapid achievement of suppression of membrane fouling.

Disclosed is an apparatus for water treatment, including a membrane separator for solid-liquid separation; and a particle fractionator which has at least two exits of a fractionated solid-liquid mixture produced therein, wherein a liquor containing particles of different sizes including submicron particles is fed to the particle fractionator before a membrane separation by the membrane separator, and wherein a first fraction of the fractionated solid-liquid mixture is returned to the membrane separator from one exit of the at least two exits of the particle fractionator, the first fraction being less than the liquor in terms of content of the submicron particles. This apparatus enables a rapid achievement of suppression of membrane fouling.

A method for washing a filter is used in a seawater desalination process including a first filtration step for subjecting seawater to microfiltration or ultrafiltration, and a second filtration step for subjecting seawater after the first filtration step to a reverse osmosis treatment. The filter is a microfiltration membrane or ultrafiltration membrane used in the first filtration step. An iron compound is added to seawater in any stage in the washing method. The washing method includes a washing chemical liquid preparation step for preparing washing chemical liquid, and a sticking matter removal step for removing matter sticking to the filter by bringing the filter into contact with washing chemical liquid. In the washing chemical liquid preparation step, seawater after the first filtration step is mixed with at least hydrogen peroxide to prepare washing chemical liquid having an iron compound concentration of 1.50 mmol/L or more in terms of iron atoms.

A method for washing a filter is used in a seawater desalination process including a first filtration step for subjecting seawater to microfiltration or ultrafiltration, and a second filtration step for subjecting seawater after the first filtration step to a reverse osmosis treatment. The filter is a microfiltration membrane or ultrafiltration membrane used in the first filtration step. An iron compound is added to seawater in any stage in the washing method. The washing method includes a washing chemical liquid preparation step for preparing washing chemical liquid, and a sticking matter removal step for removing matter sticking to the filter by bringing the filter into contact with washing chemical liquid. In the washing chemical liquid preparation step, seawater after the first filtration step is mixed with at least hydrogen peroxide to prepare washing chemical liquid having an iron compound concentration of 1.50 mmol/L or more in terms of iron atoms.

The present invention aims to provide a method for preparing exosomes comprising: (i) a step for ultrafiltering a sample containing at least one exosome; and (ii) a step for subjecting the sample that can be obtained from step (i) to anion exchange column chromatography.

A rare earth coated membrane is beneficial to aid in the separation of contaminants, such as anions containing phosphorous, anions containing arsenic, PFAS, and mixtures thereof. Membranes with the rare earth coating or treatment can have larger pore sizes than would be expected to remove these contaminants. Disclosed herein are methods for treating or coating the membrane to provide the rare earth coated membrane. The coated membranes can be used to remove contaminants, such as anions containing phosphorous, anions containing arsenic, and PFAS, from liquid feeds, such as water or water-based feeds.

The invention relates to a method for fractionating soluble fractions of peas, including, in sequence, a step of microfiltering or centrifuging, followed by a step of ultrafiltering, and optionally a reverse-osmosis step. A reduction of the leakage of proteins toward the soluble fractions, an improvement of the yield of the single concentration step by evaporating the soluble fractions, and the selective isolation of proteins of interest are thus achieved. The method is easy to implement, the devices used at each single step are conventional and well known to the person skilled in the art. Also, the method of the invention does not use any organic solvent other than water.

The invention relates to a method for fractionating soluble fractions of peas, including, in sequence, a step of microfiltering or centrifuging, followed by a step of ultrafiltering, and optionally a reverse-osmosis step. A reduction of the leakage of proteins toward the soluble fractions, an improvement of the yield of the single concentration step by evaporating the soluble fractions, and the selective isolation of proteins of interest are thus achieved. The method is easy to implement, the devices used at each single step are conventional and well known to the person skilled in the art. Also, the method of the invention does not use any organic solvent other than water.