An energy-efficient liquid-gap distillation apparatus includes a source of a feed liquid; a distillation module comprising: (a) a feed-liquid chamber n fluid communication with the feed-liquid source to establish a flow of the feed liquid there through, wherein the feed-liquid chamber includes a selectively porous material that allows a component of the feed liquid to pass through the selectively porous material and exit the feed-liquid chamber in vapor form but not in liquid form; (b) a condensing surface maintained at a lower temperature than the feed liquid in the feed-liquid chamber, wherein the condensing surface is sufficiently hydrophobic to produce a contact angle with water of at least 150; and (c) a gap between the selectively porous material and the condensing surface. Vapor passing through the membrane can be condensed as jumping droplets at the condensing surface.

Separation processes using osmotically driven membrane systems are disclosed generally involving the extraction of solvent from a first solution to concentrate a solute by using a second concentrated solution to draw the solvent from the first solution across a semi-permeable membrane. Pre-treatment and post-treatment may also enhance the osmotically driven membrane processes.

Separation processes using osmotically driven membrane systems are disclosed generally involving the extraction of solvent from a first solution to concentrate a solute by using a second concentrated solution to draw the solvent from the first solution across a semi-permeable membrane. Pre-treatment and post-treatment may also enhance the osmotically driven membrane processes.

There is provided a process for treating well water to produce drinking water. The process combines a vacuum tank process, an adsorption-desorption process, a heat-exchanger process, a membrane distillation-crystallization process. The process allows for some level of efficiency with regard to energy consumption and operational and maintenance costs.

There is provided a process for treating well water to produce drinking water. The process combines a vacuum tank process, an adsorption-desorption process, a heat-exchanger process, a membrane distillation-crystallization process. The process allows for some level of efficiency with regard to energy consumption and operational and maintenance costs.

Integrated, sequential stages of nanofiltration, forward osmosis, and reverse osmosis and related membranes provide an Integrated Osmosis structure, systems and methods. By optimally placing and using the desired characteristics of each membrane, performance and cost effectiveness not attainable individually is obtained. Integrated Osmosis systems provide high diffusive and osmotic permeability, high rejection, low power consumption, high mass transfer, and favorable Peclet number, by manipulating convection, advection and diffusion, low concentration polarization gradients, low reverse salt flux and effective restoration of performance after cleaning fouled membranes. Benefits include increased permeate recovery and decreased waste concentrate volume from reverse osmosis processes or other elevated osmotic pressure solutions. Integrated Osmosis first employs nanofiltration for selective harvesting of solutes, proffering a reduced osmotic pressure permeate. Forward osmosis dewaters the lowered osmotic pressure permeate generating a dilute draw solution which serves as feed to a reverse osmosis process. Reverse osmosis permeate provides freshwater and concentrate provides draw solution for the forward osmosis process.

A pervaporation cell is described which may be used for the removal of water from a mixture containing an ionic liquid and water and optionally a solvent, incorporating an ionomeric membrane. A method of pervaporation using the pervaporation cell is also described.

A system for continuously treating water with residual oil and/or solids includes a treatment system with inline mixers. A pH adjustment fluid may be added to the water in a first inline mixer. A micro-encapsulating flocculating dispersion flocculant may be added in a second inline mixer. The addition of the micro-encapsulating flocculating dispersion flocculant may cause flocculation of residual oil and/or solids in the water to form a pin flocculant. An activator may be added in a third inline mixer and a conditioner may be added in a fourth inline mixer. Bulk flocculant may be formed from the pin flocculant after the addition of the conditioner. The resultant mixture may flow to a settling tank where the flocculants may settle to produce treated water. After settling, the treated water may flow through a mechanical filter and/or a sorption filter to produce water suitable for desalination and/or other downstream processes.

A system for continuously treating water with residual oil and/or solids includes a treatment system with inline mixers. A pH adjustment fluid may be added to the water in a first inline mixer. A micro-encapsulating flocculating dispersion flocculant may be added in a second inline mixer. The addition of the micro-encapsulating flocculating dispersion flocculant may cause flocculation of residual oil and/or solids in the water to form a pin flocculant. An activator may be added in a third inline mixer and a conditioner may be added in a fourth inline mixer. Bulk flocculant may be formed from the pin flocculant after the addition of the conditioner. The resultant mixture may flow to a settling tank where the flocculants may settle to produce treated water. After settling, the treated water may flow through a mechanical filter and/or a sorption filter to produce water suitable for desalination and/or other downstream processes.

The invention relates to a system for separating substances in a substance mixture. The system comprises a radiation source and a separation column. The separation column comprises at least a first section, the first section comprising at least a first subsection and a second subsection. The radiation source is configured to radiate electromagnetic radiation in the direction of the first section to heat the first section, wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises infrared radiation. The electromagnetic radiation is receivable in the first subsection of the separation column with a higher intensity than in the second subsection of the separation column, so that the first subsection is heatable more intensively than the second subsection and a temperature gradient can be formed at least in sections along the first section (21) of the separation column (20).