A metal recovery system includes: a desalination apparatus obtaining freshwater with a reverse osmosis membrane from liquid to be processed pressurized by a pump; a metal recovery apparatus recovering metal ions from first drainage from the desalination apparatus, using a metal ion exchange membrane; and a control apparatus that includes: a pump control unit controlling energization of the pump so that an inflow flow rate of the liquid to be processed flowing into the desalination apparatus is a predetermined first flow rate when an exchange membrane temperature is within a temperature range determined in advance; and an exchange membrane control unit controlling energization of electrodes applying an electric field to a metal ion exchange membrane based on a first ion concentration that is a concentration of the metal ions in the first drainage when the exchange membrane temperature is within a temperature range determined in advance.

A micro fluid filtration system (100) preferably for increasing the concentration of components contained in a fluid sample has a fluid circuitry (1). The fluid circuitry (1) comprises the following elements: A tangential flow filtration element (7) capable for separating the fluid sample into a retentate stream and a permeate stream upon passage of the fluid, an element for pumping (3) for creating and driving a fluid flow through the fluid circuitry (1) and at least one element for obtaining information about the properties of the fluid sample within the circuitry. The circuitry further comprises a plurality of conduits (24) connecting the elements of the fluid circuitry (1) through which a fluid stream of the fluid sample is conducted. The circuitry (1) has a minimal working volume of at most 5 ml, which is the minimal fluid volume retained in the elements and the conduits (24) of the circuitry (1) such that the fluid can be recirculated in the circuitry (1) without pumping air through the circuitry (1). An integrated microfluidic element (20) of the circuitry (1) contains the functionality of at least two elements of the group of elements of the circuitry (1).

Embodiments described herein relate to methods and systems for dewatering solutions via forward osmosis.

Methods and systems for reducing contaminants and dissolved solids in wastewater produced by hydraulic fracturing operations using multiple reverse osmosis membrane stages.

A reverse osmosis system and method of operating the same includes a membrane housing comprising a reverse osmosis membrane therein. The membrane housing has a feed fluid input, a brine outlet and a permeate outlet; The system further includes a charge pump, a plurality of valves and a tank having a volume comprising a movable partition dividing the volume into a first volume and a second volume. The plurality of valves selectively couples the charge pump to the first volume or the second volume and the brine outlet to the second volume or the first volume respectively.

A reverse osmosis system and method of operating the same includes a membrane housing comprising a reverse osmosis membrane therein. The membrane housing has a feed fluid input, a brine outlet and a permeate outlet; The system further includes a charge pump, a plurality of valves and a tank having a volume comprising a movable partition dividing the volume into a first volume and a second volume. The plurality of valves selectively couples the charge pump to the first volume or the second volume and the brine outlet to the second volume or the first volume respectively.

The present invention relates to a method of concentrating an aqueous solution by low pressure under a zero osmotic pressure difference condition, and more particularly to a method of concentrating a solute-containing aqueous solution by low pressure under a zero osmotic pressure difference condition. When the method of the present invention is used, there are advantages in that energy consumption is low, and an aqueous solution can be concentrated until it can reach the maximum solute concentration or a solute concentration of 100%, without having to use an extraction solvent. In addition, there is an advantage in that the need to use a separate osmotic pressure draw solution is eliminated.

The present invention relates to a method of concentrating an aqueous solution by low pressure under a zero osmotic pressure difference condition, and more particularly to a method of concentrating a solute-containing aqueous solution by low pressure under a zero osmotic pressure difference condition. When the method of the present invention is used, there are advantages in that energy consumption is low, and an aqueous solution can be concentrated until it can reach the maximum solute concentration or a solute concentration of 100%, without having to use an extraction solvent. In addition, there is an advantage in that the need to use a separate osmotic pressure draw solution is eliminated.

The present application includes a symbiotic reverse osmosis train system for maximizing desalinated water recovery, meanwhile yielding high salinity brine suitable for osmotic power generation or commercial salt production. The trains comprise a series of cells operating in an interrelated sequential pattern within a salinity field. Each cell forms a closed hydraulic brine loop having pumping means, power recovery means and shared semipermeable membranes between adjacent cells. Used are a semipermeable Flat Sheet or Hollow Fiber Membrane in desalination and osmotic power generation of brackish, seawater and brines of 15% salinity or more. Charging each cell in the train of cells with a formulated brine having a specified ionizable inorganic salt concentration and type, without permitting mixing of the given brines among adjacent cells. Allowing the train to achieve water recovery exceeding 85% with concentrated rejected brine of 28-30% salt content.

A benchtop device flow setup for determining the effectiveness of magnetic treatment of feed water for reducing mineral scaling includes two similar branches, both equipped with a reverse osmosis membrane and a pump that operate in the transient regime at the same flow rate and transmembrane pressure. The flow setup is further fed with a solution at the same level of supersaturation measured in a stirred reactor, however, only one branch exposes the feed to a magnetic field.