The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a covalently functionalized coated magnetic nanoparticle and to said particles and uses thereof. The preparation method includes forming a shell of a hydrophilic polymer coating layer on top of a magnetic metal core coated with a carbon coating. In the method a particle comprising a magnetic metal core coated with a carbon coating is provided. The surface of the particle is subjected to covalent functionalization by generating amino reactive groups via diazonium chemistry and subsequently an irreversible attachment of an atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator is carried out on said surface. A hydrophilic polymer layer is formed) by a surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) reaction with a monomer comprising N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM).

A method for separating ionic species from an analyte solution to form a fractionated sample, the method comprising contacting the analyte solution with an ion-exchanger that is selectively permeable to ionic species of either a positive or negative charge, contacting an opposing side of the ion-exchanger with a draw solution, wherein the draw solution comprises adsorber particles dispersed in a liquid carrier, establishing a concentration gradient across the ion-exchanger to allow at least some ionic species from the analyte solution to permeate through the ion-exchanger to the draw solution, adsorbing ionic species that permeate from the analyte solution onto the adsorber particles, separating adsorber particles having the ionic species adsorbed thereto from at least part of the draw solution, and eluting the ionic species from the separated adsorber particles to form a fractionated analyte sample comprising eluted ionic species.

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.

Methods and systems for enhancing water treatment and desalination are provided. An example method includes generating structurally altered gas molecules from water, where the structurally altered gas molecules have a higher probability of attraction of electrons into areas adjunct to the structurally altered gas molecules than molecules of the water. The method further includes mixing the structurally altered gas molecules with raw water to modify properties of the raw water, thereby increasing raw water filtering efficiency of a water filtering system.

Producing a resin from an organic waste product includes assessing a weight percent of a first volatile fatty acid and a weight percent of a second volatile fatty acid in a liquid mixture having volatile fatty acids from the organic waste product. The weight percent of the volatile fatty acids is based on the total weight of the carboxylic acids in the liquid mixture, the total weight of volatile fatty acids in the liquid mixture, or the total weight of lactic acid and volatile fatty acids in the mixture. A ratio of the weight percent of the first volatile fatty acid to the weight percent of the second volatile fatty acid in the liquid mixture is adjusted to yield a modified liquid mixture. The modified liquid is combined with polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing bacteria to yield a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer; and the polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer is extracted from the polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing bacteria.

A method of increasing the rate by which a dissimilar material separates from an aqueous-based fluid mixture is disclosed. The method includes the step of passing an aqueous-based fluid through a magnetically conductive conduit having magnetic energy directed along the longitudinal axis of the magnetically conductive conduit and extending through at least a portion of the aqueous-based fluid mixture thereby providing a conditioned fluid medium. The conditioned fluid medium is separated into at least two distinct phases in a ceramic membrane filtration apparatus downstream of the magnetically conductive conduit, wherein at least one dissimilar material separates from the conditioned fluid medium at an increased rate as compared to a rate of separation of at least one dissimilar material from an aqueous-based fluid mixture prior to passing through the magnetically conductive conduit.

Methods and systems for generation and deployment of a structurally altered gas molecules derived from water are provided. An example method includes combining purified water with a compound mixture. The compound mixture is non-reactive with the water and a conductor of an electric field and a magnetic field. The method includes applying the magnetic field and the electric field to the combination of the purified water and the compound mixture to cause generation of the structurally altered gas molecules. The structurally altered gas molecules have a higher probability of attraction of electrons into areas adjunct to the structurally altered gas molecules than molecules of the purified water. The method further includes introducing the structurally altered gas molecules into an environment of a chemical process. The structurally altered gas molecules facilitate electron transfers during the chemical process, thereby increasing output of the chemical process.

Radiative heating and radiative feed modification systems and methods using microwave, radio frequency, magnetic field and ultrasound in membrane separation processes including membrane distillation (MD), reverse osmosis, forward osmosis and pervaporation are disclosed. Membrane distillation systems include at least one MD module, the MD module having at least one membrane, a feed inlet operable to receive a feed media and a feed outlet, and a radiative energy source operable to apply radiation to a feed media entering the feed inlet.

A method is provided for sanitizing a reverse osmosis system to supply high-purity permeate. Included in the method is supplying raw water to a feed tank and to a filter module using a raw-water inlet line having an inlet valve. A primary circuit is provided, and has a first pump connected to the filter module. A secondary circuit is provided, and has a second pump and a heater, both of which are connected to the filter module. The primary circuit is separated from the secondary circuit using a semipermeable membrane disposed in the filter module. The secondary circuit of the reverse osmosis system is cleaned or disinfected while the raw-water inlet line is in a disconnected state and the inlet valve is in a closed state using the second pump and the heater.

A reverse osmosis system comprises a permeate collection tube which is connected at one end to a distribution system for permeate which comprises at least one device for cleaning and/or disinfection. The permeate collection tube, the cleaning and/or disinfection device and a circulation pump are arranged in a circulation circuit.