A method for treating waste water containing ammonia comprising the steps of: i) passing the waste water as a feed solution through a first RO membrane (24) to produce a first permeate stream (30) and a first reject stream (32), ii) adjusting the pH of the first reject stream (32) to >9, iii) passing the first reject stream (32) through a second RO membrane (26) to produce a second permeate stream (36) containing ammonia and a second reject stream (38), and iv) passing at least a portion of the second permeate stream (36) to a cooling tower (12) to evaporate at least a portion of the ammonia.

A process for the recovery of sodium sulfate from water, in particular from water deriving from a silica manufacturing process.

A new method for producing D-allulose crystals that allows for a continuous production process and ensures a high yield. Also, new D-allulose crystals. Further, the use of a nanofiltration unit in a method for producing D-allulose crystals to improve the yield and/or quality of the resulting crystals.

Embodiments provide methods and structures for purification or volume reduction of a brine by an advanced vacuum distillation process (AVMD) to achieve higher flux by passage of vapors through an AVMD distillation unit. In one example, brine is circulated in a tank. The tank may include one or more membrane pouches that are submerged in the circulating brine or placed above the water level of the hot circulating brine. In other embodiments the membrane pouches are outside of the tank that includes the hot circulating brine but still in communication with it. The circulating brine is heated, allowing creation of water vapor. Using a vacuum, the water vapor is drawn through the membrane, where it may be condensed and subjected to further beneficial use. This process can concentrate to levels to generate crystals or solids, which can be separated and utilized.

The present invention provides a method for producing particles having a reduced particle size distribution, which method comprises the steps of: a) providing a composition comprising particles; b) subjecting the particles in said composition to a size reduction step or to a size growth step; c) feeding said particles to a first membrane separation system to separate said particles according to size; d) recycling those particles that do not meet the size criteria back to step a); e) optionally, collecting in a collection tank the permeate of the first membrane separation system. Particles obtainable according to the method of the invention and characterized by having a near monodisperse particle size distribution are also provided. The particles are preferably characterized by having a particle size distribution with a span of less than 2.0. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising particles according to the invention, and also apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention.

A hybrid electro-pressure driven method for the recovery, purification, and concentration of lithium salts is described. A fractionating electrodialysis stack equipped with selective ion exchange membranes is s used to separate a lithium containing brine into a monovalent enriched fraction and a divalent enriched fraction. The monovalent enriched fraction is further processed to remove remaining impurities by use of pressure driven nanofiltration. An optional concentrating electrodialysis device may further concentrate the monovalent enriched fraction in lithium content. The method may be combined with a subsequent solvent extraction and electrolysis step to produce lithium hydroxide, a Li+ selective sorbent step for producing purified lithium chloride, or a Li+ selective sorbent and precipitative step to produce lithium carbonate.

The present invention discloses a process for preparing high-purity raffinose from defatted wheat germ comprising the steps of percolate extraction of raffinose from defatted wheat germ, decoloration by extraction from the abstraction liquid, electrodialysis desalination, impurity removal by simulated moving bed, concentration and crystallization, with the absolute purity of raffinose as high as 98% and the recovery up to 75%. The process is not only reliable and easy to operate, but also easy to realize industrial production and control the parameters.

A method for highly concentrating aqueous solutions containing thermally sensitive organic constituents and with or without mineral constituents, wherein firstly, a major portion of the water is extracted by membrane filtration from the solution for pre-concentration and is discharged from the process and the solution which is pre-concentrated is then subjected to a freeze concentration procedure, in which, in the form of separated ice crystallisate, further water is extracted from the solution. To promote results, that concentration may be effected in the freeze concentration procedure until a viscosity of the mother solution of at least 0.0002 m.sup.2/s is achieved, and in that the separated ice crystallisate from the freeze concentration with the mother solution adhering thereto as a suspension is returned to the membrane filtration upstream of the membrane filtration or after melting of the ice crystallisate.

A system and method of extracting elements from an aqueous stream are described herein. The method includes designing a process to extract at least two elements from the aqueous product stream. The at least two elements have different commercial values. The process is optimized to minimize a cost of extracting the at least two elements and to maximize a value of extracting the at least two elements. The method further includes extracting the at least two elements according to the process.

Apparatuses for treating radioactive material using a multi-membrane are disclosed. The apparatus for treating radioactive material uses a multi-membrane capable of increasing the usage capacity and life of the storage tank with a multi-membrane process by discharging liquid (e.g., water in waste water) in which radioactive material is removed from waste water to the outside and by storing solidified waste containing radioactive material in the storage tank.