A submersible reverse osmosis desalination apparatus and method employs airlift to remove desalinated water from the apparatus via as annular flow regime over a substantial portion of the product water discharge conduit. Use of a high air fraction for airlift operation and an annular flow regime significantly lowers the weight of the product water column, as well as the backpressure on the downstream side of the osmotic membranes and at the bottom of the discharge water conduit. This permits deployment of the apparatus at reduced depths and in many eases closer to shore. In preferred embodiments the apparatus relies wholly upon hydrostatic pressure to drive seawater through the osmotic membranes, and continuously desalinates seawater and delivers pure water to the discharge water conduit without using any submerged moving parts subject to wear or breakage.

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.

A process of treating water includes a membrane separation stage and a deionization stage separating raw water into a first concentrate stream and permeate stream, the first concentrate stream is separated at least in part into a second concentrate stream and permeate stream, the first permeate stream is fed into a diluate chamber from which it exits again as a product stream, the second permeate stream is fed into a downstream electrodeionization appliance from which it exits as a third concentrate stream, and the second and the third concentrate streams are degassed and added to the raw water stream before the stream is fed into the membrane separation stage.

A process of treating water includes a membrane separation stage and a deionization stage separating raw water into a first concentrate stream and permeate stream, the first concentrate stream is separated at least in part into a second concentrate stream and permeate stream, the first permeate stream is fed into a diluate chamber from which it exits again as a product stream, the second permeate stream is fed into a downstream electrodeionization appliance from which it exits as a third concentrate stream, and the second and the third concentrate streams are degassed and added to the raw water stream before the stream is fed into the membrane separation stage.

A membrane biofilm reactor including a vessel defining a volume is disclosed. The reactor also typically includes a first and second plurality of hollow fiber membranes. Each hollow fiber membrane generally has an outer surface and a lumen, and is located within the volume. The reactor further preferably includes a first and second gas feedstock. The first gas feedstock is provided through a first inlet in fluid communication with the lumens of the first plurality of hollow fiber membranes. The second gas feedstock is provided through a second inlet in fluid communication with the lumens of the second plurality hollow fiber membranes. Finally, the reactor also typically includes a biofilm formed on the outer surface of the hollow fiber membranes and made up of methanotrophs, Methanosarcina acetivorans, or both. The first gas feedstock is preferably different from the second gas feedstock.

A water purification system utilizes an ionomer membrane and mild vacuum to draw water from source water through the membrane. A water source may be salt water or a contaminated water source. The water drawn through the membrane passes across the condenser chamber to a condenser surface where it is condensed into purified water. The condenser surface may be metal or any other suitable surface and may be flat or pleated. In addition, the condenser surface may be maintained at a lower temperature than the water on the water source side of the membrane. The ionomer membrane may be configured in a cartridge, a pleated or flat plate configuration. A latent heat loop may be configured to carry the latent heat of vaporization from the condenser back to the water source side of the ionomer membrane. The source water may be heated by a solar water heater.

A water purification system utilizes an ionomer membrane and mild vacuum to draw water from source water through the membrane. A water source may be salt water or a contaminated water source. The water drawn through the membrane passes across the condenser chamber to a condenser surface where it is condensed into purified water. The condenser surface may be metal or any other suitable surface and may be flat or pleated. In addition, the condenser surface may be maintained at a lower temperature than the water on the water source side of the membrane. The ionomer membrane may be configured in a cartridge, a pleated or flat plate configuration. A latent heat loop may be configured to carry the latent heat of vaporization from the condenser back to the water source side of the ionomer membrane. The source water may be heated by a solar water heater.

A method of treating a liquid. The method comprises providing a feed liquid comprising at least one solvent and at least one solute to a first side of a membrane. A single-phase draw solution comprising at least one of an aminium salt, an amidinium salt, and a guanidinium salt is provided to a second side of the membrane. The at least one solvent is osmosed across the membrane and into the single-phase draw solution to form a diluted single-phase draw solution. At least one of CO.sub.2, CS.sub.2, and COS is removed from the diluted single-phase draw solution to form a first multiple-phase solution comprising a first liquid phase comprising the at least one solvent, and a second liquid phase comprising at least one of an amine compound, an amidine compound, and a guanidine compound. A liquid purification system is also described.

A method of treating a liquid. The method comprises providing a feed liquid comprising at least one solvent and at least one solute to a first side of a membrane. A single-phase draw solution comprising at least one of an aminium salt, an amidinium salt, and a guanidinium salt is provided to a second side of the membrane. The at least one solvent is osmosed across the membrane and into the single-phase draw solution to form a diluted single-phase draw solution. At least one of CO.sub.2, CS.sub.2, and COS is removed from the diluted single-phase draw solution to form a first multiple-phase solution comprising a first liquid phase comprising the at least one solvent, and a second liquid phase comprising at least one of an amine compound, an amidine compound, and a guanidine compound. A liquid purification system is also described.

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.