A filtration system suitable for recovering base stock from used lubricating oil and other applications pass feedstock over nano-filtration membranes assembled as a stack of membranes all experiencing parallel flow. On exiting a first stack of membranes the feedstock passes through an opening in a pressure-sustaining separator plate to flow in the reverse direction past a second stack of membranes and subsequently establish a serpentine flow of feedstock through multiple stacks of membranes. The stacks of membranes all share a common pressure containment vessel. Pressure boosters installed in the flow-through openings of separator plates separating consecutive stacks can serve to restore lost pressure of the feedstock and maintain effective permeation of permeate through the membranes. A pressure control valve at the outlet to the permeate-receiving cavities of a stack can be used to adjust the trans-membrane pressure.

The method of solvent recovery includes using a plurality of solvent recovery units to recover solvent from a dilute solution. The solvent recovery units can include a plurality of reverse osmosis or forward osmosis membrane systems arranged in series. For reverse osmosis, at least some of the concentrate in a last reverse osmosis unit of the series is recycled back to the permeate of that unit to provide a mixed permeate. The mixed permeate is then passed successively to the permeate side of each preceding reverse osmosis unit in the series. For forward osmosis, a draw solution is passed sequentially from the permeate side of each unit to the permeate side of the preceding unit. The draw solution may be prepared by concentrating part of the concentrate stream by evaporation and recycling it back as a draw solution.

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 relates to a method for obtaining a compound, after removing at least a portion of insoluble substances or macromolecules from a fermentation broth, by performing one or more of the following steps (a) to (c), and recovering a desired compound: (a) increasing the concentration of a desired compound in the fermentation broth; (b) reducing the concentration of a residual carbon source or alcohol in the fermentation broth; and (c) reducing the concentration of ionic components in the fermentation broth.

It is an object of the invention to provide a process for producing an organic acid, comprising: providing an incoming stream containing an organic acid and impurities; subjecting said incoming stream to a step of chromatographic separation, using a solution of mineral acid as an eluent, so as to collect an extract and a raffinate, the organic acid being recovered in the extract; and subjecting the raffinate to an electrodialysis step, so as to collect a diluate and a concentrate, the mineral acid being concentrated in the concentrate. The invention also provides an installation for implementing this process.

It is an object of the invention to provide a process for producing an organic acid, comprising: providing an incoming stream containing an organic acid and impurities; subjecting said incoming stream to a step of chromatographic separation, using a solution of mineral acid as an eluent, so as to collect an extract and a raffinate, the organic acid being recovered in the extract; and subjecting the raffinate to an electrodialysis step, so as to collect a diluate and a concentrate, the mineral acid being concentrated in the concentrate. The invention also provides an installation for implementing this process.

A method for processing a liquid medium, wherein the medium to be processed is conducted through a liquid circuit and the medium to be processed is heated up in the liquid circuit with the aid of a heat exchanger. A liquid-vapor separation process is carried out in a separating device, and a liquid obtained in the liquid-vapor separation process is conducted into the heat exchanger as a heating medium.

This disclosure provides water processing apparatuses, systems, and methods for recovering purified water and concentrated brine from wastewater. The water processing apparatuses, systems, and methods utilize ionomer membrane technology to separate water vapor from volatiles of a wastewater stream. The wastewater stream is evaporated into a gas stream including water vapor and volatiles of the wastewater stream in an evaporation container. The gas stream is delivered to a water separation module spatially separated from and fluidly coupled to the evaporation container. The water vapor of the gas stream is separated out in the water separation module while the volatiles are rejected. The water vapor can be collected into purified water while concentrated brine from the wastewater stream is left behind in the evaporation container.

This disclosure provides water processing apparatuses, systems, and methods for recovering purified water and concentrated brine from wastewater. The water processing apparatuses, systems, and methods utilize ionomer membrane technology to separate water vapor from volatiles of a wastewater stream. The wastewater stream is evaporated into a gas stream including water vapor and volatiles of the wastewater stream in an evaporation container. The gas stream is delivered to a water separation module spatially separated from and fluidly coupled to the evaporation container. The water vapor of the gas stream is separated out in the water separation module while the volatiles are rejected. The water vapor can be collected into purified water while concentrated brine from the wastewater stream is left behind in the evaporation container.

A high-magnesium concentrated liquid is disclosed. In a first embodiment, the high-magnesium concentrated liquid comprises magnesium ranged from 60000-70000 ppm, sodium ranged from 1000-3200 ppm, potassium ranged from 300-3000 ppm, calcium ranged from 100-300 ppm, and the balance of water. In a second embodiment, the high-magnesium concentrated liquid comprises magnesium ranged from 40000-50000 ppm, sodium ranged from 8000-18000 ppm, potassium ranged from 8000-17000 ppm, calcium ranged from 15-250 ppm, and the balance of water.