There are provided processes comprising submitting an aqueous composition comprising lithium sulphate and/or bisulfate to an electrolysis or an electrodialysis for converting at least a portion of said sulphate into lithium hydroxide. During electrolysis or electrodialysis, the aqueous composition is at least substantially maintained at a pH having a value of about 1 to about 4; and converting said lithium hydroxide into lithium carbonate. Alternatively, lithium sulfate and/or lithium bisulfate can be submitted to a first electromembrane process that comprises a two-compartment membrane process for conversion of lithium sulfate and/or lithium bisulfate to lithium hydroxide, and obtaining a first lithium-reduced aqueous stream and a first lithium hydroxide-enriched aqueous stream; and submitting said first lithium-reduced aqueous stream to a second electromembrane process comprising a three-compartment membrane process to prepare at least a further portion of lithium hydroxide and obtaining a second lithium-reduced aqueous stream and a second lithium-hydroxide enriched aqueous stream.

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.

The present invention provides an organic bioelectronic HD device system for the effective removal of protein-bound substances, comprising PEDOT:PSS, a multiwall carbon nanotube, polyethylene oxide (PEO), and (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GOPS). The composite nanofiber platform exhibited (i) long-term water-resistance; (ii) high adhesion strength on the PES membrane; (iii) enhanced electrical properties; and (iv) good anticoagulant ability and negligible hemolysis of red blood cells, suggesting great suitability for use in developing next-generation bioelectronic medicines for HD.

There are provided processes for preparing lithium hydroxide. The processes comprise submitting an aqueous composition comprising lithium sulfate and/or lithium bisulfate to a first electromembrane process that comprises a two-compartment membrane process under suitable conditions for conversion of the lithium sulfate and/or lithium bisulfate to lithium hydroxide, and obtaining a first lithium-reduced aqueous stream and a first lithium hydroxide-enriched aqueous stream; and submitting the first lithium-reduced aqueous stream to a second electromembrane process that comprises a three-compartment membrane process under suitable conditions to prepare at least a further portion of lithium hydroxide and obtaining a second lithium-reduced aqueous stream and a second lithium-hydroxide enriched aqueous stream. There are also provided systems for preparing lithium hydroxide.

A method of reducing the organic compounds in an aqueous stream by generating an oxidant in-situ using at least one electrolytic cell. The method may comprise contacting at least a portion of the aqueous stream with the electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cell may have at least two electrodes, wherein at least one electrode is a metal electrode and, a power source for powering the at least two electrodes. A water treatment system for generating an oxidant in-situ comprising at least one electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cell may have at least two electrodes, wherein at least one electrode is a metal electrode, and a power source for powering the at least two electrodes. A method of improving the rejection rate of a reverse osmosis membrane using an oxidant generated in-situ. The method may comprise contacting at least a portion of the aqueous stream with the electrolytic cell thereby creating an oxidized aqueous stream. At least a portion of the oxidized aqueous stream may be fed through a reverse osmosis membrane. The electrolytic cell may comprise at least two electrodes, wherein at least one electrode is a metal electrode, and a power source for powering the at least two electrodes.

A method of reducing the organic compounds in an aqueous stream by generating an oxidant in-situ using at least one electrolytic cell. The method may comprise contacting at least a portion of the aqueous stream with the electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cell may have at least two electrodes, wherein at least one electrode is a metal electrode and, a power source for powering the at least two electrodes. A water treatment system for generating an oxidant in-situ comprising at least one electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cell may have at least two electrodes, wherein at least one electrode is a metal electrode, and a power source for powering the at least two electrodes. A method of improving the rejection rate of a reverse osmosis membrane using an oxidant generated in-situ. The method may comprise contacting at least a portion of the aqueous stream with the electrolytic cell thereby creating an oxidized aqueous stream. At least a portion of the oxidized aqueous stream may be fed through a reverse osmosis membrane. The electrolytic cell may comprise at least two electrodes, wherein at least one electrode is a metal electrode, and a power source for powering the at least two electrodes.

Methods, systems, and techniques for removing ammonium from ammonia-containing water involve using a stack that has alternating product chambers and concentrate chambers for receiving ammonia-containing water and an acidic solution, respectively, with the chambers being bounded by alternating cation exchange membranes and proton permselective cation exchange membranes. Ammonium moves from the product chambers to the concentrate chambers across the CEMs and protons move from the concentrate chambers to the product chambers across the pCEMs when the stack is in use. An electrolyzer may also be used to convert the ammonium in the concentrate chambers into nitrogen.

In one embodiment, a renewable energy storage system includes a forward osmosis system, a hydro-turbine, and a separation (e.g., CEDI) system powered by one or more natural regenerating energy sources, such as wind or solar. In another embodiment, a renewable energy storage system includes a forward osmosis system, a hydro-turbine, a solar thermal heat exchanger through which the diluted osmotic draw solution can be directed for purposes of heating up the draw solution, and a solvent-water separator configured to separate the draw solution from the water. One example method includes drawing water across a forward osmosis membrane in a forward osmosis system such that the water drawn across the membrane dilutes an osmotic draw solution; directing the diluted osmotic draw solution to drive a hydro-turbine to produce energy; and separating the water from the draw solution using one or more natural regenerating energy sources.

In one embodiment, a renewable energy generation and storage system and method is provided for storing both electrical and thermal energy that includes a forward osmosis system for drawing water across a membrane such that the water drawn across the membrane is used to dilute an osmotic ionic draw solution and the diluted osmotic ionic draw solution is used to drive a hydro-turbine; an FO-EED separation system for separating the drawn water from the ionic draw solution using renewable electrical energy and an osmotic polymer introduced in the FO-EED system during use, so that the ionic draw solution is re-concentrated by using electrical energy, such that the water from the ionic solution combines with the concentrated osmotic polymer; a coalescer configured to receive compressed CO.sub.2 to separate the water from the polymer by having the polymer absorb the compressed CO.sub.2 during use; and using thermal energy for separating the CO.sub.2 from the polymer, thereby regenerating a concentrated polymer solution.

A method for detecting albumin based on a colorimetric assay and a system thereof are disclosed. Gold nanoparticles are added into the sample preparing device having a sample without spectroscopic tags, wherein the sample without spectroscopic tags is formed as the alkaline solution to avoid the interference substances adhering on the gold nanoparticles. The gold nanoparticles are concentrated by using the microfluidic concentrator with the circular ion exchange membrane by applying an external electric field across two electrodes. The image of the concentrated gold nanoparticles is captured by the image capturing device for measuring the saturation intensities of the image, wherein there is a relation between the saturation intensities and the concentration of the albumin in the sample without spectroscopic tags. The concentration of the albumin of the sample without spectroscopic tags is obtained by the relation and the measured saturation intensities.