A precipitation system for precipitating the target component is provided. The precipitation system includes: a reverse osmosis module; a precipitation device; a membrane separation device that includes a semipermeable membrane module including a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a semipermeable membrane, and that makes the feed solution after precipitation of the target component in the precipitation device flow to each of the first chamber and the second chamber and pressurizes the feed solution in the first chamber to transfer water into the second chamber via the semipermeable membrane and thereby concentrate the feed solution in the first chamber and dilute the feed solution in the second chamber; first return means for returning the feed solution concentrated in the membrane separation device to the precipitation device; and second return means for returning the feed solution diluted in the membrane separation device to the reverse osmosis module.

A wastewater treatment system is provided for improving the efficiency of existing wastewater treatment plants. In accordance with aspects and embodiments, a wastewater system having a source of wastewater, an effluent, a sludge, a first basin configured to receive the wastewater, and a second basin, in fluid communication with the first basin and configured to receive sludge, may be retrofitted with a closed loop working fluid system. A first membrane system may be arranged in the first basin and a second membrane system may be arranged in the second basin, and a working fluid containing a concentration of at least one solute may be pumped through the first and second membrane systems in a closed loop to enhance overall plant efficiency.

A treatment of demineralization effluents, particularly recycling effluents, a method for demineralizing whey and treating the effluents, and a facility for implementation thereof. The treatment of whey demineralization effluents includes: i) supplying a whey demineralization effluent, ii) treating by reverse osmosis effluent recovered in i) to obtain a reverse osmosis permeate and retentate, iii) neutralizing the retentate pH, iv) treating the neutralized retentate by nanofiltration to obtain a permeate including monovalent ions and a retentate including divalent ions and residual organic materials, v) treating the permeate in iv) by electrodialysis with bipolar membrane to obtain acidic solution(s) and basic solution(s). Thus, it is possible to treat effluents, limit their environmental impact, generate solutions for the whey demineralization process, reduce the cost of whey demineralization because some process water from electrodialysis comes from treatment of the generated effluents, and reduce the total amount of effluent sent to the wastewater treatment plant.

Membranes and filtration modules for producing a concentrated feed stream and a diluted feed stream during operation in a water purification or wastewater treatment system. Filtration modules are provided that include a semipermeable membrane having a first side and a second side, the first side configured to receive a first feed solution stream from a first feed solution source and the second side configured to receive a second feed solution stream from a second feed solution source. The semipermeable membrane may be configured to operate at a hydrostatic pressure on the second side of the membrane from about 1% to about 40% of the hydrostatic pressure on the first side of the membrane, and may in some cases exhibit a salt rejection of from about 60 percent to about 90 percent during operation.

The present disclosure pertains to filtration methods comprising: passing a first fluid that comprises cells, cell debris and targeted product produced by the cells through a first filter thereby separating the first fluid into a first retentate comprising cells and a first permeate comprising targeted product and cell debris; combining resin beads having affinity for targeted product with the first permeate to form a second fluid containing resin beads with bound target product and cell debris; passing the second fluid through a second filter thereby separating the second fluid into a second retentate comprising resin beads with bound target product and a second permeate comprising cell debris; combining an elution buffer with the second retentate to form a third fluid that comprises a mixture of resin beads and unbound targeted product; and passing the third fluid through a third filter thereby separating resin beads from targeted product.

A device and a method for repeatedly modifying the composition of a fluid. The device includes a first module (19) modifying the composition of the fluid, a second module (21) modifying the composition of the fluid and a dwell module (20) with an inlet (8) and an outlet (10). The first module is connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the dwell module inlet and the dwell module outlet is connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the second module. Either the first or the second module is a filter unit, or the first module is a first filter unit and the second module is a second filter unit. The filter unit(s) include(s) at least one first filter medium (4, 14) delimiting a supply channel (2, 12) and a retentate channel (1, 11) and at least one second filter medium (5, 15) delimiting the retentate channel and a permeate channel (3, 13).

The present disclosure describes methods and systems for separating a fluid. The methods and systems include a plurality of osmosis modules operably coupled together. At least some of the plurality of osmosis modules include an osmosis membrane, a feed side on a first side of the osmosis membrane; a draw side on a second side of the osmosis membrane; a feed inlet operably coupled to the feed side; a draw inlet operably coupled to the draw side; a feed outlet operably coupled to the feed side; a draw outlet operably coupled to the draw side. The at least some of the plurality of osmosis units further including a feed recirculation loop operably coupled to the feed inlet, the feed outlet, and a feed inlet of a downstream osmosis module; and a draw recirculation loop operably coupled to the draw inlet, the draw outlet, and a draw inlet of a downstream osmosis module.

A system, method and device are disclosed for bio-processing a feed stream and providing a constant output by operating a continuous single-pass tangential-flow process. The single-pass process provides high conversion concentration while operating at relatively low feed flow rates, and the process can also be used to provide constant output diafiltration.

An apparatus for reverse osmosis, the apparatus comprising: a single-stage reverse osmosis (SSRO) unit; and a counter-current membrane cascade with recycle (CMCR) unit comprising a plurality of stages of reverse osmosis including at least a first stage and a second stage wherein permeate from the first stage is configured to be introduced as feed to the second stage; wherein retenate from the SSRO unit is configured to be introduced as feed to the first stage, and wherein product obtained using the apparatus comprises permeate from the SSRO unit and permeate from a last stage of the CMCR unit.

The present invention provides for a method for separating starch from processing solutions containing starch containing plants or roots such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, wheat, corn, tapioca, yams, cassaya, sago, rice, pea, broad bean, horse bean, sorghum, konjac, rye, buckwheat and barley to provide commercially acceptable starch while reducing disposal of solid or liquid waste matter into landfills or water treatment facilities.