A desalination device may comprise: a membrane distillation module comprising a water feed chamber, a carrier gas (CG) chamber, and a hydrophobic microporous membrane configured to separate the water feed chamber and the CG chamber; and a bubble column dehumidifier comprising a bubble column inlet, a bubble column gas outlet, and a product outlet, wherein the MD module allows water vapor to translocate to the CG chamber, but not liquid water, and wherein the water feed each chamber has comprises a water feed inlet and a water feed outlet, wherein the CG chamber comprises a CG chamber inlet and CG chamber outlet, wherein the CG chamber outlet is upstream of and connected to the bubble column dehumidifier, and wherein the CG chamber inlet is downstream of and connected to the bubble column dehumidifier so as to cycle a carrier gas through the CG chamber and the bubble column dehumidifier.

A membrane distillation module with a circulating line to circulate a portion of distilled water, which is formed and accumulated in a distillate zone, to enhance a permeate flux of water vapor through a hydrophobic membrane of the membrane distillation module. Various combinations of embodiments of the membrane distillation module are provided.

The present disclosure provides processes and systems for dehydrating a byproduct stream in ethanol production. In one embodiment, a feed mixture is distilled with one or more distillation units to remove at least a portion of the water, and form a first byproduct stream. The first byproduct stream is contacted with a molecular sieve unit, thereby forming a product stream. The molecular sieve unit is cyclically contacted with at least a portion of the product stream to regenerate the molecular sieve unit and form one or more regenerate streams. A second byproduct stream including at least one of (1) the regenerate streams and (2) at least a portion of the fusel oil stream is contacted with a separation system, thereby forming a permeate and a retentate. At least a portion of the retentate is forwarded into the product stream.

Embodiments described herein relate generally to systems, apparatus, and methods for using graphene oxide-containing membranes for separation and concentration processes. In some embodiments, a fluid component having a first concentration in a fluid mixture can be concentrated using a first distillation process to a second concentration. In some embodiments, the fluid component can be concentrated from the second concentration to a third concentration using a graphene oxide-containing membrane. In some embodiments, the fluid component can be concentrated from the third concentration to a fourth concentration using a second distillation process. In some embodiments, the fluid component can have an azeotropic concentration between the second concentration and the third concentration.

Process for separating a highly pure propylene product from a liquefied petroleum gas stream is disclosed, which eliminates a C3 splitter having over 120 trays and the additional equipment that a C3 splitter requires. The process includes passing a feed stream to a dividing wall column to produce an overhead stream, a first side draw stream, a second side draw stream, and a product stream. The first side draw stream is passed to a treatment unit to produce a treated stream. The treated stream is passed to a membrane unit and a permeate stream is passed from the membrane unit to produce a polymer grade propylene stream.

A distillation apparatus having a hot liquid block, a thermoelectric module (TEM), a condensation surface, a feed liquid chamber having a feed chamber inlet, a feed chamber outlet, and a membrane disposed on at least one side of the feed liquid chamber. One side of the membrane faces to the condensation surface. An air gap of 1 mm to 20 cm separates the condensation surface and the membrane. A permeate outlet in fluid communication with the air gap. A heating unit in fluid communication with the feed liquid chamber and the hot liquid block. A cooling unit in fluid communication with the permeate outlet. A multi-stage distillation apparatus with a plurality of distillation apparatuses. A process of distilling water, by feeding a liquid into the distillation apparatus through the hot block inlet and collecting distilled water from the permeate outlet.

A method for purifying a liquid is described. A liquid feed is fed to a feed chamber. A carrier gas is fed through the liquid feed in the feed chamber to form a humidified carrier gas. A coolant is fed to a coolant chamber. The coolant chamber is separated from the feed chamber by a permeate gap chamber. The permeate gap chamber is separated from the feed chamber by a membrane that allows vapor to pass while blocking liquid flow across the membrane. The coolant chamber is separated from the permeate gap chamber by a thermally conductive plate. At least a portion of the vapor from the feed chamber that transported through the membrane is condensed by the coolant in the coolant chamber and the thermally conductive plate to form a first distillate. At least a portion of the humidified carrier gas is condensed to form a second distillate.

A multi-stage direct contact membrane distillation (MS-DCMD) system and a process for using the MS-DCMD are provide. The MS-DCMD includes a plurality of modules, wherein each module includes a feed chamber fluidically coupled to a feed line and a carrier gas line, wherein the feed line introduces a liquid feed into the feed chamber from a liquid feed tank, and wherein the carrier gas line introduces a carrier gas into the feed chamber. Each module includes a cold chamber fluidically coupled to a cold-water feed line and a cold-water return line, wherein cold water is circulated through the cold chamber. Each module further includes a membrane separating the feed chamber from the cold chamber, wherein the membrane allows transportation of vapor from the feed chamber to the cold chamber while blocking liquid from moving from the feed chamber to the cold chamber.

A multistage vacuum membrane distillation (MS-VMD) system including a plurality of modules is provided along with a method for using the MS-VMD. The MS-VMD system includes a feed chamber coupled to a feed line and a carrier gas line, wherein the feed line introduces a liquid feed into the feed chamber from a liquid feed tank, and wherein the carrier gas line introduces a carrier gas into the feed chamber. The MS-VMD system also includes a vacuum chamber coupled to a vacuum line, wherein the vacuum line pulls a vacuum on the vacuum chamber, and a membrane separating the feed chamber from the vacuum chamber, wherein the membrane allows transportation of vapor from the feed chamber to the vacuum chamber while blocking liquid from moving from the feed chamber to the vacuum chamber.

A multi-stage sweeping gas membrane distillation (MS-SGMD) system and a method of use are provided. The MS-SGMD includes a plurality of modules, wherein each module includes a feed chamber fluidically coupled to a feed line and a carrier gas line, wherein the feed line introduces a liquid feed into the feed chamber from a liquid feed tank, and wherein the carrier gas line introduces a carrier gas into the feed chamber. Each module includes a sweeping gas chamber fluidically coupled to a sweeping gas line and a sweeping gas return line, wherein a sweeping gas is passed through the sweeping gas chamber. Each module further includes a membrane separating the feed chamber from the sweeping gas chamber, wherein the membrane allows transportation of vapor from the feed chamber to the sweeping gas chamber while blocking liquid from moving from the feed chamber to the sweeping gas chamber.