A method for treating water contaminated with hydrophobic and lipophilic molecules, comprising forming an emulsion of the contaminated water with an oil; and separating from the emulsion an oil part charged with a captured amount of the hydrophobic and lipophilic molecules and a treated water part, the treated water having an amount the in hydrophobic and lipophilic molecules reduced by the captured amount of hydrophobic and lipophilic molecules than an initial amount of the hydrophobic and lipophilic molecules in the contaminated water.

Provided are sequestering agents for sequestering non-water moieties from an aqueous solution. The sequestering agents may comprise a detergent; and a polymer operable to stabilize formation of a detergent micelle thereby causing the detergent and polymer to self-assemble into a nanonet upon exposure to the aqueous solution. Also provided are kits therefore and methods for use of the sequestering agents and kits.

Methods are provided for treating intimately dispersed mixtures of water, bitumen, and fine clay particles, such as oil sands mature fine tailings (MFT). Select methods use dissolved silicate ions and a base (alkali), optionally in combination with a biopolymer, to flocculate a slurry. A mixing regime is disclosed involving the addition to MFT of silicate ions in solution and alkali, to initiate aggregation/destabilization of clay particles. Methods are exemplified that provide distinct sediment layers in conjunction with the release of residual bitumen (for example 40-50% of the initial bitumen content). In these exemplified embodiments, a densely packed bottom layer containing ˜75 wt. % solids showed high yield stress values (3.5-5.5 kPa) and entrapped little residual bitumen (0.2-0.3 wt. %). The methods accordingly segregate a material suitable for reclamation.

A solar-powered distillation process converts saline water into potable water and useful solid residues. A solid material is heated by solar energy, and the solid material is brought into direct contact with saline water. Some of the water becomes steam and vapor, which can be condensed to produce potable water. The water-soluble salts within the saline water are precipitated separately, and collected for commercial use. Scale formed on the solid material can be removed, and the solid material reheated by solar energy, and the reheated solid material can again be used to heat incoming saline water in a continuous process.

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.

Products and methods related to the enhancement of efficacy of algaecides and/or aquatic herbicides using metallic trivalent cations, as well as the reduction in ecotoxicity and non-target effects and preservation of water quality. Some embodiments advantageously provide the benefit of binding phosphorus, but allow for a substantial reduction in the dissolved trivalent metal and an increased ability to target the main source of future phosphorus release. In one aspect of an embodiment, a trivalent cation delivery system includes a commonly available commodity that can be simultaneously added to the water or mixed in a tank prior to the application, avoiding the need for an industrial process to cohere the components. In another aspect of the embodiment, the trivalent cation delivery system may be accomplished by the use of an algaecide and/or aquatic herbicide prior to the application of the phosphorus binding metal.

Products and methods related to the enhancement of efficacy of algaecides and/or aquatic herbicides using metallic trivalent cations, as well as the reduction in ecotoxicity and non-target effects and preservation of water quality. Some embodiments advantageously provide the benefit of binding phosphorus, but allow for a substantial reduction in the dissolved trivalent metal and an increased ability to target the main source of future phosphorus release. In one aspect of an embodiment, a trivalent cation delivery system includes a commonly available commodity that can be simultaneously added to the water or mixed in a tank prior to the application, avoiding the need for an industrial process to cohere the components. In another aspect of the embodiment, the trivalent cation delivery system may be accomplished by the use of an algaecide and/or aquatic herbicide prior to the application of the phosphorus binding metal.

Systems and methods for separating components from a fluid stream are described. The systems and methods described herein may be specifically well suited for separating solids, hydrocarbons, chemicals, non-evaporable components, etc., from wastewater produced by oil and gas recovery. The systems and methods may generally include the use of a heat exchanger through which a fluid stream is passed to thereby evaporate some or all of the fluid stream. The heated stream exiting the heat exchanger may include vapor, liquids and/or solids. This heated stream is then subjected to phase separation to separate a vapor stream from a liquid/solids stream. The vapor stream is then transported back to the heat exchanger where it is used to transfer heat from the vapor stream to the fluid stream. During the operation of the heat exchanger, a scraping system may be used to scrape the one or more surfaces of the passage through which the fluid stream flows in order to prevent buildup of solids and liquids thereon.

Systems and methods for separating components from a fluid stream are described. The systems and methods described herein may be specifically well suited for separating solids, hydrocarbons, chemicals, non-evaporable components, etc., from wastewater produced by oil and gas recovery. The systems and methods may generally include the use of a heat exchanger through which a fluid stream is passed to thereby evaporate some or all of the fluid stream. The heated stream exiting the heat exchanger may include vapor, liquids and/or solids. This heated stream is then subjected to phase separation to separate a vapor stream from a liquid/solids stream. The vapor stream is then transported back to the heat exchanger where it is used to transfer heat from the vapor stream to the fluid stream. During the operation of the heat exchanger, a scraping system may be used to scrape the one or more surfaces of the passage through which the fluid stream flows in order to prevent buildup of solids and liquids thereon.

A method includes: (1) using a chelating agent, extracting divalent ions from a brine solution as complexes of the chelating agent and the divalent ions; (2) using a weak acid, regenerating the chelating agent and producing a divalent ion salt solution; and (3) introducing carbon dioxide to the divalent ion salt solution to induce precipitation of the divalent ions as a carbonate salt. Another method includes: (1) combining water with carbon dioxide to produce a carbon dioxide solution; (2) introducing an ion exchanger to the carbon dioxide solution to induce exchange of alkali metal cations included in the ion exchanger with protons included in the carbon dioxide solution and to produce a bicarbonate salt solution of the alkali metal cations; and (3) introducing a brine solution to the bicarbonate salt solution to induce precipitation of divalent ions from the brine solution as a carbonate salt.