The present invention provides a system for high throughput purification of liquid.

A process for the preparation of a granulated or pelletized weak anion exchange medium from a phenol-containing organic material like peat, followed by low-temperature torrefaction of the granules to produce a high degree of physical stability of the granules at high-pH conditions, followed by chemical pretreatment of the stable granule via a hydrolysis reaction, and optionally surface treatment with acids, followed by the main chemical treatment of the hydrolyzed granule via separate aldehyde and amine reagents, or alternatively via an adduct reagent like hexamethylenetetramine is provided by this invention. The weak anion exchange medium of this invention can be used in a variety of aqueous solution treatment processes, such as wastewater treatment for removing mineral acids like H.sub.2SO.sub.4, HNO.sub.3, HCl, HBr, HF, H.sub.3PO.sub.4, HI, or formic acid from the wastewater. The resulting anion exchanger medium is particularly useful for treating wastewaters in a low-pH environment.

Vacuumed gap membrane distillation (VAGMED) modules, and multi-stage VAGMED systems and processes using the modules are provided. In an embodiment, the membrane distillation modules can comprise: a) a condenser including a condensation surface; b) a first passageway having an inlet for receiving a first feed stream and an outlet through which the first stream can pass out of the first passageway, the first passageway configured to bring the first feed stream into thermal communication with the condensation surface; c) an evaporator including a permeable evaporation surface allowing condensable gas to pass there through; d) a second passageway having an inlet for receiving a second feed stream and an outlet through which the second feed stream can pass out of the second passageway, the second passageway configured to bring the second feed stream into communication with the permeable evaporation surface; and e) an enclosure providing a vacuum compartment within which the condenser, the evaporator and the first and second passageways of the module are contained.

A transportable modular system for enhanced minerals recovery from tailings lines and deposits, features two transportable mineral recovery modules (TMRM), each TMRM for transporting as a truck mounted module to a remote site as an independently-operable mineral recovery module, each TMRM to couple to another TMRM on-site at the remote site and used together to provide enhanced minerals recovery. One TMRM having a central engineered polymer mineral recovery module that receives tailings fluid having a mineral particle of interest, processes the tailings fluid using an engineered polymer configuration, and provides recovered mineral processing fluids having the mineral particle of interest and a tailings disposal fluid. One other TMRM is selected from a group of TMRMs that includes another central engineered polymer mineral recovery module, a tailings fluid management module, an additive/chemical treatment polymer management module, a tailings disposal module and a recovery mineral processing module.

A hybrid activated iron-biological treatment system and method for treating wastewater. The treatment system includes a combination of zero valent iron, ferrous iron, an iron oxide, and a denitrification microorganism.

An automated produced water treatment system that injects ozone or an ozone-oxygen mixture upstream of produced water separators, with the dose rate changing dynamically as the produced water quality changes, as determined by continuous monitoring of the produced water quality by a plurality of sensors that detect water quality parameters in real time. The system may operate as a “slipstream” injection system, that draws a portion of produced water from the produced water pipeline and injects ozone or an ozone-oxygen mixture back into the pipeline with disrupting or slowing normal operations. Disinfectants or other additives may also be injected.

The present invention concerns a method for reducing the amount of polluting and/or valuable elements through application of electrolysis, in particular of the electrocapturing phenomenon. The electrolysis according to the present invention is applied permanently over time in a polluted water body. The predetermined action area (115bis, 115ter) preferably has a smaller extension than the water body. The at least one phenomenon (125bis, 125ter) is preferably powered electrically through production of electrical energy in loco through at least one renewable energy source (140). The method is suitable for purifying large expanses of water, like seas, lakes, lagoons and rivers, through plants operating permanently, however this does not rule out other applications.

Methods for removing a soluble heavy metal-sulfur complex from a process solution comprise contacting the process solution with an oxidant to oxidize the heavy metal-sulfur complex and form an oxidized complex precipitate, or with an acid to acidify the heavy metal-sulfur complex and form an acidified complex precipitate, and removing the precipitate from the process solution to provide a heavy metal-reduced solution. The method is advantageous for removing heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, barium, iron, vanadium and/or manganese from process solutions, for example originating from natural gas production, petroleum production, water treatment or mining.

Fusion proteins containing a targeting sequence, an exosporium protein, or an exosporium protein fragment that targets the fusion protein to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family member are provided. Recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing such fusion proteins are also provided. Genetically inactivated Bacillus cereus family members and recombinant Bacillus cereus family members that overexpress exosporium proteins are also provided. Seeds coated with the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members and methods for using the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members (e.g., for stimulating plant growth) are also provided. Various modifications of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members that express the fusion proteins are further provided. Fusion proteins comprising a spore coat protein and a protein or peptide of interest, recombinant bacteria that express such fusion proteins, seeds coated with such recombinant bacteria, and methods for using such recombinant bacteria (e.g., for stimulating plant growth) are also provided.

A system and method for stretching the discharge of plasma in a liquid utilizes in certain embodiments a first, second and third electrode within a liquid holding container, a gas injection conduit for introducing a gas such as air or oxygen into the container, and a power supply electrically coupled to at least the second and third electrodes. In certain embodiments, a seed plasma generated by a first and second electrode is stretched, and a larger plasma is generated by a first and third electrode. In certain embodiments, a fourth electrode can be used to further stretch the plasma. An increase in gas introduction flow rate can also be utilized to facilitate the stretching of plasma.