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.

The invention relates to a technique for handling liquid radioactive waste from a nuclear fuel-energy cycle, and may be used in a process for processing liquid radioactive waste for maximally reducing the volume thereof and removing radionuclides by concentrating same in a solid phase. The aim is achieved by means of a method for processing liquid radioactive waste and for the recovery thereof, including waste oxidation, separating sludge, colloids and suspended particles from a liquid phase, and removing, from the liquid phase, radionuclides to be subsequently recovered using selective sorbents and filters; the method is characterized in that, prior to the stage for separating sludge, colloids and suspended particles from the liquid phase of the radioactive waste, selective sorbents in the form of powders are added and mixed into the liquid waste.

A system and method for collecting and purifying rainwater. The system includes a humidifier including a heat exchanger for preheating collected rainwater. The preheated water is output to a heater. The heater heats the water to between about 80 degrees C. and about 100 degrees C. The humidifier also includes a nozzle coupled to an outlet of the heater. The nozzle injects water vapor into the humidifier. The humidifier also includes a fan capable of circulating the water vapor in an inner volume of the humidifier. The water vapor condenses on an outer surface of the heat exchanger. The system also includes a collector for collecting the condensed potable water from the outer surface of the heat exchanger and a delivery system for delivering the potable water.

Methods and systems for removing pollutants from water include one or more filter systems and a hybrid wetland system. Hybrid wetland systems may include a first pipe transporting water from a body of water to a settling tank, a first constructed wetland connected to the settling tank via a second pipe, and a first filter system removing pollutants from water passing through the second pipe. A second filter system is positioned within the first wetland to further remove pollutants. The system also includes a second constructed wetland connected to the first constructed wetland via a third pipe and a water control chamber. Filtered water exiting the first constructed wetland flows through the water control chamber, through the third pipe, and into the second constructed wetland. A fourth pipe extends between the second constructed wetland and the body of water, returning filtered water to the body of water.

Water treatment systems including electrically-driven and pressure-driven separation apparatus configured to produce a first treated water suitable for use as irrigation water and a second treated water suitable for use as potable water from brackish or saline water and methods of operation of same.

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.

A metal surface treatment liquid recycling system includes a treatment liquid collecting tank, a pre-treatment device, a nanofiltration device and a vacuum distillation device, all of which are connected sequentially. The nanofiltration device includes a feed tank, a first-stage nanofiltration membrane unit, and a second-stage nanofiltration membrane unit. Treatment wastewater in the treatment liquid collecting tank is fed into the pre-treatment device to filter out suspended solids and then enter the feed tank. The wastewater in the feed tank is filtered by the first-stage nanofiltration membrane unit and transformed to a first-stage concentrated waste liquid and first-stage infiltration fluids. The first-stage infiltration fluids are fed into and re-filtered by the second-stage nanofiltration membrane unit and transformed to a second-stage concentrated waste liquid and second-stage infiltration fluids. The second-stage infiltration fluids are evaporated and concentrated by the vacuum distillation device for generation of distilled water and high-concentration acid concentrated fluids.

A system and method for increasing the efficiency of a multi-pass nanofiltration system associated with water desalination and mineral extraction. A saline source water is preferably subjected to a first treatment by passage through a first nanofiltration unit, followed by a second treatment by passage through a second nanofiltration unit. At least a portion of the second nanofiltration unit's reject stream is recirculated to the inlet of the first nanofiltration unit, thereby increasing the production of permeate from the first nanofiltration unit, as well as increasing the purity of monovalent ions in the first nanofiltration unit permeate. Further nanofiltration units with one or more recirculated reject streams may be connected in series and/or in parallel with the first and second nanofiltration units.

A system for treating a produced water stream to separate the water into a final concentrated brine stream and a final distillate stream includes a first flash vessel for separating the produced water stream into a first distillate stream and a first concentrated brine stream, a second flash vessel connected to the first flash vessel separates the first concentrated brine stream into a second distillate stream and a second concentrated brine stream, a third flash vessel connected to the second flash vessel separates the second concentrated brine stream into a third distillate stream and a final concentrated brine stream, a first pre-heater heat exchanger for heating the produced water stream by the final distillate stream of combination of the first distillate stream from the first flash vessel, the second distillate stream from the second flash vessel and the third distillate stream from the third flash vessel, a second pre-heater heat exchanger connected to the first pre-heater heat exchanger, for heating the produced water stream from the first pre-heater heat exchanger by the concentrated brine stream from the third flash vessel, a third pre-heater heat exchanger connected to the second pre-heater heat exchanger, for heating the produced water stream from the second pre-heater heat exchanger by the third distillate stream from the third flash vessel, a pump connected to the third pre-heater heat exchanger for pumping the produced water stream at positive pressure, an electrical heater connected to the pump for heating the produced water stream, and a waste heat exchanger connected to the first electrical heater for heating the produced water stream.

A supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) system with a well-mixed SCWO reactor, a feedstock supplied to the well-mixed SCWO reactor by a feedstock supply line, a recirculation loop flow regulator in fluid communication with the well-mixed SCWO reactor; and a recirculation loop which includes the well-mixed SCWO reactor and the recirculation loop flow regulator, such that the recirculation loop flow regulator receives an oxidant from an oxidant supply line and a first portion of a reactor effluent from the well-mixed SCWO reactor and supplies the oxidant and the first portion of the reactor effluent to the well-mixed SCWO reactor. The SCWO system also includes a heat transfer unit operationally associated with the well-mixed SCWO reactor which performs at least one of: heating the well-mixed SCWO reactor and cooling the well-mixed SCWO reactor.