Disclosed herein is a system and method for energy generation from salinity gradients using asymmetrically porous electrodes. In certain embodiments, an energy generation system includes at least one pair of asymmetrically porous electrodes positioned within a chamber in selective fluidic communication with a freshwater source (e.g., a river) and a saltwater source (e.g., an ocean). Asymmetry between a first average percent volume per unit pore-width of a first electrode and a second average percent volume per unit pore-width of a second electrode creates differing interfacial potentials between the first electrode and the second electrode when such electrodes are immersed in freshwater and saltwater. By cyclically immersing the electrodes in freshwater and saltwater, energy is harvested from Gibbs free energy from mixing saltwater and freshwater. Such a system does not require a membrane or an external charge source. Methods of generating energy using asymmetrically porous electrodes are also provided.

Disclosed herein is a system and method for energy generation from salinity gradients using asymmetrically porous electrodes. In certain embodiments, an energy generation system includes at least one pair of asymmetrically porous electrodes positioned within a chamber in selective fluidic communication with a freshwater source (e.g., a river) and a saltwater source (e.g., an ocean). Asymmetry between a first average percent volume per unit pore-width of a first electrode and a second average percent volume per unit pore-width of a second electrode creates differing interfacial potentials between the first electrode and the second electrode when such electrodes are immersed in freshwater and saltwater. By cyclically immersing the electrodes in freshwater and saltwater, energy is harvested from Gibbs free energy from mixing saltwater and freshwater. Such a system does not require a membrane or an external charge source. Methods of generating energy using asymmetrically porous electrodes are also provided.

A system comprises an electrodialysis apparatus, which includes first and second reservoirs, wherein a salt concentration in the first reservoir reduces below a threshold concentration and salt concentration in the second reservoir increases during an operation mode. A first electrode comprises a first solution of a first redox-active electrolyte material, and a second electrode comprises a second solution of a second redox-active electrolyte material. In a first reversible redox reaction between the first electrode and first electrolyte material at least one ion is accepted from the first reservoir, and in a second reversible redox reaction between the second electrode and second electrolyte material at least one ion is driven into the second reservoir. A first type of membrane is disposed between the first and second reservoirs, and a second type of membrane, different from the first type, is disposed between the respective electrodes and reservoirs.

A method for selectively removing micro-contaminants from sludge, the method includes a) providing sludge contaminated with micro-contaminants, and b) subjecting the sludge to a primary treatment step, thereby producing a first stream of primary sludge comprising a first part of micro-contaminants and a second stream of remaining sludge comprising a second part of micro-contaminants, c) subjecting the second stream of remaining sludge to a secondary treatment step, thereby producing biological sludge, wherein the first stream of primary sludge and the biological sludge are further subjected to separate treatment steps whose effects are coupled, so as to divert, capture and destroy the first part of micro-contaminants in the primary treatment step.

A technique, method and system for drying a solid waste stream in a pyrolysis recycling installation, including drying the waste stream in a first dryer, feeding the partially dried waste stream from the first dryer to a second dryer, further drying the waste stream in the second dryer to produce a dried waste stream, and feeding the dried waste stream from the second dryer to a pyrolysis unit, wherein the first and second dryers dry the waste stream primarily, or exclusively, using heat generated from the pyrolysis unit.

An ultrapure water manufacturing facility includes: a first tank; a plurality of reverse osmosis membranes sequentially arranged downstream of the first tank; an electrodeionization device arranged downstream of the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes; an ion exchange resin tower arranged downstream of the electrodeionization device and filled with a boron selective resin; and a chemical supplier arranged between the plurality of reverse osmosis membranes and configured to supply a pH regulator to treatment-target water.

An apparatus, system and method to purify water is disclosed. Pumps and energy recovery devices for taking water from an intake, filtering the water to remove solid contaminates before running the filtered water through the reverse osmosis system to the discharge device and purified water lines are described. The system may comprise a control panel that controls the plurality of filters, plurality of reverse osmosis membranes, purified water line and effluent discharge device, to achieve favorable water purification. A method that utilizes the apparatus and/or system is described herein.

A waste treatment system includes: at least one reformer for hydrolyzing waste; and a microbial reactor for microbially degrading a reformed material containing at least a solid among the waste hydrolyzed in the at least one reformer.

A solar distillation system includes at least one solar panel to reflect sunlight, and a distillation tube adjacent the at least one solar panel. The distillation tube is to receive brine to be processed into fresh water. The brine is to flow through the distillation tube and is heated by the reflected sunlight. A first supplemental distillation unit is connected to a first end of the distillation tube and has a curved surface perpendicular to the distillation tube to receive the reflected sunlight. A second supplemental distillation unit is connected to a second end of the distillation tube and has a curved surface perpendicular to the distillation tube to receive the reflected sunlight. The first and second supplemental distillation units each include sprayers to spray brine onto the respective curved surfaces to be further processed into fresh water.

A device for sterilizing fluid waste to render said waste noninfectious, said device comprising a U-shaped conduit means, a pump, and a heating means, wherein the conduit means is oriented vertically so that fluid moving through it is subjected to higher pressures at the bottom of the loop, heat is applied to fluid at the bottom of the loop by the heating means, and the pump moves the fluid through the conduit means at a flow rate that ensures sufficient heat is applied to the fluid for a sufficient period of time.