A metal coated polymer membrane, a method for the production thereof, an electrofiltration device, or an electrosorption device, and a method of electrofiltration and electrosorption using a metal coated polymer membrane. The polymer membrane is coated with metal using Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD).

A water purifier includes: a raw water flow path; a purified water flow path connected to the raw water flow path; at least one filter provided in the purified water flow path and to filter raw water flowing along the purified water flow path; a washing water flow path connected to the raw water flow path; a washing water generator configured to electrolyze the raw water to generate washing water; an optical sensor to output a value according to a degree of generation of bubbles included in the washing water; and a controller to control the washing water generator and at least one valve provided in at least one of the raw water flow path, the purified water flow path, and the washing water flow path to perform a washing operation, and identify whether an error has occurred in the washing operation based on an output from the optical sensor.

A method for generating a maintenance program for the operation of a maintenance system at a bioreactor, in particular a bioreactor of a vehicle for transporting persons, which method comprises at least the following steps, which are executed by an electronic data processing means associated with the maintenance system: acquiring system characteristics data of the maintenance system; acquiring reactor characteristics data of the bioreactor, the reactor characteristics data being received at least in part from a communication interface of the bioreactor; and generating the maintenance program at least on the basis of the system characteristics data and the reactor characteristics data.

Systems for treating wastewater containing organic nitrogen compounds are disclosed. The systems include a wet air oxidation unit having an oxidation zone, a catalytic zone, and a metal-based catalyst. Methods of treating wastewater containing organic nitrogen compounds are also disclosed. The methods include contacting the wastewater with an oxidant to produce a mixed liquor, contacting the mixed liquor with a metal-based catalyst to catalyze ammonia and produce a gas containing nitrogen and a liquid effluent containing nitrogen. Methods of retrofitting a wet air oxidation unit including providing a metal-based catalyst are also disclosed. Methods of facilitating treatment of wastewater in a wet air oxidation unit including providing a metal-based catalyst are also disclosed.

A method for treatment of wastewater includes passing influent wastewater through an anaerobic, anoxic, or bioelectrochemical bioreactor to produce an effluent. The membrane bioreactor includes a membrane with pores having a nominal pore size less than the smallest measured biopolymers and organic nanoparticles in the influent wastewater, thereby preventing them from entering and blocking membrane pores, and further comprising degrading dissolved organics smaller than 20 nm in the influent wastewater within the membrane bioreactor before entering membrane pores.

This reverse osmosis membrane processing method comprises adjusting processing-target water to a pH range of 4 to 8 and passing the water through a reverse osmosis membrane device. The reverse osmosis membrane processing method is characterized in that alkaline water having a pH of 9.5 or higher is brought into contact intermittently with the reverse osmosis membrane of the reverse osmosis membrane device. Raw water may be preprocessed with active carbon, or the like, to serve as the processing-target water. If the processing-target water has a pH of 9.5 or higher, this processing-target water may be used as the alkaline water.

The present disclosure is directed to filtering technologies that combine elements of continuous and batch NF/RO based on the constraints of the end-user facility to achieve a target balance between, for instance, recovery and power consumption, and to reduce long term operating cost of a plant. A method for extending batch operation into a second induction period with antiscalant injection is also disclosed herein, with the second induction period allowing for yet higher water recovery.

Perfluorinated and polyfluorinated compounds in an effluent stream are destroyed by means of electro-oxidation. Although electro-oxidation can be used to directly treat effluent, a more efficient use is to pre-concentrate applicable pollutants with filters or sorbents. Concentrated perfluorinated and polyfluorinated compounds are removed from the filter or sorbent with a regenerant solution and treated by electro-oxidation. A current density of 0.5 mA/cm.sup.2 or 1 mA/cm.sup.2 effectively reduces the level of perfluorinated contaminants within 1-3 hr. using a titanium electrode. This allows both the regenerant and filter or sorbent to be reused and greatly reduces the amount of material that must be treated as hazardous waste.

An apparatus and method for softening water are provided. The water softening system comprises a water softener apparatus comprising a tank designed to contain a resin bed and a water softener head coupled to the tank. The water softener head comprises at least one inlet, at least one outlet, a first channel in fluid communication with the first outlet, and a second channel in fluid communication with the first inlet. The water softening system includes at least one inlet water line for hard water and one outlet water line for softened water. A controller is provided and is configured to detect a first operating state of the water softening system, monitor the performance of the water softening system, and send instructions to at least one of the first valve and the second valve to change from a first operational state to a second operational state.

A water delivery control system operates to selectively deliver water from a water source to water use devices. The system includes at least one controller that wirelessly communicates messages with a portable user device. The system includes a water control valve and a motor that is operative to selectively move at least one valve element of the valve. A water meter is operative to measure water flow that corresponds to flow through the valve. The controller is operable to cause the valve to enable or prevent flow through the valve responsive at least in part to water flow data. The controller is operative to determine a water use condition responsive to a water usage pattern, and to cause at least one message to be sent to the portable user device responsive to the determined water use condition.