Provided herein are osmotic desalination methods and associated systems. According to certain embodiments, multiple osmotic membranes may be used to perform a series of osmosis steps, such that an output stream having a relatively high water purity—compared to a water purity of an aqueous feed stream—is produced. In some embodiments, multiple draw streams can be used to produce aqueous product streams having sequentially higher purities of water. Certain embodiments are related to osmotic desalination systems and methods in which forward osmosis is used to produce a first product stream having a relatively high water purity relative to an aqueous feed stream, and reverse osmosis is used to perform a second step (and/or additional steps) on the first product stream. In some embodiments, multiple reverse osmosis steps can be used in series to perform a net desalination process.

An aqueous feed stream having a first total dissolved solids (TDS) level is flowed to a forward osmosis separator. The aqueous feed stream includes seawater. An aqueous draw stream having a second TDS level is flowed to the forward osmosis separator. The second TDS level is greater than the first TDS level. A disposal stream and an injection fluid stream is produced by the forward osmosis separator by allowing water to pass from the aqueous feed stream to the aqueous draw stream through a membrane of the forward osmosis separator based on a difference between the first TDS level and the seconds TDS level. The injection fluid stream is flowed from the osmosis separator to a subterranean formation.

A desalination and cooling system includes a single effect water-lithium bromide vapor absorption cycle (VAC) system and a forward osmosis with thermal-recovery (FO-TR) desalination system. The FO system employs a Thermo-Responsive Draw Solution (TRDS) Fresh water flows from the FS to the TRDS without application of pressure on the saline water. Afterwards, only thermal energy is required to extract fresh water from the TRDS and recover or regenerate the draw solution. The VAC system serves as a cooling source for cooling or air conditioning applications, generating waste heat as a result. The waste heat generated by the VAC system provides the thermal energy needed to recover the draw solution (DS). The VAC system can be powered by low-grade heat sources like solar thermal energy.

A system for treating whole stillage includes a stillage tank, a separation system in communication with the stillage tank and configured to separate the whole stillage into a wet cake portion and a thin stillage portion, and a primary filtration system in communication with the separation system. The primary filtration system can be configured to separate the thin stillage into a primary concentrate and a primary permeate. A secondary filtration system in communication with the primary filtration system can be configured to further purify the primary permeate. A water reclamation system in communication with the primary and/or secondary filtration system can remove water from the permeate. An additive can be added to the primary permeate to precipitate phosphorus-containing minerals and corn oil can be advantageously extracted from the primary concentrate. Protein-enriched animal feeds can be generated from dehydration of the primary concentrate.

Provided herein is forward osmosis-based water purification process, that includes contacting a solution of a soluble draw agent with a dehydrated insoluble draw agent, separating the now hydrated insoluble draw agent from the now concentrated draw solution, and exerting a stimulus on the hydrated insoluble draw agent for extracting water therefrom, thereby regenerating a dehydrated insoluble draw agent, wherein the osmotic concentration (osmolality) of the insoluble draw agent is greater than the osmotic concentration of the diluted draw solution, and the insoluble draw agent is impermeable to the soluble draw agent.

Provided are metal oxide ceramic materials and intermediate materials thereof (e.g., nanozirconia gels, nanozirconia green bodies, pre-sintered ceramic bodies, zirconia dental ceramic materials, and dental articles). The nanozirconia gels are formable gels. Also provided are methods of making and using the metal oxide materials and intermediate materials. The nanozirconia gels can be made using, for example, osmotic processing. The nanozirconia gels can be used to make nanozirconia green bodies, pre-sintered ceramic bodies, zirconia dental ceramic materials, and dental article. The nanozirconia green bodies, pre-sintered ceramic bodies, zirconia dental ceramic materials, and dental articles have desirable properties (e.g., optical properties and mechanical properties).

Provided are metal oxide ceramic materials and intermediate materials thereof (e.g., nanozirconia gels, nanozirconia green bodies, pre-sintered ceramic bodies, zirconia dental ceramic materials, and dental articles). The nanozirconia gels are formable gels. Also provided are methods of making and using the metal oxide materials and intermediate materials. The nanozirconia gels can be made using, for example, osmotic processing. The nanozirconia gels can be used to make nanozirconia green bodies, pre-sintered ceramic bodies, zirconia dental ceramic materials, and dental article. The nanozirconia green bodies, pre-sintered ceramic bodies, zirconia dental ceramic materials, and dental articles have desirable properties (e.g., optical properties and mechanical properties).

An extracted material for forward osmosis is provided. The extracted material includes a first ionic compound, a second ionic compound and a third ionic compound, which are represented by formula {K[A.sup.+(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)(R.sup.3)].sub.p}(X.sup.−).sub.c(Y.sup.−).sub.d. X.sup.− is the same as Y.sup.− in the first ionic compound. X.sup.− is the same as Y.sup.− in the second ionic compound. X.sup.− in the first ionic compound is different from X.sup.− in the second ionic compound. X.sup.− differs from Y.sup.− in the third ionic compound. X.sup.− in the third ionic compound is the same as X.sup.− in the first ionic compound or X.sup.− in the second ionic compound. Y.sup.− in the third ionic compound is the same as Y.sup.− in the first ionic compound or Y.sup.− in the second ionic compound. A method for preparing an extracted material and a forward-osmosis water desalination system using the same are also provided.

A working medium includes a first amine compound and a second amine compound. The first amine compound is a heterocyclic tertiary amine compound including a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom and a hydrogen atom, and in which a ratio (C/N ratio) of a carbon atom number to a nitrogen atom number included in one molecule is from 7 to 9. The second amine compound is a heterocyclic tertiary amine compound including a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom and a hydrogen atom. and in which a ratio (C/N ratio) of a carbon atom number to a nitrogen atom number included in one molecule is in a range of 5 or more to less than 7.

A wastewater treatment system is provided for improving the efficiency of existing wastewater treatment plants. In accordance with aspects and embodiments, a wastewater system having a source of wastewater, an effluent, a sludge, a first basin configured to receive the wastewater, and a second basin, in fluid communication with the first basin and configured to receive sludge, may be retrofitted with a closed loop working fluid system. A first membrane system may be arranged in the first basin and a second membrane system may be arranged in the second basin, and a working fluid containing a concentration of at least one solute may be pumped through the first and second membrane systems in a closed loop to enhance overall plant efficiency.