Separation systems are described that may include forward osmosis (FO) membranes for offshore desalination and sulfate removal. The system may use submerged FO elements (e.g. operating underwater in the ocean). The system may use FO elements in combination with high-pressure reverse osmosis (RO) elements and processes. The system may use FO elements in combination with membrane distillation elements and processes. The system may create a suction and pressurized flow from a submerged FO membrane process to a reverse osmosis system on a platform, ship, or other offshore or “along shore” structure. The product water may be used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR).

The present invention relates to a process, methods and materials for generating fertilizers from seawater resources, especially in conjunction with seawater desalination plants. Here, we demonstrate that varying compositions of fertilizers such as nitrogen/potassium, nitrogen/phosphorus/potassium, nitrogen/potassium/sulfur, and nitrogen/phosphorus/potassium/sulfur, potassium/sulfur, potassium along with micro and secondary nutrients can directly be generated as part of the extraction process to meet the requirements of both starter and sustained phases of plant growth.

A water mass transfer process providing a method and system to benefit conversion of poor quality water to attain high quality feed water or make-up water for a boiler. Wherein a low volatile solute is imbued within the water of a boiler, sufficiently so the elevated osmotic pressure of the boiler water can serve as a draw solution for forward osmosis based extraction of clean, high quality make-up water from poor quality water sources.

According to one embodiment, an amine-containing water concentration system includes an osmotic pressure generator and a carbon dioxide introducing unit. The osmotic pressure generator includes a treatment vessel, a first chamber to which the water to be treated is supplied, a second chamber capable of storing a working medium, and a semipermeable membrane that partitions the first chamber and the second chamber, which are located in the treatment vessel. The carbon dioxide introducing unit is capable of introducing carbon dioxide into the water to be treated.

A method to reduce the generation of waste water comprising the steps of withdrawing a formation water stream from production equipment; introducing the formation water stream to a forward osmosis unit, where the forward osmosis unit comprises a semipermeable membrane, where the formation water stream is introduced to a draw side of the semipermeable membrane; withdrawing a surface water feed from a waste water collection pit, the surface water feed comprises water and contaminants; introducing the surface water feed to the forward osmosis unit, where the surface water feed is introduced to a feed side of the semipermeable membrane; separating the water in the surface water feed through the semipermeable membrane, where the water travels from the feed side to the draw side due to osmotic pressure; withdrawing a diluted stream from the draw side of the semipermeable membrane; and introducing the diluted stream to a water-oil separation plant.

The hybrid desalination system is a desalination system for seawater which uses both filtering and treatment from a reverse osmosis filter system as well as evaporative distillation for the production of potable water. The hybrid desalination system includes a recovery system, which may be a reverse osmosis system, a forward osmosis system, or a combination thereof, for at least partially desalinating a volume of saltwater and outputting a treated fluid. A boiler is in fluid communication with the recovery system for receiving the treated fluid and producing pure water by evaporative desalination. The boiler includes an internal heating coil for passing a heated working fluid therethrough. A collection tank is in communication with to the boiler for receiving the pure water. At least one solar parabolic trough is in fluid communication with the internal heating coil of the boiler for heating the heated working fluid.

The present invention offers a forward osmosis composite hollow fiber membrane module having hollow fiber bundles comprising a plurality of hollow fibers, the hollow fibers having a separation layer composed of a macromolecular polymer thin film provided on the inner surface of a microporous hollow fiber supporting membrane, wherein the membrane area of the hollow fiber bundle is at least 1 m.sup.2, and a variation coefficient for the average thickness of the separation layer in the radial direction and the lengthwise direction of the hollow fiber bundles, as calculated by a method of measuring the mass of the separation layer portion in a scanning electron microscope image of a cross section of the separation layer in the thickness direction, is 0% to 60%.

A water treatment device includes a sub-reverse osmosis membrane device having a primary casing and a primary reverse osmosis membrane dividing the primary casing into a primary liquid passing part and a primary permeating part; a low pressure water feed pump feeding seawater to the primary liquid passing part at a pressure that is equal to or lower than an osmotic pressure of the seawater; a main reverse osmosis membrane device having a secondary casing and a secondary reverse osmosis membrane dividing an inside of the secondary casing into a secondary liquid passing part and a secondary permeating part; and a high pressure water feed pump feeding a primary treated liquid, which is a resultant product of the seawater passing through and flowing out of the primary liquid passing part, to the secondary liquid passing part at a pressure higher than an osmotic pressure of the primary treated liquid.

The disclosure provides a solvent separation system and a solvent separation method using the solvent separation system.

A high salinity water purification system and process, including a forward osmosis system and a reverse osmosis or nanofiltration system. A concentrated brine of a zinc or iron complex combined with a salt or acid draws pure water across the FO membrane from the influent water. The diluted brine is pumped through a vessel holding an anionic adsorption media to remove the zinc or iron complex and the resultant brine is passed through the RO or nanofiltration system to obtain purified water and a concentrated brine stream. The adsorption media is regenerated by a rinse cycle using fresh water or water from the RO system, removing the zinc or iron complex adhered to the media. The resultant brine is stored and mixed with the output of the RO system.