Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods for enhancing the performance and efficiency of separation processes. The methods include flowing a fluid through a processing zone defined by an antiferromagnetic portion of a conduit and, as the fluid flows through the processing zone, exposing the fluid to a magnetic field produced by oscillating electromagnetic waves, wherein the direction of the magnetic field is generally counter to the direction in which the fluid is flowing. The systems include magnetic treatment units, separation systems, and the like.

Apparatus, methods and uses for separating gas mixtures of at least two different gases under magnetic field and employing a membrane are described.

A method for separating ionic species from an analyte solution to form a fractionated sample, the method comprising contacting the analyte solution with an ion-exchanger that is selectively permeable to ionic species of either a positive or negative charge, contacting an opposing side of the ion-exchanger with a draw solution, wherein the draw solution comprises adsorber particles dispersed in a liquid carrier, establishing a concentration gradient across the ion-exchanger to allow at least some ionic species from the analyte solution to permeate through the ion-exchanger to the draw solution, adsorbing ionic species that permeate from the analyte solution onto the adsorber particles, separating adsorber particles having the ionic species adsorbed thereto from at least part of the draw solution, and eluting the ionic species from the separated adsorber particles to form a fractionated analyte sample comprising eluted ionic species.

Producing a resin from an organic waste product includes assessing a weight percent of a first volatile fatty acid and a weight percent of a second volatile fatty acid in a liquid mixture having volatile fatty acids from the organic waste product. The weight percent of the volatile fatty acids is based on the total weight of the carboxylic acids in the liquid mixture, the total weight of volatile fatty acids in the liquid mixture, or the total weight of lactic acid and volatile fatty acids in the mixture. A ratio of the weight percent of the first volatile fatty acid to the weight percent of the second volatile fatty acid in the liquid mixture is adjusted to yield a modified liquid mixture. The modified liquid is combined with polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing bacteria to yield a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer; and the polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer is extracted from the polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing bacteria.

This invention relates to a dual-layer, multifunctional hollow fiber membrane having at least two layers that perform two respective functions: 1) a layer that performs a separative function separating a solvent such as a liquid or gas from its solute species; and 2) a layer that performs the function of generating a magnetic field. The layer generating the magnetic field preferably has magnetic nano or micro particles embedded therein to attract, capture and/or position paramagnetic draw solute particles to maximize their osmotic effect.

A rotary filter system includes a drive device and a rotary filter device including a filter housing and a filter unit, the filter housing having an inlet and first and second outlets. The filter unit is in the filter housing and completely enclosed by the filter housing. The filter unit has a filter element delimiting a fluid space from a filtrate space, filtrate is discharged from the filtrate space through the first outlet. The filter unit includes a magnetically effective core in a disk-shaped or ring-shaped manner. The drive device has a drive housing in which a stator is disposed to drive the rotation of the filter unit. The stator is a bearing and drive stator which interacts with the magnetically effective core as an electromagnetic rotary drive, so that the filter unit is capable of being magnetically driven without contact and magnetically levitated with respect to the stator.

A forward or pressure retarded osmosis system using submerged hollow fiber membranes, a draw solution of superparamagnetic nanoparticles (preferably an iron oxide core with a silica shell that is chemically treated with a dispersant stabilizing it in a permanent suspension), that produces an osmotic pressure that drives fluid through the semipermeable membrane and a multiplicity of rigidly connected, permanent ring magnets forming layers, that maintains the locational position of the magnetic nanoparticles inside the hollow fiber membranes, preventing the draw solute particles from leaving membrane surface area. The various magnetic fields produced by the ring magnets attract the magnetic nanoparticles toward the surface area of the membrane preventing dilutive concentration polarization, thereby maximizing permeate flux rate.

Radiative heating and radiative feed modification systems and methods using microwave, radio frequency, magnetic field and ultrasound in membrane separation processes including membrane distillation (MD), reverse osmosis, forward osmosis and pervaporation are disclosed. Membrane distillation systems include at least one MD module, the MD module having at least one membrane, a feed inlet operable to receive a feed media and a feed outlet, and a radiative energy source operable to apply radiation to a feed media entering the feed inlet.

Apparatus, methods and uses for separating gas mixtures of at least two different gases under magnetic field and employing a membrane are described.

Producing a resin from an organic waste product includes assessing a weight percent of a first volatile fatty acid and a weight percent of a second volatile fatty acid in a liquid mixture having volatile fatty acids from the organic waste product. The weight percent of the volatile fatty acids is based on the total weight of the carboxylic acids in the liquid mixture, the total weight of volatile fatty acids in the liquid mixture, or the total weight of lactic acid and volatile fatty acids in the mixture. A ratio of the weight percent of the first volatile fatty acid to the weight percent of the second volatile fatty acid in the liquid mixture is adjusted to yield a modified liquid mixture. The modified liquid is combined with polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing bacteria to yield a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer; and the polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer is extracted from the polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing bacteria.