A method of separating material, such as foam, sludge, oil or grease, at a fluid's surface, by applying acoustic pressure shock waves to the material and the fluid's surface such that acoustic pressure shock waves are propagated in liquid medium of the fluid and in gas medium above the fluid surface.

Provided herein is a universally applicable biofouling mitigation technology using acoustically excited encapsulated microbubbles that disrupt biofilm or biofilm formation. For example, a method of reducing biofilm formation or removing biofilm in a membrane filtration system is provided in which a feed solution comprising encapsulated microbubbles is provided to the membrane under conditions that allow the encapsulated microbubbles to embed in a biofilm. Sonication of the embedded, encapsulated microbubbles disrupts the biofilm. Thus, provided herein is a membrane filtration system for performing the methods and encapsulated microbubbles specifically selected for binding to extracellular polymeric substances (EFS) in a biofilm.

A method of separating heavy water from normal through application of acoustic pressure shock waves to a fluid including heavy water and normal water and recovering separated normal water.

Provided herein is a universally applicable biofouling mitigation technology using acoustically excited encapsulated microbubbles that disrupt biofilm or biofilm formation. For example, a method of reducing biofilm formation or removing biofilm in a membrane filtration system is provided in which a feed solution comprising encapsulated microbubbles is provided to the membrane under conditions that allow the encapsulated microbubbles to embed in a biofilm. Sonication of the embedded, encapsulated microbubbles disrupts the biofilm. Thus, provided herein is a membrane filtration system for performing the methods and encapsulated microbubbles specifically selected for binding to extracellular polymeric substances (EFS) in a biofilm.

A method of separating material, such as foam, sludge, oil or grease, at a fluid's surface, by applying acoustic pressure shock waves to the material and the fluid's surface such that acoustic pressure shock waves are propagated in liquid medium of the fluid and in gas medium above the fluid surface.

A method of activating and dewatering sludge through application of acoustic pressure shock waves to wastewater.

Acoustic pressure shock waves are applied to a membrane in a fluid to prevent attachment of or dislodge biological or solid matter for membrane cleaning or desalination with a membrane.

An isolation device includes an isolation chip, a pressing assembly, two ultrasonic generators, a differential pressure driving system, a frequency conversion module, and a controller. The isolation chip includes a sample reservoir, a first chamber, and a second chamber. The pressing assembly drives the two ultrasonic generators to move towards the isolation chip to make in contact with the first and second chambers. The frequency conversion module controls the differential pressure driving system to generate a negative pressure in the first and second chambers alternately. The controller controls the two ultrasonic generators to generate two ultrasonic waves when negative pressures are cancelled in the first and second chambers. An isolation method is also disclosed.

A method of desalinating water through application of acoustic pressure shock waves to a slush to separate ice crystals from brine and recovering desalinated water from the separated ice crystals.

A device hereof includes a first volume for flow of a first fluid therethrough, a second volume for flow of a second fluid therethrough, a membrane separating the first volume from the second volume, which is permeable to transfer/exchange of at least one component between the first volume and the second volume and a drive system or actuator system to induce oscillation in the membrane.