Methods and systems directed to recovery of lithium (e.g., lithium salts) from liquid streams are provided. In some embodiments, methods relate to obtaining lithium (e.g., as a solid lithium salt) by removing at least a portion of liquid from a feed stream to form a concentrated stream with respect to solubilized lithium cations. Liquid removal may include transporting at least a portion of the feed stream to an osmotic unit and/or a humidifier. Some methods include removing impurities (e.g., non-lithium cations) from the concentrated stream (e.g., via precipitation and/or crystallization). In some embodiments, solutions containing solubilized lithium cations and anions are electrochemically-treated such that first solubilized anions are replaced with second, different anions. In some embodiments, solid lithium salt containing at least a portion of the lithium cations and the second anions is obtained (e.g., via precipitation and/or crystallization following concentration of the electrochemically-treated solution in a humidifier).

Devices and methods herein remove water from human or animal biological waste fluids using one or more forward osmosis filters. The devices allow for the volume of liquid or semi-liquid waste, including potentially infectious liquid waste, to be filtered to reduce potential exposure of healthcare staff to infectious liquid waste. On a hospital, healthcare staff, or individual patient basis, removing water and concentrating the waste can reduce challenges in management and disposal of the waste. Devices herein use forward osmosis to manage and filter, using one or more suitably sized filter(s), biological fluid exudate from wounds. The devices can be constructed to transport water present in the exudate away from a wound. The wound treatment devices herein not only allow for fluid from wounds to be filtered but also provide structures that can protect wounds from external contaminants, including bacteria and viruses. The wound treatment devices can be incorporated into negative pressure wound therapy systems, if desired.

Devices and methods herein remove water from human or animal biological waste fluids using one or more forward osmosis filters. The devices allow for the volume of liquid or semi-liquid waste, including potentially infectious liquid waste, to be filtered to reduce potential exposure of healthcare staff to infectious liquid waste. On a hospital, healthcare staff, or individual patient basis, removing water and concentrating the waste can reduce challenges in management and disposal of the waste. Devices herein use forward osmosis to manage and filter, using one or more suitably sized filter(s), biological fluid exudate from wounds. The devices can be constructed to transport water present in the exudate away from a wound. The wound treatment devices herein not only allow for fluid from wounds to be filtered but also provide structures that can protect wounds from external contaminants, including bacteria and viruses. The wound treatment devices can be incorporated into negative pressure wound therapy systems, if desired.

A concentrated spent dialysate is produced for by reducing electrolytes in a spent dialysate by electrodialysis and de-watering the spent dialysate by a forward osmosis operation.

A hemodialysis treatment apparatus has an ultrafiltration unit for exchange of solutes of a patient's blood plasma and a dialysate, resulting in a stream of cleaned blood for returning to the patient and a stream of spent dialysate. An electrodialysis device reduces electrolytes in the spent dialysate. A forward osmosis unit with a membrane having a feed side and a draw side that is allows only water to permeate. A stream of spent dialysate from the ultrafiltration unit is in fluid communication with the feed side and a stream of concentrated dialysate is in fluid communication with the draw side. A stream of dialysate results. Blood plasma is pumped from the patient to the ultrafiltration unit.

Examples disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for controllably removing one or more solutes from a solution. Examples disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for removing water from alcoholic beverages.

A draw solute for forward osmosis membrane process, comprising an addition polymer obtained by addition polymerization of an alkylene oxide having 2 to 10 carbon atoms to an amine compound.

Forward osmosis membrane vessels, and particularly stackable forward osmosis membrane vessels, are provided as well as systems and methods thereof. The forward osmosis membrane vessel has a body, a strong draw solution chamber, a first and a second semipermeable membrane, and a brine chamber. The first and second semipermeable membranes each are disposed within the cavity of the body. The first and second semipermeable membranes are configured to produce diluted draw solution streams and brine streams. The brine chamber is disposed at least partially between the first semipermeable membrane and the second semipermeable membrane. The forward osmosis membrane vessel may be configured such that in a stacked configuration the brine chamber and the strong draw solution chamber of the forward osmosis membrane vessel aligns with a brine chamber and a strong draw solution chamber of an adjacent second forward osmosis membrane vessel.

A precipitation system for precipitating the target component is provided. The precipitation system includes: a reverse osmosis module; a precipitation device; a membrane separation device that includes a semipermeable membrane module including a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a semipermeable membrane, and that makes the feed solution after precipitation of the target component in the precipitation device flow to each of the first chamber and the second chamber and pressurizes the feed solution in the first chamber to transfer water into the second chamber via the semipermeable membrane and thereby concentrate the feed solution in the first chamber and dilute the feed solution in the second chamber; first return means for returning the feed solution concentrated in the membrane separation device to the precipitation device; and second return means for returning the feed solution diluted in the membrane separation device to the reverse osmosis module.

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 forward osmosis system is disclosed which use a polymer switchable between a neutral form and an ionized form. The switchable polymer has a higher osmotic pressure at the ionized form than the neutral form, the ratio between the former and the latter is ≥2. There is also disclosed a method for treating the polymer such that the ratio is improved. Use of polymers for forward osmosis is also disclosed.