The present disclosure relates to a novel improved method for continuous crystallization of highly crystalline clathrate hydrates. The novel improved method utilizes a novel hydrator capable of overcoming heat and mass transfer limitations that usually constrain crystallization rate and thus reduces process productivity. The disclosed method and hydrator are for production of crystalline clathrates in general, CO.sub.2 capture, capture of other clathrate forming compounds, CO.sub.2 storage and transportation, storage and transportation of any clathrate forming compound in a solid lattice, gas separation or water desalination or purification purposes.

A device for preparing high-purity hydrogen and/or oxygen by electrolyzing water, including an electrolyzer and a degasser for degassing desalted water. The degasser is located at the upstream of the electrolyzer. After desalted water is heated and degassed in the degasser, the content of gaseous impurities, particularly argon, can be reduced to several ppb (weight ratio). The hydrogen and oxygen generated after the desalted and degassed water is electrolyzed in the electrolyzer also contain an extremely small amount of argon, so that the requirements in semiconductor industry are met. Also involved is a method of preparing high-purity hydrogen and/or oxygen by using the device.

Disclosed is a method for treating water, including the extraction of at least two ionic species, the ionic species including an anionic species and a cationic species and being present in the water to be treated, the method especially including a step of mixing a liquid hydrophobic organic phase and the water to be treated, the water to be treated being in the liquid state, in order to subsequently obtain liquid treated water and a hydrophobic liquid organic phase loaded with the ionic species, and a step of thermal regeneration of the organic phase loaded with chemical species. Also disclosed are compounds and compositions that can be used in the method.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for carbon dioxide removal and sequestration from ambient air or point source emissions by integration of four self-sufficient systems including a PEO renewable energy generation system, a desalination system, a pH-swing hydration or a direct hydration system, and a bicarbonate fixed, and alkalinity enhanced dense brine sequestration system, in which, the synergy between the PEO energy generation system and other three systems including provision of all needed renewable energy for operation of other three systems, the synergy between the desalination and other systems including provision of freshwater needed for the PEO energy generation system and the pH-swing system, as well as provision of a dense brine fluid from the desalination system to the pH-swing or the direct hydration system, and in the case of available freshwater supply where the desalination system can be avoided.

An ion removal device based on electrochemical and photoelectrochemical methods, and the application of energy conversion and storage are provided. In the ion removal process based on the electrochemical and photoelectrochemical fluidization battery device, the positive active material in the flow battery is the positive pole of device, the negative active material in the fluid battery is the negative pole of the device, and the salt solution is the electrolyte in the middle stream. The positive and negative active materials include organic materials such as 4-hydroxy-piperidinol oxide, riboflavin sodium phosphate or methyl viologen, which have the advantages of low raw material cost, environmental friendliness, high sustainability, excellent electrochemical performance, high specific capacity and good cycle stability etc. The electrolyte can be separated from the positive and negative active liquid flow materials according to the fixed sequence of self-assembly of fluid battery mold.

Disclosed is a system and method for cooperatively treating water and gas to reduce pollutants and carbon emission. The system includes a flue gas pre-treatment unit, a wastewater pre-treatment unit, a gas-water cooperative cleaning unit, a remaining water treatment unit, and a circulating cooling evaporation unit.

A system for distilling water is disclosed. The system comprises a heat source, and a plurality of open-cycle adsorption stages, each stage comprising a plurality of beds and an evaporator and a condenser between a first bed and a second bed, wherein each bed comprises at least two vapor valves, a plurality of hollow tubes, a plurality of channels adapted for transferring water vapor to and from at least one of the condenser or the evaporator, a thermally conductive water vapor adsorbent, and wherein each vapor valve connects a bed to either the condenser or the evaporator.

Liquid solution concentration methods and related systems involving osmosis units and energy recovery are generally described. In some embodiments, an osmotic system has a pump, a first reverse osmosis unit, a second reverse osmosis unit, and one or more energy recovery devices. Various embodiments are directed to features such as balancing streams, recirculation streams, and/or valving that alone or in combination may afford improved energy efficiency and/or system performance. Some embodiments may improve performance of certain types of energy recovery devices in combination with osmosis units, such as isobaric or turbine energy recovery devices.

Provided are direct solvent contact crystallization devices and methods. A direct solvent contact crystallization device can comprises a first liquid-liquid separator comprising an inlet stream comprising 10-35 wt. % salt and a first outlet stream comprising water and a solvent; a second liquid-liquid separator comprising an inlet stream comprising the first outlet stream of the first liquid-liquid separator and a first outlet stream comprising 95 wt. % or greater water; and a separation unit comprising an inlet stream comprising a second outlet stream of the second liquid-liquid separator, a first outlet stream comprising the solvent, and a second outlet stream comprising a recovery agent, wherein the inlet stream of the first liquid-liquid separator comprises the first outlet stream of the separation unit, and the inlet stream of the second liquid-liquid separator comprises the second outlet stream of the separation unit.

A water purifying and desalination system includes solar concentrators that receive a sunlight and direct the sunlight toward a collection element. The collection element absorbs and converts a solar radiation into thermal energy. A superheater tube enclosed by the heat collection element controls volume flow that partially fills the superheater tube with processed ocean water, which allows steam to escape into a portion of the superheater tube that generates electricity and additional processed ocean water.