# US 2021/0275967 A1 · Osmotically driven membrane processes and systems and methods for draw solute recovery

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- Number: US 2021/0275967 A1
- Document ID: US20210275967A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/334,529
- Filed: 2017-09-27
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-27
- Assignees: Oasys Water, Inc.
- Applicants: Oasys Water LLC
- Inventors: Zachary W. GOODMAN
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210275967A1

## CPC

- B01D 61/005: {Osmotic agents; Draw solutions}
- B01D 3/145: {One step being separation by permeation}
- B01D 53/18: Absorbing units; Liquid distributors therefor (B01D3/16, B01D3/26, B01D3/30 take precedence; packing elements B01J19/30, B01J19/32)
- B01D 61/0022: {Apparatus therefor}
- B01D 61/0023: {Accessories; Auxiliary operations}
- B01D 61/0024: {Controlling or regulating}
- B01D 2311/08: Specific process operations in the concentrate stream
- B01D 2311/2626: Absorption or adsorption
- B01D 2311/2669: Distillation
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)

## Abstract

The invention relates to osmotically driven membrane processes and systems and methods for recovering draw solutes in the osmotically driven membrane processes. Osmotically driven membrane processes involve the extraction of a solvent from a first solution by using a second concentrated solution to draw the solvent from the first solution across a semi-permeable membrane. Draw solute recovery may be carried out by various means to recover and recycle draw solutes contained within a diluted second solution and obtain a product solvent.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for recovering draw solution solutes from a dilute draw solution, the apparatus comprising:
an osmotically driven membrane system comprising one or more forward osmosis membranes, wherein the osmotically driven membrane system is configured to introduce a feed solution to a first side of the membranes and a concentrated draw solution to a second side of the membranes and output a concentrated feed solution from the first sides of the membranes and the dilute draw solution from the second sides of the membranes; and
a separation system in fluid communication with the osmotically driven membrane system and configured to receive the concentrated feed solution and the dilute draw solution, the separation system comprising:
a first distillation apparatus in fluid communication with the second sides of the membranes and configured for receiving the dilute draw solution and outputting a first vaporized draw solute stream and a product solvent in response to the introduction of a source of thermal energy;
a second distillation apparatus in fluid communication with the first sides of the membranes and configured for receiving the concentrated feed solution and outputting a second vaporized draw solute stream and a further concentrated feed solution in response to the introduction of a source of thermal energy;
a condenser disposed downstream of and in fluid communication with the first and second distillation apparatus, the condenser configured for receiving the first and second vaporized draw solute streams and a cooling fluid and outputting an at least partially condensed draw solute stream comprising condensed and vaporized draw solutes;
a closed absorption system disposed downstream of and in fluid communication with the condenser and configured for receiving the vaporized portion of draw solutes and the condensed portion of draw solutes and outputting a re-concentrated draw solution stream for return to the osmotically driven membrane system, wherein the closed absorption system comprises an absorber comprising a column and a sump, and a recirculation loop comprising a fluid transfer device and a heat exchanger.