The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 10, 2012
Filed:
Feb. 22, 2011
Tzahi Y. Cath, Reno, NV (US);
Amy E. Childress, Reno, NV (US);
Tzahi Y. Cath, Reno, NV (US);
Amy E. Childress, Reno, NV (US);
The Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education, Reno, NV (US);
Abstract
The present disclosure provides methods and systems for purifying liquids. In a particular implementation, the system includes a forward-osmosis unit for diluting a water source for a downstream desalination unit. A pretreatment unit may be located hydraulically upstream of the desalination unit, such as upstream or downstream of the forward-osmosis unit. In certain embodiments, the system includes an extraction unit for extracting a relatively easily extractable osmotic agent from an osmotic draw solution. The system may include one or more forward-osmosis units downstream of the desalination unit for diluting a concentrated brine stream produced by the desalination unit. In particular embodiments, a downstream forward-osmosis unit uses the concentrated brine stream as an osmotic agent, such as to extract water from seawater or brackish water. Another downstream forward-osmosis unit may use impaired water as a feed stream.