Regenerable draw solute for osmotically driven processes

1. A method of forward osmosis comprising:

(a) introducing a first solution having a first temperature on a first side of a semi-permeable membrane and a concentrated draw solution comprising an inorganic salt having a second temperature on a second side of the semi-permeable membrane;

(b) promoting flow of at least a portion of the first solution across the semi-permeable membrane to form a second solution on the first side of the semi-permeable membrane and a dilute draw solution on the second side of the semi-permeable membrane;

(c) introducing at least a portion of the dilute draw solution to a first separation operation at a third temperature to recover a hydrate of the inorganic salt and a solution stream;

(d) heating the hydrate of the inorganic salt to a fourth temperature to regenerate the concentrated draw solution; and

(e) reintroducing the concentrated draw solution to the second side of the semi-permeable membrane,

wherein:

the inorganic salt is selected from one or more of the group selected from sodium sulfate, calcium lactate, disodium phosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, and hydrates thereof;

the first temperature and the second temperature are greater than the third temperature;

when the solution stream comprises the inorganic salt, the solution stream is subjected to a further separation operation to provide a solvent stream and a hydrate of the inorganic salt; and

the further separation operation is an organic solvent-assisted extractive crystallisation to provide the hydrate of the inorganic salt and solvent mixture that is yet further separated to provide an organic solvent and the solvent stream.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inorganic salt is disodium phosphate or hydrates thereof.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the wherein the inorganic salt is disodium phosphate dodecahydrate.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inorganic salt is provided in the draw solution at a concentration of from 10 wt % to 50 wt %.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the inorganic salt is provided in the draw solution at a concentration of 40 wt %.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first and second temperatures are independently from 32° C. to 55° C.; and

the third temperature is from 0° C. to 30° C.

7. The method claim 1 , wherein the fourth temperature is from 40° C. to 55° C.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the organic solvent is added to the solution stream at a weight % ratio of from 20 wt % to 150 wt % relative to the solvent stream.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the organic solvent is selected from one or more of the group consisting of a ketone, an ester, an ether or an alcohol.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the organic solvent is acetone.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first solution is seawater, brackish water, brine, a municipal wastewater, a wastewater from the oil and gas industry or a wastewater from the mining industry.