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 to concentrate solute 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 including with the use of a membrane device. The draw solute recovery may also include the use of multi-stage solute recovery using distillation columns and/or membranes, where the recovery may be assisted by a heat pump.
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