Abstract: A membrane which can be used in membrane filtration processes and which has a reduced tendency to fouling is a polysulphone or a plyether sulphone and a polyethylene oxide/polypropylene oxide substituted diamine and can be made by a phase inversion process in the presence of pore modifying agents such as an alcohol, glycerol or glycol to give a membrane which has a pore size of 0.1&mgr; to 1 micron and is hydrophilic.

Abstract: A filter coalescer cartridge for removing contaminants from a liquid comprises:(a) a first support at one end of the cartridge,(b) a second end support tending towards the other end of the cartridge,(c) a filter coalescer element comprising a plurality of aligned fibers or bundles of fibers, each fiber or bundle being secured at one end to one end support and at the other end to the other end support, and(d) a drive mechanism for relatively rotating and moving the end supports towards and away from each other to twist and compress and straighten and extend respectively the filter coalescer element.The cartridge gives good performance and is easily regenerated.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing contaminants from a liquid comprises a casing and a tubular filter dividing the casing into two compartments. The tubular filter is formed of fibers attached at each end to end supports which are movable axially relative to one another and rotable relative to one another about the longitudinal axis of the filter. A helical spring is disposed within the tubular filter and is so dimensioned that it does not close when the end supports are in their closest operational position. The spring resists inward movement of the fibers when the end supports are moved axially towards each other and rotated to twist the fiber, thereby preventing the compartment defined by the interior of the tubular filter from tending to close.