Abstract: Disclosed herein are static mixer assemblies, and related methods of fabrication and use. The disclosure provides advantageous static mixer assemblies, and improved systems/methods for utilizing and/or fabricating the static mixer assemblies. The disclosure provides static mixer assemblies fabricated at least in part by additive manufacturing (e.g., via a 3D printing process, such as, for example, via a fused deposition modeling (“FDM”) process), and related methods of use. The static mixer assemblies of the present disclosure can be particularly well-suited for applications such as, without limitation, high performance liquid chromatography (“HPLC”) applications. The additive manufacturing or 3D printing processes (e.g., FDM or LAMT techniques) as described herein can be used to manufacture static mixer assemblies with complex shapes/designs (e.g., and that are highly effective yet small in shape).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides advantageous selectable media filter and sparger assemblies, and improved systems/methods for utilizing and/or fabricating the selectable media filter and sparger assemblies. More particularly, the present disclosure provides selectable media filter and sparger assemblies fabricated at least in part by additive manufacturing (e.g., via a 3D printing process, such as, for example, via a laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process, via an electron-beam melting (“EBM”) process, via an inkjet or a binder-jet additive manufacturing process, etc.), the selectable media filter and sparger assemblies including a plurality of filtration and/or sparging members attached to a single housing, with each filtration/sparging member having an independent connection port.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a bioreactor comprising a vessel comprising; a first tube for transporting retentate to a retentate receiving tank; a second tube that surrounds the first tube for transporting a permeate to a permeate receiving tank; and a third tube that surrounds the second tube; wherein the third tube is in fluid communication with a sparger; and wherein the third tube transports a fluid that sparges a biological broth disposed in the vessel and wherein a membrane that separates the first tube from the second tube separates the biological broth into the permeate and the retentate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a porous membrane comprising a porous substrate; a porous ceramic coating disposed on the porous substrate; where an average pore size of pores in the porous substrate are larger than an average pore size of pores in the porous coating. Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a porous membrane comprising disposing upon a porous substrate a porous ceramic coating, where the porous ceramic coating has an average pore size that is less than an average pore size of the porous substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are advantageous phase separator devices, and related methods of fabrication and use thereof. The present disclosure provides improved phase separator devices for phase separation of feedstreams, and improved systems/methods for utilizing and fabricating the phase separator devices. More particularly, the present disclosure provides porous (e.g., three-dimensional gradient porous) phase separator devices for phase separation of fluid mixtures (e.g., to separate a two-phase fluid mixture) to a first fluid phase flow (e.g., to a liquid flow) and to a second fluid phase flow (e.g., to a gas flow). At least a portion of the phase separator devices of the present disclosure can be fabricated via machining, powder metallurgy (e.g., sintering), and/or produced utilizing additive manufacturing techniques.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the field of filtration. In particular, the present disclosure relates to filtration devices, systems and methods for high flowrates and low pressure differentials through porous bodies of metal fiber media.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dual density disc comprising a dense outer tube comprising alumina having a purity of greater than 99%; and a porous core comprising alumina of a lower density than a density of the dense outer tube; wherein the porous core has an alumina purity of greater than 99%. Disclosed herein too is method comprising disposing in a dense outer tube a slurry comprising alumina powder and a pore former; heating the dense outer tube with the slurry disposed therein to a temperature of 300 to 600° C. to activate the pore former; creating a porous core in the dense outer tube; and sintering the dense outer tube with the porous core at a temperature of 800 to 2000° C. in one or more stages.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a bio-resistant article comprising a porous metal substrate; a self-assembled monolayer disposed on the substrate; wherein the self-assembled monolayer comprises a coupling agent that has a first end that is reactively bonded to the porous metal substrate and a second end that is reactively bonded to a zwitterionic polymer. Disclosed herein too is a method comprising disposing upon a porous metal substrate a self-assembled monolayer; and bonding the zwitterionic polymer to the self-assembled monolayer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are decanting backwash receiver assemblies, and related methods of fabrication and use. The present disclosure provides improved decanting backwash receiver assemblies for decanting of input feeds, and improved systems/methods for utilizing and fabricating the decanting backwash receiver assemblies. The present disclosure provides decanting backwash receiver assemblies utilizing porous media insert members and/or porous media surfaces for the decanting of input feeds. Exemplary decanting backwash receiver assemblies are configured and dimensioned to receive a filter backwash surge flow of slurry (e.g., solids and liquid mixture), and provide for settling of the solids from flow 11, and provide for decanting of a liquid layer above the settled solids, and optionally provide for de wetting the settled solids, and provide for discharge of the settled solids (e.g., liquid wetted) from the bottom of the assemblies.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are phase separator devices, and related methods of fabrication and use. The disclosure provides improved phase separator devices for phase separation of input feeds, and systems/methods for utilizing and fabricating the devices. The disclosure provides phase separator devices utilizing inertial separation and porous media extraction for the phase separation of two-phase input feeds (e.g., to separate an input feed of a two-phase mixture to a first phase output (e.g., to a liquid output flow) and to a second phase output (e.g., to a gas output flow)). The device can separate a mixed fluid flow of both liquid and gases. The liquid and gas can include liquid and vapor phases of the same chemical/constituent (e.g., ammonia), or may include liquid and gases of two different constituents (e.g., liquid water and air). The phase separator devices can be utilized at standard gravity to micro-gravity to zero gravity environments.

Abstract: A static mixer device comprising a housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and an opening extending between the proximal and distal ends. In certain embodiments, a plurality of metal frits is positioned within the opening of the housing, each of the metal frits extending across a cross-sectional dimension of the opening and having interconnected porosity. In other embodiments, one or more mixer elements fabricated using laser additive manufacturing technology and having novel configurations are positioned within the opening of the housing. In yet other embodiments, the housing comprises multiple openings having different diameters from each other, with each opening either extending through the housing with a constant diameter or with one or more of the openings having a varying diameter.

Abstract: Sintered fiber filters are provided that can afford high particle capture efficiency and/or low pressure drop during operation, and are useful in applications such as semiconductor processing. The shape of at least a portion of the individual fibers (e.g., metal fibers) used to make the filter have a three-dimensional aspect, which allows for a low packing density and high porosity filtration media. Certain filters have a cylindrical or tube-like shape with tapered ends of higher density. Methods of making such filters, for example, using axial pressing, are also described.

Abstract: A composite structure includes a substrate with pores of a first mean pore size and a coating on at least one surface of that substrate. This coating has pores of a second mean pore size where the first mean pore size is equal to or greater than said second mean pore size. When the pore size of the coating is effective to capture particulate greater than 0.2 micron, the composite may be formed into a filter effective to remove microbes from a fluid medium. One method to form the porous coating on the substrate includes: (1) forming a suspension of sinterable particles in a carrier fluid and containing the suspension in a reservoir; (2) maintaining the suspension by agitation; (3) transferring the suspension to an ultrasonic spray nozzle; (4) applying a first coating of the suspension to the substrate; and (5) sintering the sinterable particles to the substrate.

Abstract: A composite structure includes a substrate with pores of a first mean pore size and a coating on at least one surface of that substrate. This coating has pores of a second mean pore size where the first mean pore size is equal to or greater than said second mean pore size. When the pore size of the coating is effective to capture particulate greater than 0.2 micron, the composite may be formed into a filter effective to remove microbes from a fluid medium. One method to form the porous coating on the substrate includes the steps of: (a) forming a suspension of sinterable particles in a carrier fluid and containing the suspension in a reservoir; (b) maintaining the suspension by agitation in the reservoir; (c) immersing the substrate in the reservoir; (c) applying a first coating of the suspension to the substrate; (d) removing the substrate with the applied first coating from the reservoir; and (e) sintering the sinterable particles to the substrate thereby forming a coated substrate.

Abstract: Sintered fiber filters are provided that can afford high particle capture efficiency and/or low pressure drop during operation, and are useful in applications such as semiconductor processing. The shape of at least a portion of the individual fibers (e.g., metal fibers) used to make the filter have a three-dimensional aspect, which allows for a low packing density and high porosity filtration media. Certain filters have a cylindrical or tube-like shape with tapered ends of higher density. Methods of making such filters, for example, using axial pressing, are also described.

Abstract: Sintered fiber filters are provided that can afford high particle capture efficiency and/or low pressure drop during operation, and are useful in applications such as semiconductor processing. The shape of at least a portion of the individual fibers (e.g., metal fibers) used to make the filter have a three-dimensional aspect, which allows for a low packing density and high porosity filtration media. Certain filters have a cylindrical or tube-like shape with tapered ends of higher density. Methods of making such filters, for example, using axial pressing, are also described.

Abstract: Sintered fiber filters are provided that can afford high particle capture efficiency and/or low pressure drop during operation, and are useful in applications such as semiconductor processing. The shape of at least a portion of the individual fibers (e.g., metal fibers) used to make the filter have a three-dimensional aspect, which allows for a low packing density and high porosity filtration media. Certain filters have a cylindrical or tube-like shape with tapered ends of higher density. Methods of making such filters, for example, using axial pressing, are also described.

Abstract: A composite structure includes a substrate with pores of a first mean pore size and a coating on at least one surface of that substrate. This coating has pores of a second mean pore size where the first mean pore size is equal to or greater than said second mean pore size. When the pore size of the coating is effective to capture particulate greater than 0.2 micron, the composite may be formed into a filter effective to remove microbes from a fluid medium. One method to form the porous coating on the substrate includes: (1) forming a suspension of sinterable particles in a carrier fluid and containing the suspension in a reservoir; (2) maintaining the suspension by agitation; (3) transferring the suspension to an ultrasonic spray nozzle; (4) applying a first coating of the suspension to the substrate; and (5) sintering the sinterable particles to the substrate.

Abstract: Sintered fiber filters are provided that can afford high particle capture efficiency and/or low pressure drop during operation, and are useful in applications such as semiconductor processing. The shape of at least a portion of the individual fibers (e.g., metal fibers) used to make the filter have a three-dimensional aspect, which allows for a low packing density and high porosity filtration media. Certain filters have a cylindrical or tube-like shape with tapered ends of higher density. Methods of making such filters, for example, using axial pressing, are also described.

Abstract: A plenum based high-pressure blowback gas delivery system is provided. The system includes a filter vessel, divided into two portions, including and inlet and outlet for fluid. The system further includes a plurality of filter elements to filter fluid flowing from the first vessel portion into the second vessel portion. In response to a pressure differential caused by accretion of particulate matter on the filter elements a uniform flow of high-pressure blowback gas is delivered to the filter elements via nozzles attached to plenums contained within the second vessel portion.