Abstract: A diffusiophoretic water filtration device includes a diffusiophoretic flow chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the flow chamber for receiving the colloidal suspension at the inlet from the inlet manifold, and passing the colloidal suspension between the inlet and at least one outlet in a flow direction; the flow chamber having a removable and reassemblable cover defining a boundary of the diffusiophoretic flow chamber.

Abstract: A wearable ultrafiltration apparatus is provided. The apparatus can include a first ultrafilter for filtering a patient's blood along a first fluid path and a second ultrafilter for filtering the patient's blood along a second fluid path. The apparatus can also include a valve being positionable in a first position for directing the patient's blood along the first fluid path. The valve can also be positioned in a second position for directing the patient's blood along the second fluid path. When the valve is in the first position, blood can flow along the first fluid path and prevent blood from flowing along the second fluid path. When the valve is in the second position, blood can flow along the second fluid path and prevent blood from flowing along the first fluid path. When the valve is in the first position, the second ultrafilter can be idle and capable of being serviced or replaced and when the valve is in the second position, the first ultrafilter can be idle and capable of being serviced or replaced.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a membrane bioreactor for strengthening membrane fouling control and method thereof. The embodiments may solve problems associated with existing techniques in the field of water treatment. The membrane bioreactor may include a reactor wall, a membrane element, a collecting pipe, a water collecting pipe, a vacuum table, a suction pump, a cleaning unit, an air compressor, an aeration pipe, an aeration head, an inlet pipe, and a drain pipe. The existing techniques related to membrane fouling control has problems such as complexity to operate, difficulties to clean online, and uses of chemicals, which may cause secondary pollution. The embodiments relate to a device that includes a set of automatic mechanical transmission units.

Abstract: In a first membrane filtration module comprises a membrane module comprising a plurality of permeable hollow membranes; a fluid distribution device adapted to removably surround at least a portion of the membranes of the membrane module, the fluid distribution device comprising a plurality of through-hole openings for distributing a fluid, and the fluid distribution device adapted to distribute a flow of fluid along a surface of the permeable hollow membranes. In a second membrane filtration device comprises a membrane module comprising a plurality of permeable hollow membranes, each of the permeable hollow membranes having a surface; and a gas distribution device: adapted to distribute gas bubbles to the surface of the permeable hollow membrane, adapted to removably surround at least a portion of the plurality of permeable hollow membranes, and defining a plurality of through openings for distributing the gas bubbles to the membranes.

Abstract: A blood purification apparatus includes a blood circuit, a dialyzer capable of purifying the blood flowing through the blood circuit, a blood pump provided to an arterial blood circuit and that delivers the blood in the blood circuit, and an air-trap chamber capable of collecting air in the blood flowing through the blood circuit. A peristaltic pump (a substitution-fluid-infusion device) that is capable of infusing a substitution fluid is connected to the air-trap chamber. A substitution fluid layer is formable on a blood layer in the air-trap chamber. The air-trap chamber is provided with a blood-interface-detecting device that is capable of detecting an interface between the blood layer and the substitution fluid layer that are formed in the air-trap chamber. A lack of substitution fluid in the air-trap chamber is detectable on the basis of the interface between the blood layer and the substitution fluid layer that is detected by the blood-interface-detecting device.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced porous hollow fiber membrane comprising a hollow fiber membrane and a reinforcing fiber completely or partially embedded in the hollow fiber membrane; wherein the reinforcing fiber is placed in a portion that does not exceed 90%, preferably 80%, of the thickness of the hollow fiber membrane as viewed from an inner or outer peripheral surface of the hollow fiber membrane on a side that is not a side of the porous hollow fiber membrane to come in contact with an object to be treated, and preferably at least 50 volume % of the cross section of the reinforcing fiber is embedded in the hollow fiber membrane. The obtained fiber-reinforced porous hollow fiber membrane has excellent permeability, separation performance, and mechanical properties.

Abstract: Separation processes using osmotically driven membrane systems are disclosed generally involving the extraction of 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.

Abstract: A composite hollow fiber membrane having improved water permeability and peel strength and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The composite hollow fiber membrane includes a tubular polymer membrane having an outer surface and an inner surface, and a tubular braid disposed between the outer surface and the inner surface of the tubular polymer membrane, the tubular braid comprises a plurality of yarns, each of the yarns includes first multifilaments and second multifilaments, each of the first multifilaments includes a plurality of first monofilaments having fineness of 3 to 50 denier, and each of the second multifilaments includes a plurality of second monofilaments having fineness of 0.4 to 3 denier.

Abstract: A filter element for filtration of fuel is disclosed. In an embodiment the filter element comprises a first filter stage surrounding at least a majority of an open central volume; a second filter stage disposed within the first stage and surrounding at least a majority of the open central volume; and at least a one hydrophobic filter stage disposed downstream of the second stage.

Abstract: A cartridge is provided for dialysis or other blood processing therapy. In the cartridge, fibers may be substantially uniformly distributed near a midplane, but near an end, in the inter fiber space, there may be void flow channels, which may cause fluid flow in the inter fiber space to transition within a short region to uniform flow with minimal stagnation zones. Void flow channels may be be radially oriented, introducing fluid from the outer circumference, or axially oriented, introducing fluid along the axial direction through passageways through the potting material. The fluid flow in the inter fiber space may be perpendicular to the fibers, or radial with respect to a cartridge longitudinal axis. The cartridge may have blood flow in the inter fiber space, and flow of dialysate or ultrafiltrate in the lumens of the fibers, or the opposite situation.

Abstract: Presented herein are membranes for use in separating solids including salts from water. One application of such membranes is in a sub-surface irrigation system that that utilizes a saline or tainted water as a feed source. In various embodiments, the membranes operate on a solution diffusion principle. In other embodiments the membranes operate on an ultrafiltration principle and/or a solution diffusion principle. In any embodiment, the membranes operate similar to pervaporation membranes suitable for non-pressure driven systems. The membranes are designed to provide increased flux rate while separating solids such as salts from water.

Abstract: A portable liquid-filtration device includes an inlet port, a filtering portion including a filtering medium and fluidly coupled to the inlet port, a filtered-liquid output port fluidly coupled to the filtering portion, a flush port fluidly coupled to the filtering portion, and a manually activated pump assembly fluidly coupled to the inlet port, filtering portion, output port and flush port. The pump assembly is configured, when activated, to create a negative fluid pressure at the inlet port and a positive fluid pressure at the output port and the flush port. As a consequence of activation of the pump assembly, the filtering portion receives unfiltered liquid from the inlet port, the output port receives from the filtering portion only liquid traversing the filtering medium in a first direction, and the flush port receives from the filtering portion liquid traversing the filtering medium in a second direction different from the first direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for separating blood and at the same time an apparatus (1) for absorbing blood (19) and separating components such as blood plasma, as a sample liquid (2), having a feed device (13) for receiving the blood (2), a separating device (15) for separating blood components as the sample liquid (2), a channel (3) which takes up the sample liquid (2) preferably exclusively by capillary forces and a fill device for filling the channel (3) with sample liquid (2) in an inlet or feed region (18) of the channel (3), wherein the separating device (15), particularly a membrane, is domed, more particularly convexly shaped and projects with the apex of the convex shape into the filling device in the direction of filling.

Abstract: Algae harvesting and cultivating systems and methods for producing high concentrations of algae product with minimal energy. In an embodiment, a dead-end filtration system and method includes at least one tank and a plurality hollow fiber membranes positioned in the at least one tank. An algae medium is pulled through the hollow fiber membranes such that a retentate and a permeate are produced.

Abstract: Fluid treatment assemblies comprising a plurality of adjustable tensioning rod assemblies comprising tensioning rods having a tensioning nut and a locking nut threadably attached to the tensioning rods, and methods of adjusting the tension on the assemblies, are provided.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a filtration membrane includes: a) selecting and preparing an organic polymer, such as a collodion; b) injecting a collodion into at least one channel of an extrusion die that also comprises an extrusion die core and at least one outlet; c) injecting an internal liquid into a hollow centering pin, the hollow centering pin comprising a channel positioned on the core of the extrusion die and also positioned at an axis of the outlet of the extrusion die; d) applying a holding film to the outlet of the extrusion die; e) unrolling the holding film onto a surface of at least one hollow fiber emerging from the outlet of the extrusion die; f) immersing the hollow fiber with the first holding film in a rinsing solution so as to obtain a flat hollow fiber filtration membrane; and ending the rinsing of the filtration membrane.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for increasing convective clearance of particles from a fluid is provided. In some implementations, described herein the microfluidic device includes multiple layers that each define infusate, blood, and filtrate channels. Each of the channels have a pressure profile. The device can also include one or more pressure control features. The pressure control feature controls a difference between the pressure profiles along a length of the device. For example, the pressure control feature can control the difference between the pressure profile of the filtrate channel and the pressure profile of the blood channel. In some implementations, the pressure control feature controls the pressure difference between two channels such that the difference varies along the length of the channels by less than 50% of the pressure difference between the channels at the channels' inlets.

Abstract: Disclosed is a submerged-type compact filtration apparatus of minimized footprint which can be installed easily, maintained safely and conveniently, and operated with substantially reduced energy. The submerged-type filtration apparatus of the invention comprises a filtration bath disposed over a ground; a filtration membrane cassette configured to be installed in the filtration bath; and a first guide disposed in the filtration bath and configured to guide the filtration membrane cassette when the filtration membrane cassette is inserted into the filtration bath so as to be installed therein.

Abstract: Durable asymmetric composite membranes consisting of a film of cross-linked poly(ether ether ketone) adhered to a sheet of hydrophilic microporous poly(ethylene) are disclosed. The membranes are suitable for use in the recovery or removal of water from feed streams where repeated clean-in-place protocols are required such as in the processing of dairy products.

Abstract: A filter element has: a carrier element permeable to fluid and having a support surface, the support surface having a surface area increasing contour; and a filter medium deposited onto the support surface of the carrier element forming a filter layer adapted to the surface area increasing contour.