Abstract: A viscous fluid reaction apparatus is described. The viscous fluid reaction apparatus comprises a glass reaction vessel. The viscous fluid reaction apparatus further comprises a gas-tight inlet assembly and a gas-tight stirrer assembly. The gas-tight stirrer assembly comprises a stirrer opening adapter, a stirrer coupling comprising a stirrer shaft seal connected to the stirrer opening adapter, a stirrer shaft comprising one or more stirrer blades located at a blade end of the stirrer shaft, and a motor coupling connected to the stirrer shaft. The viscous fluid reaction apparatus further comprises a motor connected to the motor coupling. The stirrer shaft passes through the stirrer coupling and the stirrer opening adapter such that the stirrer blade(s) are disposed in the glass reaction vessel at a blade height and the stirrer shaft is configured to rotate without compromising a gas-tight seal formed by the stirrer shaft seal.

Abstract: A fluid filter and method for filtering fluid feed using the fluid filter is described. The fluid filter comprises an upper disk plate having a first compartment spaced apart and placed parallel to a lower disk plate having a second compartment. The feed fluid enters the first compartment in a first vortex pattern in a first direction at a first temperature, and a permeate fluid enters the second compartment in a second vortex pattern in a second direction opposite the first direction at a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is lower than the first temperature. A hydrophobic, vapor permeable membrane positioned between the upper disk plate and the lower disk plate allows vapor to pass from the first compartment to the second compartment having the permeate fluid, thus filtering the feed fluid.