Abstract: The disclosure herein relates to a method of reducing background noise during integrity testing of membrane filter to increase sensitivity and more effectively disposition failing membrane filters.

Abstract: A scaling tool for replicating filtration characteristics of a large-scale filtration device, the scaling tool comprising a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a filter receiving region in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet and configured to contain a membrane comprising one or more pleats, the filter receiving region being defined by a rigid wall framework configured to hold the one or more pleats of the membrane and compress the pleats in an amount effective to replicate the filtration performance of the large-scale filtration device. Also disclosed is a methodology for configuring a filter receiving region in a scaling tool.

Abstract: A method of integrity testing a porous material is disclosed, providing a porous material suitable for filtration to be tested, said porous material having a first surface and a second surface; wetting said porous material with a wetting liquid; providing a gas stream comprising at least first and second gases humidified with said wetting liquid below the saturation vapor pressure of said wetting liquid and wherein said humidified gas stream has a humidity of 50-99%; introducing said gas stream to said first surface of said porous material; causing said first and second gases to flow through said porous material; measuring the concentration of at least one of said first and second gases in the permeate stream exiting said second surface of said porous material; and comparing the measured concentration to a predetermined concentration.

Abstract: A method of integrity testing porous materials that is non-destructive to the material being tested. The inlet gas stream includes at least two gases, wherein one of the gases has a different permeability in liquid than the other, such as oxygen and nitrogen in water. The relative permeability of the gases is measured in the retentate stream, thereby avoiding accessing the permeate stream and potentially introducing contaminants to the material being tested. The integrity test is capable of detecting the presence of oversized pores or defects that can compromise the retention capability of the porous material.

Abstract: A method of integrity testing a porous material is disclosed, providing a porous material suitable for filtration to be tested, said porous material having a first surface and a second surface; wetting said porous material with a wetting liquid; providing a gas stream comprising at least first and second gases humidified with said wetting liquid below the saturation vapor pressure of said wetting liquid and wherein said humidified gas stream has a humidity of 50-99%; introducing said gas stream to said first surface of said porous material; causing said first and second gases to flow through said porous material; measuring the concentration of at least one of said first and second gases in the permeate stream exiting said second surface of said porous material; and comparing the measured concentration to a predetermined concentration.

Abstract: A method of integrity testing porous materials that is non-destructive to the material being tested. The method includes humidifying the inlet gas stream to minimize or prevent the porous material from drying out. The inlet gas stream includes at least two gases, wherein one of the gases has a different permeability in liquid than the other, such as oxygen and nitrogen. The permeate gas stream may be subjected to a driving force such as reduced pressure to increase the flow of gases and reduce test time. Multiple porous materials can be integrity tested at the same time, such as by manifolding a plurality of them together. The integrity test is capable of detecting the presence of oversized pores or defects that can compromise the retention capability of the porous material.

Abstract: A method of integrity testing porous materials that is non-destructive to the material being tested. The inlet gas stream includes at least two gases, wherein one of the gases has a different permeability in liquid than the other, such as oxygen and nitrogen in water. The relative permeability of the gases is measured in the retentate stream, thereby avoiding accessing the permeate stream and potentially introducing contaminants to the material being tested. The integrity test is capable of detecting the presence of oversized pores or defects that can compromise the retention capability of the porous material.

Abstract: A scaling tool for replicating filtration characteristics of a large-scale filtration device, the scaling tool comprising a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a filter receiving region in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet and configured to contain a membrane comprising one or more pleats, the filter receiving region being defined by a rigid wall framework configured to hold the one or more pleats of the membrane and compress the pleats in an amount effective to replicate the filtration performance of the large-scale filtration device. Also disclosed is a methodology for configuring a filter receiving region in a scaling tool.

Abstract: A method of aerosol integrity testing of filters, capable of detecting single defects that are less than 20 ?m in diameter, and even as small as 2 ?m in diameter, in liquid sterilizing grade filters such as filter cartridges. The method challenges the filter in a dry state with a particle stream of aerosol particles of the appropriate size and in the appropriate concentration, such that at least one or more of the particles in the stream will penetrate a defective region or regions within the membrane but will not penetrate in the integral region of the membrane. Wetting of the filter is not required.

Abstract: A method of aerosol integrity testing of filters, capable of detecting single defects that are less than 20 ?m in diameter, and even as small as 2 ?m in diameter, in liquid sterilizing grade filters such as filter cartridges. The method challenges the filter in a dry state with a particle stream of aerosol particles of the appropriate size and in the appropriate concentration, such that at least one or more of the particles in the stream will penetrate a defective region or regions within the membrane but will not penetrate in the integral region of the membrane. Wetting of the filter is not required.

Abstract: A method of integrity testing porous materials that is non-destructive to the material being tested. The method includes humidifying the inlet gas stream to minimize or prevent the porous material from drying out. The inlet gas stream includes at least two gases, wherein one of the gases has a different permeability in liquid than the other, such as oxygen and nitrogen. The permeate gas stream may be subjected to a driving force such as reduced pressure to increase the flow of gases and reduce test time. Multiple porous materials can be integrity tested at the same time, such as by manifolding a plurality of them together. The integrity test is capable of detecting the presence of oversized pores or defects that can compromise the retention capability of the porous material.

Abstract: A method of aerosol integrity testing of filters, capable of detecting single defects that are less than 20 ?m in diameter, and even as small as 2 ?m in diameter, in liquid sterilizing grade filters such as filter cartridges. The method challenges the filter in a dry state with a particle stream of aerosol particles of the appropriate size and in the appropriate concentration, such that at least one or more of the particles in the stream will penetrate a defective region or regions within the membrane but will not penetrate in the integral region of the membrane. Wetting of the filter is not required.

Abstract: The invention relates to accelerated mixed gas integrity testing methods, devices, and systems for integrity testing wetted single and multi-layered porous materials, whereby the testing method is non-destructive to the porous materials being tested. The accelerated mixed gas integrity test method includes one or more of the following components: i) a permeate side gas purge component; ii) a permeate side volume reduction component; and iii) a permeate side circulation component. The invention is directed towards reducing the length of time necessary to complete the integrity testing of single and multi layered porous materials, elements and membranes.

Abstract: The invention relates to accelerated mixed gas integrity testing methods, devices, and systems for integrity testing wetted single and multi-layered porous materials, whereby the testing method is non-destructive to the porous materials being tested. The accelerated mixed gas integrity test method includes one or more of the following components: i) a permeate side gas purge component; ii) a permeate side volume reduction component; and iii) a permeate side circulation component. The invention is directed towards reducing the length of time necessary to complete the integrity testing of single and multi layered porous materials, elements and membranes.

Abstract: The invention relates to integrity testing of porous material using a plurality of gases and to an apparatus and system for performing the same.

Abstract: The invention relates to integrity testing of porous material using a plurality of gases and to an apparatus and system for performing the same.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane gas separation apparatus of a compact design suitable for separation and purification of gases is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an outer housing that consists of a detachable bowl and a head closure, and a removable hollow fiber membrane cartridge positioned therein. The cartridge contains a concentric tubular inner core member and is surrounded by a shell and at least one end closure. The cartridge is attached by its first axial end in a sealed and removable manner to a gas flow conduit positioned coaxially in the housing closure wherein the conduit is in fluid communication with a gas inlet or product gas outlet port formed in the housing head closure and by its second axial end to a waste gas exit port in the bowl. The feed gas inlet port and the product gas outlet port in the head closure are spaced in a straight line for a short overall distance providing for a linear connection with other components of a gas separation system, which is a preferred system component packaging.

Abstract: An integral hollow fiber membrane gas purification apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises one or more filtration elements and a hollow fiber membrane cartridge placed coaxially in a common housing. In some embodiments, the filtration elements are omitted and the hollow fiber membrane cartridge is employed as a combined gas separation/filtration device. The apparatus of this invention is particularly useful for conditioning compressed air that includes the removal of both suspended matter and water vapor.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane gas separation apparatus of a compact design suitable for separation and purification of gases is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an outer housing that consists of a detachable bowl and a head closure, and a removable hollow fiber membrane cartridge positioned therein. The cartridge contains several concentric separation zones and provides for efficient countercurrent flow configuration between the feed gas on the shell side and the permeate sweep gas on the lumen side of the hollow fiber membranes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hollow fiber membrane gas separation assembly having an integral purge control aperture or purge reflux system which is internal to the hollow fiber apparatus. The assembly is particularly useful for separating water vapor from a gas stream.