Abstract: A membrane assembly for fluid separations consisting of a compact stack of alternating layers of membrane with layers of fluid conducting materials. The assembly consists of a simplified and improved plate and frame apparatus. The stacked assembly may be placed into a pressure containment device consisting of standard pipe with standard methods of closure. Internal fluid conducting passages are formed from cutouts in the stacked layers thereby greatly simplifying the manufacture and assembly of large diameter fluid separation devices using membranes to effect the fluid separations. The fluid pathways are such that the membrane assembly is particularly efficient in separation.

Abstract: In fabricating a reverse osmosis spiral wound apparatus for the separation of organic fluid mixtures, especially for the separation of dewaxing solvents containing ketone from dewaxed oil by permeation through a permeable membrane such as pretreated regenerated cellulose or asymmetric polyimide a special epoxy adhesive formulation is used to form the membrane element edge seals which serve to define separate permeate zones and feed stream zones. This special adhesive formulation is characterized by having a relatively long pot life, (i.e. will not set too quickly) permitting it to be easily handled during application to the membrane edges in the course of element fabrication, as well as being flexible (trimable) and of proper viscosity.