Abstract: A hollow fiber cartridge includes a stack of hollow fiber mats. The stack has a major axis and two end faces. Each mat is substantially perpendicular to the axis. An end cap is united to each end face.

Abstract: An aeration system for a submerged membrane module has a set of aerators connected to an air blower, valves and a controller adapted to alternately provide a higher rate or air flow and a lower rate of air flow in repeated cycles. In an embodiment, the air blower, valves and controller, simultaneously provide the alternating air flow to two or more sets of aerators such that the total air flow is constant, allowing the blower to be operated at a constant speed. In another embodiment, the repeated cycles are of short duration. Transient flow conditions result in the tank water which helps avoid dead spaces and assists in agitating the membranes.

Abstract: The membrane module according to the invention is characterized in that it has concrete flanges. This membrane module is made by first sealing a bundle of ceramic fiber membranes at one end using a viscous sealant and then pressing it into a fluid mass of concrete in a mould. After the mass of concrete has hardened the process is repeated with the other end of the bundle. Finally the ends of the fiber membranes are opened by sawing off a slice of the flanges.

Abstract: A device for removing bacterial lipopolysaccharides and lipoteichoic acids from blood or plasma in an extracorporeal perfusion system contains, in a housing that can be incorporated into the perfusion system, a hollow fiber material that is suitable for the selective removal of bacterial lipopolysaccharides and lipoteichoic acids, the device being arranged in such a way that the blood or plasma entering through a first opening of the housing must pass through the hollow fiber material before it leaves through a second opening of the housing and is directed to the rest of the perfusion circuit.

Abstract: A membrane separating method and a membrane separating device capable of preventing sludge from being accumulated on the surface of hollow fiber membranes in a membrane cartridge and having filtration performance stably sustained for a long period. The membrane cartridge formed by sticking and fixing both ends of two or more hollow fiber membranes arranged in the vertical direction is formed in such a structure that the collected state of the hollow fiber membranes on an upper side adhesive boundary surface is divided into a plurality of hollow fiber membrane bundles.

Abstract: A Reactor (1) for solid phase synthesis comprises a vessel (2), a plurality of filters (3) arranged in the vessel (2) and a plurality of filtrate outlets (4) for evacuating the filtrate out of the filters (3). Each filter (3) is connected to one filtrate outlet (4). The reactor (1) comprises means (3, 4) for delivering a gas into the vessel (2) in a region of the vessel (2) near to the bottom (24) of the vessel (2) and beside the filters (3).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a semi-permeable membrane for use in osmosis consisting of one thin layer of a non-porous material (the diffusion skin), and one or more layers of a porous material (the porous layer), where the porous layer has a structure where porosity ?, thickness of the porous layer (m), and tortuosity ?, are related to one another as given by the expression: x·?=?·S wherein S is a structure parameter having a value equal to or less than 0.0015 meter. Further a method for providing elevated pressure by osmosis as well as a device for providing an elevated osmotic pressure and electric power is described.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an alternative compact portable filtration device that can be used in remote locations and includes a single filtration cartridge that provides redundant filtration of the fluid (water). In particular, the device is a dual stage ultrafilter cartridge (apparatus) that is constructed and designed to provide a portable device that can be used in the field, such as during camping or military assignment, and offers two filtration stages (redundant filtration) within a single housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a membrane filter for operating while submerged, with a frame (1), which can be lowered into the liquid to be purified, and with modules (2) adjacently arranged in a row. The modules (2) each have a base element (3) with a permeate collecting chamber (4), tubes (5) for a fluid that are connected to both ends of the base element (3), and with hollow fiber membranes (6) that, with an open end, are embedded in the base element (3). The hollow fiber membranes (6) are closed at their other end and terminate inside the liquid to be purified without being fixed whereby being able to freely move. The tubes (5) are vertically oriented and, at the top, are connected to a collecting line. Fiber holding devices (7) for laterally guiding the hollow fiber membrane (6) are fastened to the tubes (5).

Abstract: A gas-separation membrane module assembly and a gas-separation process using the assembly. The assembly includes a set of tubes, each containing gas-separation membranes, arranged within a housing. The housing contains a tube sheet that divides the space within the housing into two gas-tight spaces. A permeate collection system within the housing gathers permeate gas from the tubes for discharge from the housing.

Abstract: A filter device having two flow paths. The first flow path having at least one cap and fluid port. The second flow path surrounding the first fluid flow path and having at least one cap that overlaps the cap of the first fluid flow path. The second flow path also having at least one fluid port. The filter device providing a simple arrangement that is easily disinfected or sterilized.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane module using a sheet-form hollow fiber membrane having excellent cleaning properties in which the pressure resistance of a hollow fiber membrane anchor section does not deteriorate, even when the membrane area increases; a hollow fiber membrane module unit using the module; a membrane filtration device using the unit; and an operation method therefore are provided. The hollow fiber membrane module comprises sheet-form hollow fiber membranes and an anchoring member which anchors the sheet-form hollow fiber membranes in a roughly parallel manner while maintaining in an open state at least one end portion of the sheet-form hollow fiber membranes. The shape of an end face of a side of the anchoring member from which the hollow fiber membranes are exposed is roughly rectangular, and the shape of an end face of a side of the anchoring member toward which the hollow fiber membranes open is roughly circular.

Abstract: Patient fluid management is carried out by separating plasma from whole blood in vivo via an implantable filter device comprising one or more elongated hollow tubes and a plurality of elongated microporous fibers having an interior lumen extending along the length thereof, each fiber having a first and second end secured to the one or more elongated hollow tubes by passing plasma through the fiber wall from the outer wall surface to the inner wall surface and to the interior fiber lumen, directing the separated plasma to an ultrafiltration apparatus having a sieving coefficient cutoff between about 1×104 and about 6×104 daltons, separating plasma water and selected plasma components, from the separated plasma, and directing the treated plasma to the patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a membrane filter, comprising the steps of: fixing a bundle of hydrophilic filter elements by at least a first end in a housing part to be called bottom element, such that the first end of the hydrophilic filter elements is open towards a first side of the housing part and the hydrophilic filter elements extend on the opposite side of the housing part; and subsequently providing for at least one watertight and air-permeable element, in particular a hydrophobic filter element.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for increasing the duration of uninterrupted filtering flow by using crossflow filtration and ultrasonic energy with in difficult to filter process liquids (e.g. of the kind having (1) a carrier liquid, (2) coalescing solids particles which tend to adhere and bridge filter element gaps sized substantially larger than such particles, and (3) larger impurity elements to be filtered out of such process liquid and sized larger than such filter element gaps).

Abstract: The invention relates to a hollow fiber separation module comprising an inlet (20) for the gas to be dried, an outlet (22) for dried gas, an access element (26) and a discharge element (28) for circulation gas, and a plurality of hollow fibers which respectively extend from the inlet (29) to the outlet (22) and comprise an inner region which communicates with the inlet (20) on one end of each hollow fiber, and with the outlet (22) on the other end of each hollow fiber. The hollow fibers are wound up in a plurality of layers (40, 42, 44) to form a hollow cylindrical winding. Each layer (40, 42, 44) is inwardly defined by an imaginary cylinder (35, 36, 37) and has a number of hollow fibers which are wound onto the cylinder (35, 36, 37) in a helical manner with an alpha angle of inclination, are located at a distance a from each other, and are arranged on the cylinder in a homogeneously distributed manner. A layer (40) differs from an adjacent layer (e.g.

Abstract: A filter for an extracorporeal blood circuit including: a bundle of hollow fibers having an end section encased in a potting material, wherein the end section further comprises a stem of fibers and potting material and an annular disk of the potting material extending radially outward from the stem, wherein the annular disk of the potting material is substantially wider than the stem, the stem protrudes from the disk and the stem includes a side surface extending along a length of the stem; an end surface of the stem substantially perpendicular to the length of the stem and including open ends of the fibers distributed throughout the end surface including open ends proximate to a perimeter of the end surface; a filter housing through which extends the bundle, the filter housing comprising a tubular section and a first end section and a second end section at opposite ends of the tubular section, wherein the annular disk is seated in the first end section and the stem is narrower than the tubular section along

Abstract: A gas-separation membrane module assembly and a gas-separation process using the assembly. The assembly includes a set of tubes, each containing gas-separation membranes, arranged within a housing. The housing contains tube sheets that divide the space within the housing into three separate, gas-tight spaces, with the tubes mounted in the central space. Within this space, each tube has an aperture or hole in its wall that enables gas that has been retained on the feed side of the membranes to flow out of the tubes and into the space. The assembly can be used in various ways to carry out gas separation processes.

Abstract: Hollow fiber membranes are potted by injection molding a thermoplastic material into a cavity containing the fibers. The cavity is formed in part by the interaction of a mold and a layer of an adhesive pre-applied to a bundle of the membranes.

Abstract: In a hollow fiber membrane flat module according to the present invention, both ends of hollow fiber membrane bundle which are formed by bundling a plurality of hollow fiber membrane as a sheet are fixed to two housing separately by a fixing resin while maintaining an opening condition in an opening end section in the follow fiber membrane. Furthermore, a maximum width in an orthogonal direction to a longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber membrane is no longer than 25 mm in a cross section which is orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the housings, and a maximum deflection in the housings which are measured according to a method for measuring the deflection according to the present invention is not more than 1% of a distance between the two housings.

Abstract: An elongated hollow microporous fiber comprises an inner wall surface defining an interior fiber lumen, an outer wall surface, and a microporous fiber wall therebetween, the fiber wall having one or more continuous, cohesive, elongated filaments embedded in the fiber and extending lengthwise of the elongated fiber along substantially the full length of the fiber.

Abstract: An aeration system for a submerged membrane module has a set of aerators connected to an air blower, valves and a controller adapted to alternately provide a higher rate or air flow and a lower rate of air flow in repeated cycles. In an embodiment, the air blower, valves and controller, simultaneously provide the alternating air flow to two or more sets of aerators such that the total air flow is constant, allowing the blower to be operated at a constant speed. In another embodiment, the repeated cycles are of short duration. Transient flow conditions result in the tank water which helps avoid dead spaces and assists in agitating the membranes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the effect of integrity loss in a hollow fiber membrane module, said module including a plurality of hollow fiber membranes (5), at least one end of the fiber membranes (5) being supported in a pot (6), the method including the step of increasing flow resistance of the liquid through the lumen (8) of the fiber membrane (5) in the region of the pot (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to a filter module having a module housing and at least one filter element. The filter module has at least one inlet opening, at least one filtrate outlet and a module housing having at least one joint line.

Abstract: A filter for an extracorporeal blood circuit including a bundle of hollow fibers having an end section encased in a potting material, wherein the end section of potting material has an end surface with open ends of the fibers distributed throughout the end surface, and a filter header cap having an inlet connectable to a blood line and an open end sealed around a side surface of the end section of the bundle of hollow fibers.

Abstract: A filtration system is provided with hollow membrane filter elements operable to remove solids, particulate and colloidal matter from a process fluid. Acoustic, vibration and ultrasonic energy may be used to clean exterior portions of the hollow membrane filter elements to allow substantially continuous filtration of process fluids. The filtration system may be satisfactorily used with process fluids having a relatively high concentrations of solids, particulate and colloidal matter.

Abstract: Apparatus for carrying out therapeutic apheresis includes a filter device for being implanted in a blood vessel for carrying out in-vivo plasma separation having one or more elongated hollow tubes and a plurality of elongated hollow microporous fibers capable of separating plasma from whole blood at pressure and blood flow within a patient's vein, a multiple lumen catheter secured to the proximal end of the filter device having one or more lumens in fluid communication with the interior of said one or more hollow tubes and a plasma return lumen, and therapeutic apheresis apparatus for removing and/or separating selected disease-related components from the separated plasma and means for directing plasma between said catheter and the selective component removal apparatus.

Abstract: A membrane filtration manifold for connecting a filter submodule including one or more elongate bundles of semipermeable polymeric fibers is provided. The manifold includes a housing and connecting collar connected with said housing. The collar is adapted to receive and locate the submodule, where the submodule has a connecting sleeve with a locking formation. The submodule can be secured at one end to the collar by a clip adapted to engage both the collar and the locking formation to prevent axial withdrawal of the submodule from the collar. Also disclosed is a membrane filtration apparatus including a filter submodule including one or more elongate bundles of semipermeable polymeric fibers. The apparatus further includes a membrane filtration manifold removably connected at one end of said filter submodule and a basepiece removably connected to the other end of said filter submodule.

Abstract: The instant invention is a hollow fiber membrane contactor, and method of making same. The hollow fiber membrane contactor includes (1) a shell, said shell having a internal bonding surface, an interlocking geometry ring being provided on said internal bonding surface; (2) a unitized structure; (3) a potting material joining said unitized structure to said shell at said interlocking geometry ring thereby forming an interlocking seal therebetween; and (4) end caps, said end caps being adjoined to lateral ends of said shell. The method of making a hollow fiber membrane contactor includes (1) providing a shell, said shell having a internal bonding surface; (2) providing an interlocking geometry ring on said internal bonding surface; (3) forming a unitized structure; (4) placing the unitized structure into said shell (5) potting said unitized structure to said shell at said interlocking geometry ring thereby forming an interlocking seal therebetween; and (6) adjoining end caps to lateral ends of said shell.

Abstract: A catchment header allowing a plurality of membrane modules to be connected thereto, having a tubular catchment part with a Young's modulus of 4.0 GPa or less for collecting and taking out filtrated liquid from the membrane modules, wherein at least a part of the tubular catchment part is covered with a reinforcement member with a Young's modulus of 4.0 to 250 GPa, the tubular catchment part of the catchment header is preferably formed of a synthetic resin, and the cross sectional area thereof perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tubular catchment part is preferably 4 to 36 cm2.

Abstract: A method is provided for measuring the local hydraulic permeability, Lpi, of a sub-group of hollow fibres of a bundle of hollow fibres mounted in a tubular casing. The method comprises a step of placing the casing containing the bundle in a vertical position, the lateral opening of the casing being disposed toward the bottom, and sealing the lower end of the casing. A graduated, calibrated tube is applied in a vertical position over a portion of the upper cut surface of the bundle to form a sealed connection there between. A liquid is passed through the lateral opening of the casing at a defined flow rate, and the time required for the liquid to pass from a first graduation to a second graduation of the tube is measured.

Abstract: A separation module and method are disclosed for processing a liquid sample and providing high conversion by operating a single-pass tangential-flow process without a recirculation loop. In one embodiment, the separation module includes three reservoirs and has at least one long, thin channel with a large ratio of channel membrane area to: channel void volume; volume of a sample feed reservoir; and volume of the feed sample. In another embodiment, the separation module includes two reservoirs and a hydrophobic vent. The single-pass process provides high conversion while operating with relatively low pressure sources.

Abstract: A restraining system for hollow fibers is provided. The restraining system includes a plurality of longitudinally extending elements spaced from one another and supported by a number of discrete spacer elements, each spacer element extending generally transverse of said longitudinal elements, such that in combination with said longitudinal elements they define a cage-like structure.

Abstract: A filter device has a housing in the shape of a tubular section, with at least two chambers separated from one another by membranes, and with at least one connection for each flow chamber. The device has two filter caps, with one of each of the filter caps being located on each of the two end regions of the housing, and connected directly or indirectly thereto. All connections for the flow chambers are positioned on the tubular section in order to avoid tolerance variations that frequently occur during installation of the filter device.

Abstract: An aeration system for a submerged membrane module has a set of aerators connected to an air blower, valves and a controller adapted to alternately provide a higher rate or air flow and a lower rate of air flow in repeated cycles. In an embodiment, the air blower, valves and controller, simultaneously provide the alternating air flow to two or more sets of aerators such that the total air flow is constant, allowing the blower to be operated at a constant speed. In another embodiment, the repeated cycles are of short duration. Transient flow conditions result in the tank water which helps avoid dead spaces and assists in agitating the membranes.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for tangential filtering of a fluid to be treated, comprising in a housing (2): a separating part (15) mounted in the first communicating chamber (11), in sealed contact with the neighboring positioning plate (4), to divide said chamber into first (V1) and second (V2) volumes externally and internally delimited by the separating part and communicating with said two-way circuit, comprising a communication passage (24) between the first volume (V1) and the second volume (V2), internally equipped with a turbine (23) of a circulating pump, provided with a driving shaft (25) extending outside the first chamber (11) to be connected to a driving motor (26), and a closure housing (13) mounted sealed on a neighboring positioning plate (4), delimiting the first communicating chamber (11) and sealingly traversed by the turbine (23) driving shaft (25).

Abstract: A filtration apparatus and method for filtering a stream. The apparatus comprises a rotor that contains an inlet for the stream and an array of cavities operatively arranged to receive the stream from the impeller. The rotor member further includes membranes, operatively positioned within the array of cavities, for separating the impurities from the stream, and a permeate outlet for delivering a permeate from the rotor. A drive member is included for rotating the rotor so that the stream is exposed to a centrifugal force. In one preferred embodiment, the rotor contains a baffle plate to distribute the stream about the inner portion and an impeller vane adapted to receive the stream.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane module comprising a module housing, a hollow fiber membrane bundle comprising a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, at least one end portion of the bundle being fixed on the housing through a flexible potting material, and a rib or ring embedded in the potting portion, the rib or ring being fixed on an inner wall of the housing, and the rib or ring being embedded in the potting portion without directly contacting the hollow fiber membrane, and the filtration method using the same. The hollow fiber membrane module can maintain a practical pressure resistance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a membrane filter for water treatment, comprising a head piece including a permeate collecting chamber with a permeate outlet, and at least one fiber bundle made from capillary membranes, which are secured into the head piece with an end that is open towards the permeate collecting chamber and sealed on the opposite end thereof. The head piece contains an air duct to which the mouth piece that protrudes into the fiber bundle is connected with at least one air outlet. At its other end, the fiber bundle terminates in freely movable manner in the untreated water.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the effect of integrity loss in a hollow fiber membrane module, said module including a plurality of hollow fiber membranes (5), at least one end of the fiber membranes (5) being supported in a pot (6), the method including the step of increasing flow resistance of the liquid through the lumen (8) of the fiber membrane (5) in the region of the pot (6).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite system comprising an electrode and a membrane, which can be used as a fuel cell element or an ion-exchange membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provides a positively charged microporous membrane having a protein binding capacity of about 25 mg/ml or greater comprising a hydrophilic porous substrate and a crosslinked coating that provides a fixed positive charge to the membrane. The present invention further provides a positively charged microporous membrane comprising a porous substrate and a crosslinked coating comprising pendant cationic groups. The membranes of the present invention find use in a variety of applications including ion-exchange chromatography, macromolecular transfer, as well as detection, filtration and purification of biomolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, endotoxins, and the like.

Abstract: A dialyzer in which a nearly cylindrical case is provided therein with a hollow fiber bundle made of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, a blood flow path formed by lumens of the hollow fiber membranes, a dialyzate flow path formed by a space between the inner wall of the case and the hollow fiber membranes and a cylindrical heat-shrinkable tube provided on the outside of the hollow fiber bundle and at least a part of which can be shrunk by heating, and a method for manufacturing the dialyzer.

Abstract: An immersion type membrane filter apparatus 200 is intended for obtaining filtrate by filtrating a fluid to be processed stored within a storage bath 150 and primarily includes a filtration membrane module 300 and an air bubbles supply device 500 disposed therebelow. The filtration membrane module 300 has numerous tubular membranes 310 having on the inner surfaces thereof the function of filtrating a fluid to be processed packed within a cylindrical housing vessel 301 having a discharge port 303 for filtrate. The tubular membranes 310 are held in an opened state at both the ends of the housing vessel 301. The filtration membrane module 300 is soaked in a fluid to be processed in such a way that the tubular membranes 310 are opened in the vertical direction. When air bubbles are supplied to the filtration membrane module 300 from an air bubbles supply device 500, the fluid to be processed flows through the tubular membranes 310 from the down side upwards to naturally circulate within the storage bath 150.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for treating oily wastewater, such as bilge water or ballast water, generated on a ship. The process uses a combination of a centrifugal separation step and a membrane separation step, such as an ultrafiltration step. The membrane separation step uses a dense, non-porous filtration membrane. The process is able to remove both emulsified oil and dissolved oil from the wastewater to low levels.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane filtration module is disclosed. The module comprises at least one or more longitudinally extending membranes located in a feed-containing vessel. The membranes have a permeable wall which is subjected to a filtration operation wherein feed containing contaminant matter is applied to one side of the membrane wall and filtrate is withdrawn from the other side of the membrane wall. The method comprises the steps of suspending the filtration operation; performing a cleaning process on the membrane wall to dislodge contaminant matter from the membrane wall into liquid surrounding the membrane: performing a sweep of the feed-containing vessel substantially parallel to the longitudinally extending membranes to remove the liquid containing the dislodged contaminant matter, at least in part, through an opening in a header or other part of the module, and then recommencing the filtration operation.

Abstract: An aeration system for a submerged membrane module has a set of aerators connected to an air blower, valves and a controller adapted to alternately provide a higher rate or air flow and a lower rate of air flow in repeated cycles. In an embodiment, the air blower, valves and controller, simultaneously provide the alternating air flow to two or more sets of aerators such that the total air flow is constant, allowing the blower to be operated at a constant speed. In another embodiment, the repeated cycles are of short duration. Transient flow conditions result in the tank water which helps avoid dead spaces and assists in agitating the membranes.

Abstract: A restraining system for hollow fibers is provided. The restraining system includes a plurality of longitudinally extending elements spaced from one another and supported by a number of discrete spacer elements, each spacer element extending generally transverse of said longitudinal elements, such that in combination with said longitudinal elements they define a cage-like structure.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for producing hollow fiber membrane-containing filters. The methods include laying a plurality of hollow fibers in a first portion of a filter housing to form a bundle, forming first and second portions into a filter housing, sealing the portions together, connecting the plurality of hollow fibers together at at least one end of the filter housing, connecting the hollow fibers to the filter housing, and simultaneously adhering the first and second portions of the filter housing together by applying a potting compound thereto, and cutting the ends of the hollow fibers at at least one end thereof, whereby the hollow fibers include open ends.

Abstract: Elongated processing elements are anchored at opposite ends thereof between holding discs retained within rigid seal rings enclosing a chamber within a cylindrical module housing, through which a flow of contaminate-laden bilgewater is conducted. Such discs are formed within the seal rings with the elongated elements positioned therein by deposit and curing of epoxy resin. Such elements are then assembled within the module housing to seal the chamber thereby established therein. Spacing between the bundled elements is maintained by spacers to accommodate filtration of the bilgewater during flow thereof through the chamber and lateral outflow of a cleansed filtered portion from the elements through a drain outlet.