A system for growing and harvesting algae biomass includes a photo-bioreactor suitable for algae growth in water and a filter unit in fluid communication with the photo-bioreactor. An algae slurry, when at least partially contained within the photo-bioreactor, generates hydrostatic fluid pressure that exclusively drives the algae slurry to the filter unit and discharges a permeate.

A filtration module for filtering a process medium in a bioprocess including a process flow path for a process medium, a filter membrane coupled to the process flow path, and a sampling membrane coupled both to the process flow path and to a sampling flow path for extracting a sample from the process medium. The sampling flow path guides the extracted sample to a sampling outlet of the filtration module or to an analyzer integrated into the filtration module. A filtration assembly including the filtration module and an analyzer coupled to the sampling outlet of the filtration module. A method of sampling during a bioprocess including providing such a filtration module, urging a process medium through the process flow path, filtering the process medium by using the filter membrane, extracting a sample from the process medium by using the sampling membrane, and guiding the extracted sample to a sampling outlet.

A filtration module for filtering a process medium in a bioprocess including a process flow path for a process medium, a filter membrane coupled to the process flow path, and a sampling membrane coupled both to the process flow path and to a sampling flow path for extracting a sample from the process medium. The sampling flow path guides the extracted sample to a sampling outlet of the filtration module or to an analyzer integrated into the filtration module. A filtration assembly including the filtration module and an analyzer coupled to the sampling outlet of the filtration module. A method of sampling during a bioprocess including providing such a filtration module, urging a process medium through the process flow path, filtering the process medium by using the filter membrane, extracting a sample from the process medium by using the sampling membrane, and guiding the extracted sample to a sampling outlet.

The invention relates to a respiratory air purifier device. In order to provide an improved respiratory air purifier device which is able effectively to retain viruses, a respiratory air purifier device 101 is proposed for retention of viruses from respiratory air flowing through the device 101, the latter having an interface 110 designed such that it can be placed by a wearer sealingly onto at least one respiratory opening, a hollow-fibre dialyser 120 as a filter, and a connection piece 130 between the interface 110 and the dialyser 120, wherein interface 110, dialyser 120 and connection piece 130 are configured in such a way as to form an airtight fluid channel which fluidically connects the interface to either only the exterior of the hollow fibres X or only the interior of the hollow fibres I of the hollow-fibre dialyser 120, and wherein the purifier device 101 is designed in such a way that, in at least one flow direction E, A, each flow path pE, pA that runs completely through the purifier device extends through the pores of the hollow-fibre membranes, i.e. transversely with respect to the hollow-fibre membrane, of the hollow-fibre dialyser 120.

The invention relates to a respiratory air purifier device. In order to provide an improved respiratory air purifier device which is able effectively to retain viruses, a respiratory air purifier device 101 is proposed for retention of viruses from respiratory air flowing through the device 101, the latter having an interface 110 designed such that it can be placed by a wearer sealingly onto at least one respiratory opening, a hollow-fibre dialyser 120 as a filter, and a connection piece 130 between the interface 110 and the dialyser 120, wherein interface 110, dialyser 120 and connection piece 130 are configured in such a way as to form an airtight fluid channel which fluidically connects the interface to either only the exterior of the hollow fibres X or only the interior of the hollow fibres I of the hollow-fibre dialyser 120, and wherein the purifier device 101 is designed in such a way that, in at least one flow direction E, A, each flow path pE, pA that runs completely through the purifier device extends through the pores of the hollow-fibre membranes, i.e. transversely with respect to the hollow-fibre membrane, of the hollow-fibre dialyser 120.

A hollow fiber membrane module (100) of the present invention includes: a plurality of hollow fiber membranes (10); a binding portion (20) binding the plurality of hollow fiber membranes (10) at one end portions thereof; and a cap (30) having an internal space (30s) that communicates with each of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes (10), the cap (30) being integrated with the binding portion (20); and a housing (40) that houses the plurality of hollow fiber membranes (10) and the binding portion (20), and that has one end portion to which the cap (30) is attached. A unit (70) including the plurality of hollow fiber membranes (10), the binding portion (20), and the cap (30) is detached from the housing (40) and the unit (70) is attached to the housing (40) while integration of the binding portion (20) and the cap (30) is maintained.

A hollow fiber membrane module (100) of the present invention includes: a plurality of hollow fiber membranes (10); a binding portion (20) binding the plurality of hollow fiber membranes (10) at one end portions thereof; and a cap (30) having an internal space (30s) that communicates with each of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes (10), the cap (30) being integrated with the binding portion (20); and a housing (40) that houses the plurality of hollow fiber membranes (10) and the binding portion (20), and that has one end portion to which the cap (30) is attached. A unit (70) including the plurality of hollow fiber membranes (10), the binding portion (20), and the cap (30) is detached from the housing (40) and the unit (70) is attached to the housing (40) while integration of the binding portion (20) and the cap (30) is maintained.

A process for the efficient transfer of molecules between phases employing mesoporous poly (aryl ether ketone) hollow fiber membranes is provided. The method addresses the controlled transfer of reactants into and removal of reaction products from a reaction media and the removal and separation of target molecules from process streams by membrane-assisted liquid-liquid extraction. A number of possible modes of liquid-liquid extraction are possible according to the invention by utilizing porous poly (aryl ether ketone) hollow fiber membranes of Janus-like structure that exhibit a combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic surface characteristics. The method of the present invention can address the continuous manufacture of chemicals in membrane reactors and is useful for a broad range of separation applications, including separation and recovery of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

A process for the efficient transfer of molecules between phases employing mesoporous poly (aryl ether ketone) hollow fiber membranes is provided. The method addresses the controlled transfer of reactants into and removal of reaction products from a reaction media and the removal and separation of target molecules from process streams by membrane-assisted liquid-liquid extraction. A number of possible modes of liquid-liquid extraction are possible according to the invention by utilizing porous poly (aryl ether ketone) hollow fiber membranes of Janus-like structure that exhibit a combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic surface characteristics. The method of the present invention can address the continuous manufacture of chemicals in membrane reactors and is useful for a broad range of separation applications, including separation and recovery of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

The invention relates to an undulated thermostable hollow fiber membrane of reduced wall thickness, wherein the wall thickness amounts to 20 μm or greater and 30 μm or less and the waveform of the hollow fiber membrane exhibits a wavelength in the range of from more than 1 mm and less than 5 mm. In particular, the invention relates to a method for producing an undulated thermostable hollow fiber membrane of lower wall thickness.