Described are porous, sintered inorganic bodies that include multiple layers made from different types of metal particles, that may be useful as filter membranes, and also to methods of making and using the porous, sintered inorganic bodies.

A method of producing a silicalite membrane, which includes heating an aqueous solution that includes a dopant precursor and structure-directing template agents to form silicalite seeds incorporated with a dopant, depositing a buffer layer on a ceramic substrate prior to depositing the silicalite seeds on the buffer layer, contacting the ceramic substrate with a solution including the silicalite seeds to form a silicalite layer from the silicalite seeds on the ceramic substrate, and removing the structure-directing template agents to form the silicalite membrane, where the silicalite layer includes silicalite crystals incorporated with a dopant and each of the silicalite crystals has a hollow structure which forms the pores of the silicalite layer. The silicalite membrane includes a ceramic substrate having a buffer layer formed thereon, and a silicalite layer formed on the buffer layer, where the silicalite layer includes silicalite crystals incorporated with a dopant.

A method of producing a silicalite membrane, which includes heating an aqueous solution that includes a dopant precursor and structure-directing template agents to form silicalite seeds incorporated with a dopant, depositing a buffer layer on a ceramic substrate prior to depositing the silicalite seeds on the buffer layer, contacting the ceramic substrate with a solution including the silicalite seeds to form a silicalite layer from the silicalite seeds on the ceramic substrate, and removing the structure-directing template agents to form the silicalite membrane, where the silicalite layer includes silicalite crystals incorporated with a dopant and each of the silicalite crystals has a hollow structure which forms the pores of the silicalite layer. The silicalite membrane includes a ceramic substrate having a buffer layer formed thereon, and a silicalite layer formed on the buffer layer, where the silicalite layer includes silicalite crystals incorporated with a dopant.

Example biodegradable tubular members and methods of producing biodegradable tubular members are described. A biodegradable product includes an elongated tubular member. The elongated tubular member includes one or more cellulose esters and a plurality of pores in the tubular member. The plurality of pores are sized and structured in the elongated tubular member to allow permeation or infiltration of at least one of water or bacteria into at least a portion of the plurality of pores and promote biodegradability of the elongated tubular member.

A filter including a porous support defining one or more channels therethrough, and a porous ceramic membrane layer on a surface of the porous support defining at least one of the one or more channels. The ceramic membrane layer includes an inorganic ceramic composition having the formula SiM.sup.p.sub.xpC.sub.yN.sub.zO.sub.mH.sub.n, where each M.sup.p present is independently selected from a p-block element or a d-block element; p is an integer from 1 to 5; for each M.sup.p present, xp is independently from about 0 to about 60; y is from about 0 to about 60; z is from about 0 to about 60; m is from about 0 to about 40; and n is zero or nonzero. At least one of y and z is nonzero when p is zero, and p is nonzero when y and z are both zero.

A filter including a porous support defining one or more channels therethrough, and a porous ceramic membrane layer on a surface of the porous support defining at least one of the one or more channels. The ceramic membrane layer includes an inorganic ceramic composition having the formula SiM.sup.p.sub.xpC.sub.yN.sub.zO.sub.mH.sub.n, where each M.sup.p present is independently selected from a p-block element or a d-block element; p is an integer from 1 to 5; for each M.sup.p present, xp is independently from about 0 to about 60; y is from about 0 to about 60; z is from about 0 to about 60; m is from about 0 to about 40; and n is zero or nonzero. At least one of y and z is nonzero when p is zero, and p is nonzero when y and z are both zero.

A separator element comprising a porous rigid single-piece substrate (2) presenting firstly, at its periphery, a perimeter wall (2.sub.1) that is continuous between an inlet (4) for the fluid medium for treatment at one end of the porous substrate and an outlet (5) for the retentate at the other end of the porous substrate, and secondly, internally, a surface covered by a separator layer (6) and defining an open structure made up of empty spaces (3) for passing a flow of the fluid medium for treatment. The empty spaces (3) are arranged in the porous substrate so as to create within the porous substrate a first flow network (R1) for the fluid medium for treatment, having at least two interconnected flow circuits (R1.sub.1, R1.sub.2) for the fluid medium between the inlet (4) and the outlet (5) of the porous substrate.

An apparatus is provided for the production of biomass or a bioproduct, the apparatus comprising: at least one elongate bioreactor, the bioreactor comprised of at least one outer membrane layer that defines a substantially tubular compartment that is capable of being filled with a liquid or gel, wherein the membrane layer is comprised of a material that is permeable to gas transfer across the membrane layer. A chamber is provided comprising walls that define and enclose a gaseous atmosphere within. At least a part of the bioreactor is located inside the chamber. A control system controls the composition of the atmosphere within the chamber and gas transfer occurs across the membrane layer of the bioreactor between the tubular compartment and the atmosphere comprised within the chamber. Methods of using the apparatus in order to manufacture biomass are also provided.

An apparatus is provided for the production of biomass or a bioproduct, the apparatus comprising: at least one elongate bioreactor, the bioreactor comprised of at least one outer membrane layer that defines a substantially tubular compartment that is capable of being filled with a liquid or gel, wherein the membrane layer is comprised of a material that is permeable to gas transfer across the membrane layer. A chamber is provided comprising walls that define and enclose a gaseous atmosphere within. At least a part of the bioreactor is located inside the chamber. A control system controls the composition of the atmosphere within the chamber and gas transfer occurs across the membrane layer of the bioreactor between the tubular compartment and the atmosphere comprised within the chamber. Methods of using the apparatus in order to manufacture biomass are also provided.

An AC-electrospinning system and a method are provided for fabricating inorganic fiber tubular structures. The AC-electrospinning system preferably uses an electrode system that comprises an electrical charging component electrode and at least one of an AC field attenuating component and a precursor liquid attenuating component. Use of the AC-electrospinning process to fabricate the inorganic fiber tubular structures allows the structures to be made with high porosities that are not achievable using the conventional approach.