A separation membrane module that is provided enables a bending load that is applied to a support member that supports ends of tubular separation membranes to be decreased and enables a seal member between the outer circumferential surface of the support member and the inner circumferential surface of a housing to be omitted. The separation membrane module includes a tubular housing 2, tubular separation membranes 3 that are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the housing 2, end tubes 4 that are connected to the lower ends of the tubular separation membranes 3, a support box 5 that supports the end tubes 4, and a backpressure chamber 16 below the support box 5. The tubular separation membranes 3 are in communication with a collection chamber 5v of the support box 5. A permeated fluid is extracted via a nozzle 5n that is disposed on the support box 5. A chamber 11 and the backpressure chamber 16 are in communication with each other via a gap between the outer circumferential surface of the support box 5 and the inner circumferential surface of the housing 2. Pressure in the chamber 11 and pressure in the chamber 16 are substantially the same.

An apparatus utilizes a membrane unit to capture components from atmospheric air, including oxygen and carbon dioxide, resulting in a permeate stream having an enriched concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Alternatively, the membrane unit may be utilized to form a permeate stream having a permeate of enriched fast gas components. The permeate stream is thereafter directed to a permeate processing facility which may include a second stage of permeate enrichment, a flue gas generator, or a carbon dioxide sequestration facility for processing of an enriched stream of carbon dioxide. Among other carbon dioxide sequestration facilities, the carbon dioxide may be biologically sequestered by a facility of photosynthetic organisms, such as trees in an orchard, crops, or the like. The membrane unit may be shell-less and utilize a vacuum or positive pressure to facilitate the flow of fast gas components through a selective barrier of the membrane.

An inventive drug product filling device for filling a liquid drug product into containers is disclosed. The drug filling device includes a drug product preparer configured for preparing the liquid drug product and a filling station configured for filling the liquid drug product into the containers. The filling station is fluidly coupled to the drug product preparer. A degasser is fluidly interposed between the drug product preparer and the filling station. The degasser has a membrane configured for at least partially separating off gas from the liquid drug product. Methods of (i) filling a liquid drug product into containers, (ii) increasing the accuracy of the filling weight of a liquid drug product in a container, (iii) increasing the stability oxygen-sensitive active pharmaceutical ingredient in a liquid drug product, and (iv) reducing polysorbate aggregate formation in a liquid drug product are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a method for the at least temporary retention of charged biologically active substances such as endotoxins, viruses, and proteins from liquids, and optional later release for better determination. The object is achieved by a method for the at least temporary separation and/or detection of charged biologically active substances in a liquid by means of electrosorption and/or electrofiltration, comprising the following steps: a. providing a polymer membrane with a flat and porous metal coating at least on a first side of the polymer membrane; b. providing a counterelectrode; c. applying a voltage between the metal coating of the polymer membrane and the counterelectrode; d. bringing the polymer membrane and the counterelectrode into contact with the liquid, with the contacting being performed such that the liquid generates at least one connection between the polymer membrane and the counterelectrode.

An inventive apparatus for closed circuit batch-RO desalination comprising a RO-skid with membrane elements and circulation means for the recycling of RO concentrate through membranes and a designed hydraulic-arm with a disc separating between a section of pressurized hydraulic fluid created by a high pressure hydraulic pump under fixed flow and variable pressure conditions and a section of RO recycled concentrates. The batch desalination sequence is completed when the entire hydraulic-arm volume is filled with hydraulic fluid and thereafter, desalination is stopped, said apparatus decompressed, brine removed and hydraulic-arm recharged with fresh feed before the initiation of a new batch sequence. The inventive apparatus enables RO desalination under the lowest energy and highest recovery prospects not possible by any other RO technique.

An acidic gas separation device includes: a first separation device which has an inorganic separation membrane and is configured to separate a gaseous hydrocarbon fluid containing an acidic gas into a first gaseous fluid having a large acidic gas content and a second gaseous fluid having a smaller acidic gas content than the first gaseous fluid by the inorganic separation membrane; and a second separation device which has an organic polymer separation membrane and is configured to separate the second gaseous fluid into a third gaseous fluid having a large acidic gas content and a fourth gaseous fluid having a smaller acidic gas content than the third gaseous fluid by the organic polymer separation membrane.

A turbocharger includes a turbocharger housing having an impeller housing comprising a circular cross-section. A main nozzle is disposed within the turbocharger housing communicating a first portion of a fluid stream to a first volute. A first auxiliary channel and a first auxiliary nozzle communicating a second portion of the fluid stream to the first volute. The first auxiliary nozzle is downstream of the main nozzle. A second auxiliary channel and a second auxiliary nozzle communicate a third portion of the fluid stream to the first volute. The second auxiliary nozzle is downstream of the first auxiliary nozzle. A valve assembly is selectively coupling the first auxiliary channel to the first auxiliary nozzle and the second auxiliary channel to the second auxiliary nozzle.

Provided is a technique for easily trapping microbiota in a sample. A microbiota trapping device of the present disclosure includes a first solution tank having a first filter adapted to trap residue in a sample, and a second solution tank having a second filter adapted to trap bacteria in the sample. The second solution tank has a vent above the second filter.

An apparatus utilizes a membrane unit to capture components from atmospheric air, including carbon dioxide, enriches the carbon dioxide concentration, and delivers the enriched concentration of carbon dioxide to a sequestering facility. The membrane is configured such that as a first gas containing oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide is drawn through the membrane, a permeate stream is formed where the permeate stream has an oxygen concentration and a carbon dioxide concentration higher than in the first gas and a nitrogen concentration lower than in the first gas. A permeate conduit, having a vacuum applied to it by a vacuum generating device receives the permeate stream and a delivery conduit delivers at least a portion of the enriched carbon dioxide to a sequestering facility. The apparatus may comprise a component of a system where the system may have a flue gas generator and/or a secondary enrichment system disposed between the vacuum generating device and the sequestering facility.

An apparatus for removing water vapor from a feed gas is provided that comprises a membrane housing, a membrane that divides a first pressure side and a second pressure side of the membrane housing, a feed gas inlet and outlet on the first pressure side, a sweep gas inlet and outlet on the second pressure side, a sweep gas flow regulator, and a pump. In some embodiments the feed gas can be at ambient pressure and a pressure drop across the membrane can be less than about 1 atm.