Redundant filtration system that includes at least one barrier filter as a process filter, the barrier filter having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic paths, allowing both fluid and gas permeability. The need for vents is eliminated, as is an intermediate drain filter. The device also can be dried in series. The filtration system includes a network of conduits and receptacles, the network receiving liquid raw and/or starting material at one end, conducting it through the process stream defined thereby, and producing the desired liquid product at another end. The network is provided with one or more inputs for introducing liquid raw material into the fluid process stream, and one or more output ports for discharging fluid out of the fluid process stream. The network is preferably an essentially closed network, and also, preferably sterile and/or aseptic.

The present invention provides a submerged type membrane separation device and a membrane separation method which allow long-term stable filtration. In the submerged type membrane separation device including a membrane module having membrane units stacked on top of each other in stages, in each of which flat sheet membrane element each having a separation membrane are arranged, the membrane module is constructed of various membrane units differing in sludge-filtration resistance or pure-water permeation resistance, whereby it becomes possible to extend a device operation period of time lapsing before transmembrane plugging occurs, or equivalently, the necessity to clean membranes arises. Further, it also becomes possible to design to synchronize timings with which a plurality of membrane units require cleaning.

A method of operating a pressure-retarded osmosis plant, the plant comprising at least one osmosis element having a semi-permeable membrane, the semi-permeable membrane defining a feed side and a permeate side of the osmosis element, the method comprising, in a first mode of operation, supplying a feed stream having a relatively high concentration of solute to the feed side, supplying a permeate stream having a relatively low concentration of solute to an inlet of the permeate side, and receiving a feed outlet stream from the feed side wherein permeate has passed through the semi-permeable membrane from the permeate side to the feed side, in a second mode of operation, supplying a backwash stream having a relatively low concentration to the feed side of the osmosis element such that water passes through the semi-permeable membrane, and receiving a permeate outlet stream from an outlet of the permeate side, the method further comprising alternately performing the first mode of operation, to perform a production step, and performing the second mode of operation, to reduce fouling of the semi-permeable membrane.

Systems, methods, and devices for preparation of water for various uses including blood treatment are described. In embodiments, fluid is passed through a first filtration step which is effective for creating purified water and a pair of ultrafilters placed at the outlet. The ultrafilters are separated by an intervening flow path to prevent grow-through from the outlet end upstream. In embodiments, a recirculation path with an air removing filter helps to eliminate air from the ultimate product water.

A desalination apparatus and a method of desalinating thereof, wherein the desalination apparatus comprises a perforated vessel and at least one engineered semi-permeable membrane that covers perforations on the perforated vessel, wherein the desalination apparatus forms a purified water from saline water when submerged in the saline water to a depth of 50-250 m to create sufficient pressure differential on both sides of the engineered semi-permeable membrane, wherein low-saline water flows through the engineered semi-permeable membrane and collected within an internal cavity of the desalination apparatus. Various embodiments of the desalination apparatus and the method of desalinating are also provided.

An allophanate group-containing polyisocyanate composition that contributes to the formation of a polyurethane resin with fewer bubbles is provided. Disclosed is an allophanate group-containing polyisocyanate composition (C) including a reaction product of diphenylmethane diisocyanate (A) and a hydroxyl group-containing compound (B), wherein the hydroxyl group-containing compound (B) includes a hydroxyl group-containing polymethylsiloxane compound (B-1) in an amount of 1 ppm or more and 300 ppm or less.

A disposable filter capsule for a filtration device comprises only one housing, which has an inflow connection for a fluid to be filtered and an outflow connection for filtrate. The disposable filter capsule also comprises at least two separate filter means, which are fixed in the housing and together with the housing form an inseparable structural unit. All the components of the disposable filter capsule consist of sterilizable, in particular gamma-sterilizable, materials.

The present invention relates to a separation membrane module including: a pressure vessel; a plurality of separation membrane elements which are provided in the pressure vessel and each includes: a wound membrane body in which a separation membrane, a liquid-to-be-treated channel member and a permeated liquid channel member are spirally wound around a permeated liquid collection tube; and anti-telescoping plates disposed on both ends of the wound membrane body; and a thrust load holding member which holds a thrust load generated when water passes through the separation membrane elements, in which a thrust load adjustment holding member which is capable of adjusting the thrust load by adjusting a total length of the separation membrane elements in the pressure vessel, is provided on at least one end of the thrust load holding member in an axial direction of the separation membrane elements.

A filter flow management system includes a cartridge having an inlet through which fluid flow can be introduced to the cartridge, a plurality of channels situated within the cartridge and designed to remove particulates from the fluid flow, at least one channel being in fluid communication with the inlet to receive the fluid flow, and a reservoir into which fluid flow flowing through the at least one channel can be directed and subsequently redirected into at least one other channel.

A desalination apparatus and a method of desalinating thereof, wherein the desalination apparatus comprises a perforated vessel and at least one engineered semi-permeable membrane that covers perforations on the perforated vessel, wherein the desalination apparatus forms a purified water from saline water when submerged in the saline water to a depth of 50-250 m to create sufficient pressure differential on both sides of the engineered semi-permeable membrane, wherein low-saline water flows through the engineered semi-permeable membrane and collected within an internal cavity of the desalination apparatus. Various embodiments of the desalination apparatus and the method of desalinating are also provided.