A humidifier for transferring water vapour from a first gas stream to a second gas stream in a fuel cell system has a stack of thin plates joined together at their edges by planar sealing surfaces, with water permeable membranes between the plates. Each plate defines a gas flow passage along its top and bottom surfaces, with an inlet and outlet defined along edges of the plate, and a flow field extending between the inlet and outlet openings. Inlet and outlet passages connect the inlet and outlet openings to the flow field, with the planar sealing surfaces including bridging portions extending across these passages. Support structures are provided throughout the flow field to support the membrane and diffusion medium layer(s). Each support structure comprises a porous material which is sufficiently porous to permit gas flow through the flow field.

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.

An example separation system includes a stack of membrane plate assemblies. An example membrane plate assembly may include membranes bonded to opposite sides of a spacer plate. The spacer plate may include a first opening in fluid communication with a region between the membranes, and a second opening in fluid communication with a region between membrane plate assemblies. Adjacent membrane plate assemblies in the stack may have alternating orientations such that bonding areas for adjacent membranes in the stack may be staggered. Accordingly, two isolated flows may be provided which may be orthogonal from one another.

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 in-puts 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.

A vertical pressurized immersion membrane filtration system includes at least one pressure vessel/tank and at least one layer of membrane modules sealed therein. Every layer has at least two parallel membrane modules, with space left between the membrane module and the pressure vessel/tank. The upper and lower ends of every membrane module have plates and the upper and lower membrane modules are hermetically connected. The plates separate the space in the pressure vessel/tank into two sealed end compartments and a middle compartment. The membrane module includes interior membrane fibers and an outer perforated supporting cylinder surrounding the membrane fibers. The pressure vessel/tank has end and middle water inlets/outlets. The pressure vessel/tanks are parallel. The multiple membrane modules work simultaneously, effectively increasing filtration efficiency. The filtration system can work in multiple operation modes, improving applicability thereof.

Provided is a method for treating water containing a low-molecular-weight organic substance which enables the low-molecular-weight organic substance to be removed with certainty at a sufficient level without subjecting the water to a biological treatment. A method for treating water containing a low-molecular-weight organic substance, the method comprising passing raw water to a high-pressure reverse-osmosis-membrane separation device, the raw water containing a low-molecular-weight organic substance having a molecular weight of 200 or less at a concentration of 0.5 mgC/L or more, wherein an amount of brine discharged from a reverse-osmosis-membrane module (5a) disposed at an end of a final stage of the high-pressure reverse-osmosis-membrane separation device is 2.1 m.sup.3/(m.sup.2.Math.D) or more.

An example separation system includes a stack of membrane plate assemblies. An example membrane plate assembly may include membranes bonded to opposite sides of a spacer plate. The spacer plate may include a first opening in fluid communication with a region between the membranes, and a second opening in fluid communication with a region between membrane plate assemblies. Adjacent membrane plate assemblies in the stack may have alternating orientations such that bonding areas for adjacent membranes in the stack may be staggered. Accordingly, two isolated flows may be provided which may be orthogonal from one another.

A system and method are provided, including an integrated single-use kit, for processing whole blood to produce platelet rich plasma. A two stage spinning membrane separator, has a first stage for receiving whole blood and separating substantially all red blood cells from plasma and platelets, and a second stage for further separating platelet rich plasma from plasma. A first waste container is in fluid communication with the first stage of the separator for receiving separated red blood cells, while a second waste container is in fluid communication with the second stage of the separator for receiving separated plasma. An outlet line is in fluid communication with the second stage of the separator for receiving platelet rich plasma, and a reinfusion container is removably connected to the outlet line for receiving platelet rich plasma from the second stage of the separator.

Herein, systems and methods are disclosed including a sample acquisition component (SAC) for user-friendly sample collection, a separation component for optional separation of plasma, and one or more stabilization components for stabilizing analytes. In a particular embodiment, the system and methods are directed towards sample collection and stabilization with optional sample separation. Other embodiments can perform any combination of collection, separation, stabilization or detection.

Perforated graphene and other perforated two-dimensional materials can be used to sequester target entities having a particular range of sizes or chemical characteristics. The target entities sequestered thereon can be further assayed for quantification/qualification purposes. Use of multiple filter membranes can allow particular size ranges or chemical characteristics of target entities to be isolated and further analyzed. Methods for assaying a target entity, particularly a biological target entity, can include providing one or more filter membranes disposed in series with one another, the filter membranes containing a perforated two-dimensional material, and the filter membranes having an effective pore size that decreases in a direction of intended fluid flow; and passing a fluid through the filter membranes. The methods can also include assaying for at least one target entity on the filter membranes.