An electromembrane extraction (EME) device including a union connector, an acceptor compartment with a connector end and a donor compartment with a connector end wherein both connector ends are connectable to the union connector, wherein the union connector includes a flat membrane with a seal on each side thereof, wherein the seals when the acceptor compartment and the donor compartment are connected to the union connector are arranged respectively between the acceptor compartment connector end and the flat membrane and the donor compartment connector end and the flat membrane.

The present invention provides devices and methods for concentrating a fluid and for treating a patient with the concentrated fluid. The concentrator apparatus includes a main housing (12) defining a separation chamber (14), a filter housing (48) containing a filter (46) comprising a filter element, a piping (44) for moving concentrated fluid from the separation chamber to the filter, and ports (32) for pressurizing the concentrated fluid past the filter element of the filter. The present invention also provides a variety of uses of concentrated body fluids, including autologous concentrated body fluid. The concentrated fluids can be used for example in surgical applications, including graft applications such as allograft, xenograft and autograft applications.

Membrane-based method of washing and deacidification of oils, wherein a stream of oil is conveyed from an oil reservoir along one side of porous hydrophobic membrane, and washing aqueous solution is conveyed along another side of this membrane. The membranes form hollow fibers, and their total surface area and porosity are large enough for efficient removal of fatty acids, water, ions and hydrophilic organic impurities from oil. Membrane pore size is small enough, so that hydrodynamic mixing of oil and aqueous solution does not take place. Additional stabilization of oil/water meniscus in the pores is achieved by transmembrane pressure difference.

The present disclosure relates to a method for removing carbon dioxide from hydrocarbons, the method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a feed stream comprising hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide with one or more gas-separation membranes to produce a hydrocarbon-rich retentate gas stream and a permeate gas stream rich in carbon dioxide, the retentate gas stream containing less carbon dioxide relative to the feed stream; and (b) passing at least one of the retentate gas stream or the permeate gas stream through an absorption unit to produce a hydrocarbon-rich gas phase and a liquid absorbent phase containing said carbon dioxide. The present disclosure also relates to a system for doing the same.

In various aspects, methods and apparatuses for liquid-liquid extraction are provided. In certain aspects, an emulsion can be formed by combining a feed stream, an extractant, and a surfactant. The feed stream comprises a plurality of distinct components including a first component to be removed therefrom. The feed stream may be selected from a group consisting of: a hydrocarbon feed stream and an azeotrope. Then, a portion of the first component is extracted from the feed stream (or emulsion) by contact with a superoleophobic and hygroscopic membrane filter that facilitates passage of the first component and extractant through the superoleophobic and hygroscopic membrane filter. A purified product is collected having the portion of the first component removed. Such methods are particularly useful for refining fuels and oils and separating azeotropes and other miscible component systems. Energy-efficient, continuous single unit operation apparatuses for conducting such separation techniques are also provided.

Systems and methods for the recovery of rare earth elements are provided. The systems and methods generally include membrane assisted solvent extraction using permeable hollow fibers having an immobilized organic phase within the pores of the hollow fibers. The permeable hollow fibers are generally in contact with an acidic aqueous feed on one side thereof and a strip solution on another side thereof. The systems and methods generally include the simultaneous extraction and stripping of rare earth elements as a continuous recovery process that is well suited for post-consumer products, end-of-life products, and other recovery sources of rare earth elements.

A method for synthesizing a hydrophilic graphene-modified polyurethane foam membrane, is described. The method includes functionalizing graphene oxide particles with tartronic acid to form a functionalized product having a hydrophilic functional group; and reacting the functionalized product with a polyurethane to form the hydrophilic graphene-modified polyurethane foam membrane. The hydrophilic graphene-modified polyurethane foam membrane has a water adsorption capacity of at least 20 g/g. The hydrophilic graphene-modified polyurethane foam membrane is adapted for a use selected from the use group consisting of oil and water separation, water treatment, desalination, and pharmaceutical filtration.

A device and method are described for the treatment of blood, which device may be used in conjunction with or in place of a failed Kidney. The device includes an ultrafiltration unit to remove proteins, red and white blood cells and other high molecular weight components, a nanofiltration unit to remove glucose, at least one electrodeionization unit to transport ions from the blood stream, and a reverse osmosis unit to modulate the flow of water, to both the blood and urine streams. In one embodiment, a specialized electrodeionization unit is provided having multiple chambers defining multiple dilute fluid channels, each channel filled with an ion specific resin wafer, and electrodes at the extremity of the device and proximate each of the resin filled dilute channels. By selective application of voltages to these electrodes, the ion transport functionality of a given dilute channel can be turned on or off.

In various aspects, methods and apparatuses for liquid-liquid extraction are provided. In certain aspects, an emulsion can be formed by combining a feed stream, an extractant, and a surfactant. The feed stream comprises a plurality of distinct components including a first component to be removed therefrom. The feed stream may be selected from a group consisting of: a hydrocarbon feed stream and an azeotrope. Then, a portion of the first component is extracted from the feed stream (or emulsion) by contact with a superoleophobic and hygroscopic membrane filter that facilitates passage of the first component and extractant through the superoleophobic and hygroscopic membrane filter. A purified product is collected having the portion of the first component removed. Such methods are particularly useful for refining fuels and oils and separating azeotropes and other miscible component systems. Energy-efficient, continuous single unit operation apparatuses for conducting such separation techniques are also provided.

Apparatuses and methods for extracting desired chemical species including, without limitation, lithium, specific lithium species, and/or other chemical compounds from input flows in a modular unit. The input flows may be raw materials in which lithium metal and/or lithium species are dissolved and/or extracted. The apparatuses and methods may include daisy chain flow through separate tanks, a column array, and/or combinations thereof.