The present invention provides a carbon membrane for fluid separation with which a high-pressure fluid can be separated and purified and which has excellent pressure resistance and is less apt to be damaged. The present invention relates to a carbon membrane for fluid separation, including: a core layer which has a co-continuous porous structure; and a skin layer which has substantially no co-continuous porous structure and is formed around the core layer.

A method for removal of at least a portion of carbon dioxide from an aqueous fluid such as a blood fluid includes placing a first surface of at least one membrane through which carbon dioxide and at least one acid gas other than carbon dioxide can pass in fluid in contact with the fluid. The membrane limits or prevent passage of the fluid therethrough. A carrier or sweep gas including the acid gas other than carbon dioxide is passed over a second surface (which is typically opposite the first surface) of the membrane so that the acid gas other than carbon dioxide can pass through the membrane into the fluid, and carbon dioxide from the fluid can pass from the liquid, through the membrane, and into the sweep gas.

A method for removal of at least a portion of carbon dioxide from an aqueous fluid such as a blood fluid includes placing a first surface of at least one membrane through which carbon dioxide and at least one acid gas other than carbon dioxide can pass in fluid in contact with the fluid. The membrane limits or prevent passage of the fluid therethrough. A carrier or sweep gas including the acid gas other than carbon dioxide is passed over a second surface (which is typically opposite the first surface) of the membrane so that the acid gas other than carbon dioxide can pass through the membrane into the fluid, and carbon dioxide from the fluid can pass from the liquid, through the membrane, and into the sweep gas.

Algae harvesting and cultivating systems and methods for producing high concentrations of algae product with minimal energy. In an embodiment, a dead-end filtration system and method includes at least one tank and a plurality hollow fiber membranes positioned in the at least one tank. An algae medium is pulled through the hollow fiber membranes such that a retentate and a permeate are produced.

Algae harvesting and cultivating systems and methods for producing high concentrations of algae product with minimal energy. In an embodiment, a dead-end filtration system and method includes at least one tank and a plurality hollow fiber membranes positioned in the at least one tank. An algae medium is pulled through the hollow fiber membranes such that a retentate and a permeate are produced.

Provided are a forward osmosis membrane, a forward osmosis membrane module, and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein a forward osmosis membrane, which achieves an extremely favorable reduction in the reverse diffusion of salt compared to the prior art and has a predetermined water permeability, is developed thereby bringing about: practicality in that a liquid-like raw material solution used in actual concentration operations can be concentrated with suppressed diffusion of an induction solution even when used multiple times; and durability in that the performance of the membrane can be maintained within a predetermined range even when a raw material solution having an osmotic pressure is concentrated multiple times. According to an aspect, provided is a forward osmosis membrane having a polymeric separation active layer disposed on the surface of a microporous support membrane, wherein when purified water is placed as a raw material solution on the separation active layer side and 3.5 mass % of a sodium chloride aqueous solution is placed as an induction solution on the support membrane side, with the forward osmosis membrane therebetween, the amount R1 of reverse diffusion of salt into the raw material solution is 0.65 g/(m.sup.2×hr) or less, and the amount F1 of water permeation into the induction solution is at least 3.5 kg/(m.sup.2×hr).

Provided are a forward osmosis membrane, a forward osmosis membrane module, and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein a forward osmosis membrane, which achieves an extremely favorable reduction in the reverse diffusion of salt compared to the prior art and has a predetermined water permeability, is developed thereby bringing about: practicality in that a liquid-like raw material solution used in actual concentration operations can be concentrated with suppressed diffusion of an induction solution even when used multiple times; and durability in that the performance of the membrane can be maintained within a predetermined range even when a raw material solution having an osmotic pressure is concentrated multiple times. According to an aspect, provided is a forward osmosis membrane having a polymeric separation active layer disposed on the surface of a microporous support membrane, wherein when purified water is placed as a raw material solution on the separation active layer side and 3.5 mass % of a sodium chloride aqueous solution is placed as an induction solution on the support membrane side, with the forward osmosis membrane therebetween, the amount R1 of reverse diffusion of salt into the raw material solution is 0.65 g/(m.sup.2×hr) or less, and the amount F1 of water permeation into the induction solution is at least 3.5 kg/(m.sup.2×hr).

Provided is a system that can prevent or reduce adhesion of a raw material component to a membrane surface and increase the recovery rate of the raw material component after concentration. A raw material liquid concentration system for a medicine production process is provided with: a forward osmosis membrane unit having a forward osmosis membrane, and a raw material liquid side space and an inductive solution side space which are separated from each other by the forward osmosis membrane; a raw material liquid channel for supplying, to the raw material liquid side space, a raw material liquid containing a solvent and a solute; an inductive solution channel for supplying, to the inductive solution side space, an inductive solution containing an inductive material; a concentrated liquid channel for removing a concentrated raw material liquid from the forward osmosis membrane unit; and a diluted inductive solution channel for removing a diluted inductive solution from the forward osmosis membrane unit. The forward osmosis membrane produces the concentrated raw material liquid and the diluted inductive solution by moving the solvent in the raw material liquid into the inductive solution and by moving the inductive material in the inductive solution into the raw material liquid.

Provided is a system that can prevent or reduce adhesion of a raw material component to a membrane surface and increase the recovery rate of the raw material component after concentration. A raw material liquid concentration system for a medicine production process is provided with: a forward osmosis membrane unit having a forward osmosis membrane, and a raw material liquid side space and an inductive solution side space which are separated from each other by the forward osmosis membrane; a raw material liquid channel for supplying, to the raw material liquid side space, a raw material liquid containing a solvent and a solute; an inductive solution channel for supplying, to the inductive solution side space, an inductive solution containing an inductive material; a concentrated liquid channel for removing a concentrated raw material liquid from the forward osmosis membrane unit; and a diluted inductive solution channel for removing a diluted inductive solution from the forward osmosis membrane unit. The forward osmosis membrane produces the concentrated raw material liquid and the diluted inductive solution by moving the solvent in the raw material liquid into the inductive solution and by moving the inductive material in the inductive solution into the raw material liquid.

A gas exchange system, said system comprising: a plurality of cartridges, each having a casing, said casing having a cartridge inlet adjacent to a first end and a cartridge outlet adjacent to an opposed second end; each casing having a bore in which is placed a gas permeable, liquid impermeable, hollow membrane; each hollow membrane having a membrane inlet arranged to receive a gas from an inlet chamber and a membrane outlet for venting said gas; each cartridge inlet in communication with a concentration zone, and arranged to receive a solvent from said concentration zone, so as to exit said solvent through said cartridge outlet; wherein said bore is arranged to flow said solvent adjacent to said hollow membrane so as to permit the exchange of gas through said gas permeable, liquid impermeable membrane.