Each cell is pressurized with gas from outside of the cell, the amount of permeation of the gas permeated into each cell is measured, and a cell having the amount of permeation greater than (average value of all cells+A) (wherein A is a predetermined value of ? to 6?, where ? is the standard deviation) is considered to be defective. Alternatively, pressure is reduced for each cell, the degree of vacuum in each cell is measured, and a cell having the degree of vacuum worse than (average value of all cells+A) is considered to be defective. Then, a polymer compound is poured into the defective cells of the monolithic separation membrane structure and cured so that the defective cells are sealed. Alternatively, the polymer compound formed in advance as the sealing member is inserted into the defective cells to seal the defective cells.

The invention relates to a method for producing a membrane module, comprising a plurality of elongated filter elements disposed in parallel adjacent to one another, each element comprising a longitudinal channel, a housing enclosing the filter elements, and a collector chamber between the housing and the filter elements.

A separation membrane structure comprising a porous support, a first glass seal, and a separation membrane. The porous support includes through-holes which connect a first end surface and a second end surface. The first glass seal is configured to cover the first end surface. The separation membrane is formed on an inner surface of the through-holes. The first glass seal has a first seal body part and a first extension part. The first seal body part is disposed on the first end surface. The first extension part is connected to the first seal body part and disposed on the inner surface of the through-holes. The separation membrane has a first connection part connected to the first extension part of the first glass seal. A first thickness of the first connection part is less than or equal to 10 microns, and less than or equal to 3.2 times a center thickness at a longitudinal center of the separation membrane.

Components, systems and methods for producing hydrophilitic, functionalized inorganic filtration membranes, pre-treating organic and biological-containing waste waters for minimal membrane fouling and scaling when processed using such functionalized membranes, and use of such functionalized membranes of the present invention in filtration systems for separating such pre-treated waste waters, all with respect to optimal permeate production rates, purity of permeate and resistance to fouling and scale formation on the membranes.

A ceramic membrane filter includes a porous substrate including cells through which a fluid flows, an intermediate membrane formed on the porous substrate, and a separation membrane formed on the intermediate membrane. In this ceramic membrane filter, the percentage of the number of cells having cracks with a size of 4 ?m or less relative to the total number of cells is 9% or less.

A system includes an engine and an exhaust conduit in communication with the engine. A water separation device has exhaust gas passageways in communication with the exhaust conduit. The water separation device has a substrate and a membrane on the substrate. The substrate is monolithic and extends around the exhaust gas passageways. The membrane is between the exhaust gas passageways and the substrate and has capillary condensation pores extending from the exhaust gas passageways to the substrate.

A monolithic separation membrane structure according to the present invention includes a porous support body and a separation membrane. The porous support body has a plurality of filtration cells opening at both end surfaces, a plurality of water collecting cells closed on the both end surfaces, a plurality of discharge flow paths running through the plurality of water collecting cells and opening on an outer peripheral surface, and a monolithic base body including the outer peripheral surface. The separation membrane is formed on inside surfaces of the plurality of filtration cells. The plurality of filtration cells includes a first filtration cell and a second filtration cell which are adjacent to each other. The plurality of water collecting cells include water collecting cell which is adjacent to the first filtration cell and are separated from the second filtration cells. A thickness of a first partition wall of the base body between the first filtration cell and the water collecting cell is thicker than a thickness of a second partition wall of the base body between the first filtration cell and the second filtration cell.

The monolithic separation membrane structure includes a monolithic base, an intermediate layer and a separation membrane. The monolithic base has a plurality of filtration cells extending from a first end face to a second end face. The intermediate layer is formed on an inner surface of the filtration cells. The separation membrane is formed on an inner surface of the intermediate layer. An inner diameter not including the intermediate layer and the separation membrane of the plurality of respective filtration cells is greater than or equal to 1.0 mm to less than or equal to 2.0 mm. A partition wall thickness not including the intermediate layer and the separation membrane of the shortest portion of two adjacent filtration cells of the plurality of filtration cells is greater than or equal to 0.05 mm to less than 0.2 mm. A thickness of the intermediate layer is greater than or equal to 20 ?m to less than 100 ?m.

There is provided a method for cleaning a ceramic filter which can shorten an operation time required to clean the ceramic filter. The method for cleaning the ceramic filter includes: reducing a pressure of a space on a secondary side of the uncleaned ceramic filter, while supplying a cleaning medium to a space on a primary side of the uncleaned ceramic filter, thereby passing the cleaning medium through the ceramic uncleaned filter, so that the uncleaned ceramic filter is cleaned.

A monolithic membrane filter for the filtration of liquids includes a support formed from a porous inorganic material of permeability K.sub.s, the support exhibiting a tubular shape having a main axis, an upstream base, a downstream base, a peripheral surface and an internal portion; channels parallel to the main axis of the support, formed in the internal portion of the support, the channels separated from one another by internal walls formed from the porous inorganic material; a formed in the internal portion of the support and opening onto the peripheral surface so that the filter has an external surface formed by the peripheral surface of the support and the surface of said at least one slot; and a membrane of permeability K.sub.m and of mean thickness t.sub.m covering the internal surface of the channels.