The present disclosure provides, among other things, systems for processing silk. Provided systems purify silk fibroin solutions without inducing conformational changes in the silk proteins. Provided systems concentrate silk fibroin solutions. The present disclosure also provides methods of purifying and concentrating silk fibroin solutions. Provided systems and methods are useful for processing silk fibroin for any application.

Apparatus and methods for use in water processing include housing sections that house in their interiors water treating membranes, the respective interiors being separate from one another. A distributor chamber for containing a flow of water to be treated conveys water to be treated from a feed inlet and distributes the water to be treated into the interiors of the housing sections. A collector chamber for collecting treated water from the interiors of the housing sections is provided to communicate a merged flow of the treated water to an extraction outlet. The device may be employed in subsea systems or in a topside water processing system.

An ion-exchange and ultrafiltration filter system having an exterior housing having an inlet and an outlet with an ultrafiltration membrane provided within the housing along a central axis about a central portion of the housing with an ion-exchange membrane provided within the housing between the ultrafiltration membrane and the housing. The ion-exchange and ultrafiltration filter system being capable of being configured so as to provide two-step filtration in a plurality of modes, either ion-exchange to ultrafiltration, or ultrafiltration to ion-exchange.

A fluid separation apparatus comprising a fluid separation membrane is provided. The fluid separation apparatus comprises a fluid separation membrane extending in one direction and having a cross-section with a closed curve shape, wherein the fluid separation membrane has a thickness of 0.1 mm to 2 mm, and an outer diameter of 60 mm to 360 mm when the cross-section is adjusted to be circular.

A gas separation module and assembly for housing ceramic tubular membranes. The module includes a plurality of tubes containing the ceramic tubular membranes. The tubes are arranged parallel to one another and are supported by tube sheet plates at each end. Gas-tight seals surround each membrane, preventing a feed gas and a residue gas within the inner lumen of the membrane from mixing with a permeate gas in the tube interior. The module also contains a gas distribution pipe for withdrawing the permeate gas out of, or introducing a sweep gas into, the module. This configuration allows for ceramic tubular membranes to be modularized for use in an assembly that carries out many types of gas separations.

A tube unit includes multiple tubes and bundling portions that bundle end portions of respective tubes at opposite ends of the tubes. At least one of the end portions of respective tubes has a tube wall portion that tubularly extends in an extension direction of the tubes and also has a protrusion protruding radially outward from the tube wall portion.

In some embodiments thereof, the present invention describes TFF (Tangential Flow Filtration) filtration devices that utilize tubular membranes for the separation of cells and particles. These devices encompass several innovative features, including the use of membrane tubes with either circular or non-circular cross-sections. These tubes are closely surrounded by both tube housing and filter housing to regulate the pressure of the liquid exiting the filter housing. Additionally, the membrane tubes may feature internal cores within their lumens and/or structures along their inner walls. These internal features serve to regulate flow patterns and pressures within the tubes. One notable aspect of this invention is the inclusion of features on the tube housing or tube core that effectively regulate pressure resistance and feed flow patterns. These features lead to a reduction in the required recirculation rate and contribute to improved transmembrane pressure profiles, making these membrane filters highly effective for cell retention in cell culture and other applications. The patent also introduces various filter designs that incorporate tubular membranes into TFF filtration devices to achieve multiple goals, including a more consistent TMP (Transmembrane Pressure) profile for efficient separation, reduced recirculation rates to generate adequate shear rates, higher packing densities of membrane surface areas within the same filter design, and enhanced manufacturability and recyclability of the filters. Overall, this invention represents a significant advancement in the field of TFF filtration, offering innovative solutions for a wide range of applications in the separation of cells and particles.

A chemical reactor for use in a chemical process wherein a reactant and/or a target product is prone to produce undesirable byproducts through secondary reactions. The reactor is configured with a first flow passage for passing a flow of an overly reactive reactant; a permeable first wall for controlled flow of the overly reactive reactant into a second flow passage providing a flow of a second reactant; a permeable second wall having a catalyst supported on an inner surface thereof for catalyzing reaction of the reactants flowing in the second flow passage; the permeable second wall passing through a flow containing the target product; and a non-permeable third wall defining a third flow passage for exiting the product mixture. The reactor can be employed in selective oxidation, oxidative dehydrogenation, and alkylation processes to reduce the formation of byproducts.

The invention relates to a filtration system for filtering a fluid containing solid particles. The filtration system comprising a deformable wall defining a chamber interior to the wall, and a tubular shaped membrane arranged in the chamber. Further, the system is arranged for periodically deforming the chamber wall inwardly and outwardly, respectively, for filtering a fluid that is present in the chamber, exterior to the membrane.

The present disclosure describes a flow-electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI) desalination system and method of use. The system employs clusters of tubular membranes oriented parallel to each other, each membrane having an internal flow path capable of receiving an electrolyte slurry (carbon slurry) therethrough. Each tubular membrane further comprises an electrode coaxially extending through the entire length of the electrode. Preferably, adjacent electrodes within the cluster receive a positive or negative charge, respectively. The cluster of tubular membranes is nested within a flow chamber capable of receiving saline or brackish water to be flowed along the outside surfaces of the tubular membranes to cause selected ions, e.g., Na+, Cl to pass through the membranes and into the carbon slurry circuit. The desalinated water then passes out of the flow chamber. The outer diameter of the electrodes can be optimized based on the inner diameter of the tubular membrane.