A spacer for a membrane module, the spacer comprising: a plurality of first filaments defining a plurality of fluid flow channels, in use the plurality of fluid flow channels being adjacent a membrane of the membrane module; and a plurality of second filaments provided on the plurality of first filaments and extending into the fluid flow channels, the second filaments moveable relative to the first filaments in response to an external stimulus during flow of fluid in the fluid flow channels.

A membrane cartridge including: a filtration membrane (2); and a support plate (3). The support plate (3) includes a reference surface, a first joint portion (32) protruding from the reference surface, and a second joint portion (33) retreated from the reference surface, the second joint portion (33) is provided closer to an outer edge (35) of the support plate (3) than the first joint portion (32) is, at least a portion of an outer edge portion (21) of the filtration membrane (2) is joined to the support plate (3) at the second joint portion (33), and a portion of the filtration membrane (2) inward of the outer edge portion (21) is joined to the support plate (3) at the first joint portion (32).

A crossflow filter device for filtering a pressurised feed liquid is provided. The crossflow filter device comprises: a filter membrane; a flow channel for the pressurised feed liquid which extends in a path over a retentate surface of the membrane such that the direction of flow in the channel is tangential to the retentate surface, and a filtrate derived from the feed liquid passes through the membrane leaving retentate liquid in the flow channel; and a collection chamber for the filtrate formed on an opposite, filtrate surface of the membrane. The crossflow filter device further comprises a sealed housing having a retentate side and a filtrate side which enclose therebetween the flow channel, the filter membrane and the collection chamber. The path for the flow channel winds back and forth over the retentate surface of the membrane producing plural hairpin bends, and the crossflow filter device further comprises flow channel guide walls provided at an inner surface of the retentate side of the housing to define the path of the flow channel over the retentate surface of the membrane. The respective guide wall defining the line of the inner radius of each hairpin bend is shaped such that retentate liquid flowing along that guide wall has to turn through at least 270? to complete the hairpin bend.

A piece of substrate material is formed under heat and pressure by a roller against a cavity or platen into a shaped substrate sheet having one or more depressions. Two substrate sheets are bonded together to form a substrate wherein the one or more depressions form one or more interior channels. The substrate is coated with a dope in a casting device having a guide portion corresponding to the shape of the substrate sheets and quenched to form a filtering membrane.

Membrane cell stack arrangement and method of manufacturing such a membrane cell stack arrangement. The arrangement has a housing (2) having a central axis, and a stack of membrane cells (4), each membrane cell (6) being arranged inside the housing (2) with a major surface (6a) of the membrane cell (6) oriented substantially perpendicular to the central axis. Each membrane cell (6) has a corner recess (12) between each two adjacent sides of at least four sides (10a-d). Sealing compartments (14) are provided by corner recesses (12) of adjacent membrane cells of the stack of membrane cells (4) in co-operation with a part of an inner surface (2a) of the housing (2).

A spacer for a membrane module, the spacer comprising: a plurality of first filaments defining a plurality of fluid flow channels, in use the plurality of fluid flow channels being adjacent a membrane of the membrane module; and a plurality of second filaments provided on the plurality of first filaments and extending into the fluid flow channels, the second filaments moveable relative to the first filaments in response to an external stimulus during flow of fluid in the fluid flow channels.

A two-dimensional membrane layered structure may include a support substrate layer having a plurality of substrate passages configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough, a two-dimensional membrane layer disposed on an upper surface of the support substrate layer, and a plurality of flow passages disposed between the support substrate layer and the two-dimensional membrane layer. The two-dimensional membrane layer may have a plurality of pores configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough. The plurality of pores may comprise a first portion of pores that overlap with the plurality of substrate passages and a second portion of pores that do not overlap with the plurality of substrate passages. The plurality of flow passages may be configured to allow fluid to flow through the second portion of pores to the plurality of substrate passages.

A piece of substrate material is formed under heat and pressure by a roller against a cavity or platen into a shaped substrate sheet having one or more depressions. Two substrate sheets are bonded together to form a substrate wherein the one or more depressions form one or more interior channels. The substrate is coated with a dope in a casting device having a guide portion corresponding to the shape of the substrate sheets and quenched to form a filtering membrane.

Devices, methods, and kits directed towards collecting and preparing cells using a separable sample collection layer may be configured to collect or treat cells from a liquid sample with mechanisms for easy transfer of the cells prior to analysis or imaging. The separable sample collection layer may comprise a porous membrane that cells may be collected on, and one or more support layers comprising tape with one or more adhesive coatings and release liner. The devices, methods and kits may be configured with support layers comprising cutouts that form vertically or horizontally oriented microchannels for efficiently removing undesirable liquid. Following collection and/or treatment, cells collected onto the porous membrane may be adhered to another surface for further processing or analysis.

In order to provide a hydrogen purification device in which a source gas is supplied, from which a purified gas flows out, that is easily manufacturable, and in which the pressure resistance of an hydrogen permeable membrane is high, the hydrogen purification device is configured to include a hydrogen permeable membrane allowing hydrogen to selectively permeate therethrough, two porous supports that sandwich and support the hydrogen permeable membrane from both surfaces thereof, and a casing having a space formed therein configured to accommodate reaction of the source gas and the hydrogen permeable membrane. The porous supports are contained inside the casing, an outermost edge of the hydrogen permeable membrane extends outward from the outer edges of the porous supports in at least one location, and a peripheral portion of the hydrogen permeable membrane in a vicinity of the outermost edge and the casing are airtightly sealed to each other.