A system, method and device are disclosed for bio-processing a feed stream and providing a constant output by operating a continuous single-pass tangential-flow process. The single-pass process provides high conversion concentration while operating at relatively low feed flow rates, and the process can also be used to provide constant output diafiltration.

Methods of making membrane elements for fluid or gas filtration, comprising applying feed or reject spacers, or intermediate spacers, or fold line protection strips, or end support strips directly to a membrane sheet, or to a substrate material which are subsequently applied to a membrane sheet, which thereby avoids contamination from directly printed adhesives, inks, or polymers, or damage from heat or radiation damage to the membrane sheet during direct application of spacers or patterns to the surface of the membrane sheet, thereby avoiding utilization of conventional feed spacer mesh materials. Membrane sheets and spiral wound filtration elements having spacers applied to defined regions of the sheet, in some embodiments having spacers mounted on substrates with different material properties, e.g., stiffness, than the underlying membrane.

Disclosed is a high-penetration hot melt adhesive for separation apparatus, such as thin film composite reverse osmosis filtration membranes. Also disclosed is a method of using these hot melt adhesives to bond these membranes to one or more other components of a separation apparatus.

Embodiments of the present invention provide replacement of conventional separate feed spacer mesh with features placed, deposited or integrated on or into either the porous permeate carrier, the inactive side of the membrane sheet, or select portions of the membrane surface.

A composite semipermeable membrane 12 of the present invention includes a porous support membrane 12a and a skin layer 12b supported by the porous support membrane 12a. The membrane surface of the composite semipermeable membrane 12 has an elastic modulus of 250 MPa or more and 500 MPa or less as calculated by force curve measurement using AFM in water. A spiral membrane element 20 of the present invention includes the composite semipermeable membrane 12 of the present invention. A water treatment system 100 of the present invention includes the spiral membrane element 20 of the present invention.

A separation membrane element of the present invention includes: a separation membranes each having a feed-side face and a permeate-side face and forming a separation membrane pair by being arranged so that the permeate-side faces face each other; and a permeate-side channel material provided between the permeate-side faces of the separation membranes, the permeate-side channel material includes a sheet and a plurality of projections formed on the sheet, the sheet is a porous sheet having pores on a surface thereof, and has densely fused parts, coarsely fused parts and non-fused parts on the surface, and the projections contain a resin, and a part of the resin is impregnated into the pores of the sheet.

A spiral wound membrane module is suitable for use with high temperature water that may also have a high pH, for example steam injection produced water. The module uses a membrane with a polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) backing material. The feed spacer of the module may be made from polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) or ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE). The permeate carrier may be made of a woven nylon (i.e. nylon 6, 6) fabric coated with high temperature epoxy. The core tube and anti-telescoping device may be made of polysulfone. In some examples, the module may be used at a temperature of up to 130° C. Optionally, the module may be used at a pH of 9.5 or more. In a filtration method, the module may be operated at a pressure in the range of 150 to 450 psi. The module may be operated at a generally constant pressure.

Helical separation membranes, helical separation assemblies including one or more helical separation membranes, and separation technologies that include one or more helical membrane assemblies are described. In embodiments the helical membrane assemblies include one or more one or more helical membrane leaves. Methods of making helical separation membranes, helical membrane assemblies, helical membrane modules that include one or more helical membrane assemblies are also described.

Embodiments of the present invention provide elements that are beneficial for use in fluid filtration. Embodiments provide elements that have variable feed spacer height, variable permeate spacer height, or both. The variable height allows flow properties to be matched to fluid volume as the filtration occurs.

The present invention provides a spiral membrane element in which the effective membrane area of a composite semi-permeable membrane can be increased and any decrease in rejection rate is less likely to occur. The spiral membrane element includes: a laminate including a permeation-side flow path material, a supply-side flow path material, and a composite semi-permeable membrane having a separation function layer on a surface of a porous support; a perforated central tube around which the laminate is wound; and a sealing member for preventing mixing between the supply-side flow path and a permeation-side flow path, the spiral membrane element being characterized in that the thickness of the porous support of the composite semi-permeable membrane is 80 μm to 100 μm, the permeation-side flow path material is formed from a tricot knit fabric, and the width of a groove that continues in a straight line is 0.05 mm to 0.40 mm.