Disclosed herein is a process for separation and purification of a fermentation gas product from a fermenter off-gas containing a fermentation product, volatile impurities, bio-product impurities and water, based on a membrane system. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the process of separating and purifying a fermentation product from a fermenter off-gas, containing the fermentation product, volatile impurities, bio-byproduct impurities and water, comprises the steps of: (a) compressing the fermenter off-gas and feeding it into a membrane module, and (b) selectively permeating the volatile impurities, bio-byproduct impurities and water through the membrane, resulting in a product rich retentate stream. The fermentation gas product is separated from the fermenter off-gas in a single membrane stage to produce a purified retentate stream. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the fermenter off-gas (2), comprising the fermentation gas product, volatile impurities, bio-byproduct impurities and water, passes through a blower (201) that transports it to a gas holder (202), in order to smooth the process fluctuations. Stream (11) exits the gas holder (202) and is compressed in a multi-stage compressor (203), from which bio-byproduct and water are removed through stream (4). The compressed stream (12) enters the membrane module (204), which permeates the volatile impurities, disposing them in stream (13). The process may be still conducted in a 2-stage membrane system in accordance with the present invention.

Disclosed herein is a process for separation and purification of a fermentation gas product from a fermenter off-gas containing a fermentation product, volatile impurities, bio-product impurities and water, based on a membrane system. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the process of separating and purifying a fermentation product from a fermenter off-gas, containing the fermentation product, volatile impurities, bio-byproduct impurities and water, comprises the steps of: (a) compressing the fermenter off-gas and feeding it into a membrane module, and (b) selectively permeating the volatile impurities, bio-byproduct impurities and water through the membrane, resulting in a product rich retentate stream. The fermentation gas product is separated from the fermenter off-gas in a single membrane stage to produce a purified retentate stream. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the fermenter off-gas (2), comprising the fermentation gas product, volatile impurities, bio-byproduct impurities and water, passes through a blower (201) that transports it to a gas holder (202), in order to smooth the process fluctuations. Stream (11) exits the gas holder (202) and is compressed in a multi-stage compressor (203), from which bio-byproduct and water are removed through stream (4). The compressed stream (12) enters the membrane module (204), which permeates the volatile impurities, disposing them in stream (13). The process may be still conducted in a 2-stage membrane system in accordance with the present invention.

Systems and methods for the washing of biological fluid/biological cells are disclosed. The method provides for the automated dilution of the cell feed during the cell washing procedure using a separator in which the separator has a predetermined maximum output concentration for the biological cells that are being washed. The method further includes determining the concentration ratio of the biological cells to be washed in the washing procedure and determining a maximum input concentration as a function of the maximum output concentration and the concentration ratio. Wash solution is then added to dilute said biological cells so that the maximum input concentration of the diluted biological cells entering the separator is not exceeded.

Systems and methods for the washing of biological fluid/biological cells are disclosed. The method provides for the automated dilution of the cell feed during the cell washing procedure using a separator in which the separator has a predetermined maximum output concentration for the biological cells that are being washed. The method further includes determining the concentration ratio of the biological cells to be washed in the washing procedure and determining a maximum input concentration as a function of the maximum output concentration and the concentration ratio. Wash solution is then added to dilute said biological cells so that the maximum input concentration of the diluted biological cells entering the separator is not exceeded.

Hierarchical porous membranes suitable for use in oil/water separation processes are provided. The membranes described herein are particularly well suited for separating trace amounts of water (e.g., no greater than 3 wt % water content, no greater than 1 wt % water content, or 50-1000 ppm water) from oil. The membranes have a wide range of applications, including deep seep oil exploration, oil purification, and oil spill cleanup.

Hierarchical porous membranes suitable for use in oil/water separation processes are provided. The membranes described herein are particularly well suited for separating trace amounts of water (e.g., no greater than 3 wt % water content, no greater than 1 wt % water content, or 50-1000 ppm water) from oil. The membranes have a wide range of applications, including deep seep oil exploration, oil purification, and oil spill cleanup.

An apparatus for roll-to-roll nanomaterial dispersion papermaking includes a suction pressure for consolidating nanomaterials on a fluid permeable filter in one region of the filter and an opposite pressure region or regions for separating a mat of the consolidated nanomaterials and transferring the mat to a transfer roller. A transfer roller may have a suction pressure within the transfer roller to help transfer the mat from the filter to the transfer roller, for example. An inlet port distributes nanomaterials using row and zone inlets, for example.

An apparatus for roll-to-roll nanomaterial dispersion papermaking includes a suction pressure for consolidating nanomaterials on a fluid permeable filter in one region of the filter and an opposite pressure region or regions for separating a mat of the consolidated nanomaterials and transferring the mat to a transfer roller. A transfer roller may have a suction pressure within the transfer roller to help transfer the mat from the filter to the transfer roller, for example. An inlet port distributes nanomaterials using row and zone inlets, for example.

The present invention relates to apparatuses for use in electrophoretic separation of macromolecules and/or cells.

The present invention relates to apparatuses for use in electrophoretic separation of macromolecules and/or cells.