To provide a cell-trapping filter which has a high cell trapping efficiency and which is excellent in water resistance.

A cell-trapping filter comprising a substrate and a cell-separating mechanism by size, wherein the substrate has, at least on its surface, a layer formed of a fluorinated polymer having units having a biocompatible group, having a fluorine atom content of from 5 to 60 mass % and having a proportion P represented by the following formula of from 0.1 to 5%:

proportion P=(proportion (mass %) of units having biocompatible group to all units in fluorinated polymer/fluorine atom content (mass %) of fluorinated polymer)100

To provide a cell-trapping filter which has a high cell trapping efficiency and which is excellent in water resistance.

A cell-trapping filter comprising a substrate and a cell-separating mechanism by size, wherein the substrate has, at least on its surface, a layer formed of a fluorinated polymer having units having a biocompatible group, having a fluorine atom content of from 5 to 60 mass % and having a proportion P represented by the following formula of from 0.1 to 5%:

proportion P=(proportion (mass %) of units having biocompatible group to all units in fluorinated polymer/fluorine atom content (mass %) of fluorinated polymer)100

The present disclosure provides apparatus and methods for processing liquids or fluids. Such apparatus and methods are convenient and efficient for low-cost separation, filtration, capture, collection, and/or storage of biologics and related materials. Provided apparatus and methods are designed for point-of-care use and offer advantages for patients and medical practitioners, including advantages in diagnosis and long-term monitoring of conditions.

Natural water evaporation is a buffered process with huge energy absorption from solar & its derivative wind energy. When large surface shallow pool filled with aqueous solution is exposed under sky, the most portion of natural energy will be spent for pulling water out of water molecules cluster, yet there is still some energy for splitting water from solutes, then the concentration increases, in turn, despite the main former energy is sacrificed, but the stronger solution can redeem most the latter energy during a process of Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO), via membranes separating solution & available water in situ, then the redeemed energy serves as utilizable power output, with the assistance of key units or components: the osmotic to hydraulic pressure transformer, the hydraulic oil current rectification fluidic circuit & a hydraulic motor. With minor adaptation, same mechanism can also be embodied as: mobile osmosis engine, osmosis vehicle battery, yard synergy-osmosis power system, Grid electricity and miscellaneous renewable energy to osmosis energy storage, even desert to oasis remediation with seawater intake solar-via-osmosis powerplant & parasitic freshwater factory.

Natural water evaporation is a buffered process with huge energy absorption from solar & its derivative wind energy. When large surface shallow pool filled with aqueous solution is exposed under sky, the most portion of natural energy will be spent for pulling water out of water molecules cluster, yet there is still some energy for splitting water from solutes, then the concentration increases, in turn, despite the main former energy is sacrificed, but the stronger solution can redeem most the latter energy during a process of Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO), via membranes separating solution & available water in situ, then the redeemed energy serves as utilizable power output, with the assistance of key units or components: the osmotic to hydraulic pressure transformer, the hydraulic oil current rectification fluidic circuit & a hydraulic motor. With minor adaptation, same mechanism can also be embodied as: mobile osmosis engine, osmosis vehicle battery, yard synergy-osmosis power system, Grid electricity and miscellaneous renewable energy to osmosis energy storage, even desert to oasis remediation with seawater intake solar-via-osmosis powerplant & parasitic freshwater factory.

With the subject invention, a method is provided for preparing a filter membrane including the steps of dispersing a liquid which is generally hydrophobic into the pores of a porous membrane, and applying a solution containing lipids onto at least a first surface of the porous membrane containing the liquid. Advantageously, the subject invention allows for filter membranes to be prepared which can be stored for periods of time without degradation in performance. The subject invention may have applicability in various contexts, but is well-suited for preparing filter membranes for permeability screening, particularly Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay (PAMPA).

With the subject invention, a method is provided for preparing a filter membrane including the steps of dispersing a liquid which is generally hydrophobic into the pores of a porous membrane, and applying a solution containing lipids onto at least a first surface of the porous membrane containing the liquid. Advantageously, the subject invention allows for filter membranes to be prepared which can be stored for periods of time without degradation in performance. The subject invention may have applicability in various contexts, but is well-suited for preparing filter membranes for permeability screening, particularly Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay (PAMPA).

A composite membrane including an organic polymer matrix and a plurality of porous inorganic particles is disclosed, wherein each of the porous inorganic particles has a plurality of pores arranged while forming a channel in a predetermined direction, and wherein an average length of the porous inorganic particles in a direction parallel to the channel is less than three times the average maximum length of the porous inorganic particles in the direction perpendicular to the channel.

A composite membrane including an organic polymer matrix and a plurality of porous inorganic particles is disclosed, wherein each of the porous inorganic particles has a plurality of pores arranged while forming a channel in a predetermined direction, and wherein an average length of the porous inorganic particles in a direction parallel to the channel is less than three times the average maximum length of the porous inorganic particles in the direction perpendicular to the channel.

A multi-stage process for recovering acid gas from natural gas having high acid gas contents utilizes two or more membrane absorption contactors arranged in series. The first membrane absorption contactor uses a physical solvent to remove a high volume of acid gas transferred across a membrane, and to reduce the acid gas content in the natural gas to a lower level that can be managed using chemical solvents. The second and, if needed, subsequent membrane absorption contactors can use a chemical solvent to remove acid gas transferred across the respective membranes and reduce the acid gas content in the natural gas to very low levels, if needed, depending on product specifications.