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.

A membrane module and a membrane separating method for processing liquids, that includes: the liquid stream of a liquid to be processed is supplied, via an inlet, to a separating membrane designed as a flat membrane, such that a purified permeate passes the separating membrane; and the separating membrane is irradiated by UV light at least on the side of the separating membrane facing the inlet, the irradiation by UV light occurring by means of a mat and/or a fabric and/or a grating and/or a net, which consists, in full or in part, of optical waveguide fibers which out-couple light laterally, forming an irradiation element.

Provided are processes of removing particulate fouling from a filtration membrane or for preventing membrane fouling by particulate matter. A process capitalizes on reversal of a naturally occurring diisophoretic particle deposition to actively move particulate material away from a membrane. A process includes placing a microparticle including a salt in proximity to a membrane such that the microparticle creates a gradient generated spontaneous electric field or a gradient generated spontaneous chemiphoretic field in the solvent proximal to the membrane that actively draws charged particles away from the membrane thereby removing charged particulate matter away from the membrane or preventing its deposition.

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.

A membrane filtration device comprising: a retentate plate, a permeate plate, and a membrane sandwiched between the retentate plate and the permeate plate, wherein the retentate plate comprises at least one feed channel extending from a distribution manifold, and at least one drain channel extending from a collection manifold, wherein a feed channel is fluidly connected to a drain channel via through-holes extending from a first side of the retentate plate, from a feed channel, to an opposing second side of the retentate plate, and through-holes extending from the second side of the retentate plate to the first side of the retentate plate, into a drain channel, wherein ridges extend from the retentate plate and/or the permeate plate for supporting the membrane.

Provided are an inexpensive, high-quality, permeation-side flow path material that is suitable for use in spiral membrane elements and enables the improvement of productivity, a method for producing such a permeation-side flow path material, and a membrane element having such a permeation-side flow path material. Provided are (a) a permeation-side flow path material for use in a spiral membrane element, the permeation-side flow path material comprising a resin sheet comprising a plurality of ridge portions 31 formed parallel to one another; and a plurality of openings 32 formed between each pair of the ridge portions 31, (b) a method for producing such a permeation-side flow path material, and (c) a membrane element having such a permeation-side flow path material.

Provided are reverse-osmosis-membrane device capable of treating raw water including a large amount of membrane foulants, such as MBR-treated water, with stability while preventing a reduction in the amount of permeate, and a method for operating the reverse-osmosis-membrane device. The raw water includes a high-molecular organic substance having a molecular weight of 10,000 or more at a concentration of 0.01 ppm or more. The reverse-osmosis-membrane device includes a reverse-osmosis-membrane element including a membrane unit, the membrane unit including a reverse osmosis membrane having a thickness of 0.1 mm or less, a feed spacer disposed on a surface of the reverse osmosis membrane, and a permeate spacer disposed on the other surface of the reverse osmosis membrane. The reverse-osmosis-membrane device is operated at a permeation flux of 0.6 m/d or less.

A filtration system suitable for recovering base stock from used lubricating oil and other applications pass feedstock over nano-filtration membranes assembled as a stack of membranes all experiencing parallel flow. On exiting a first stack of membranes the feedstock passes through an opening in a pressure-sustaining separator plate to flow in the reverse direction past a second stack of membranes and subsequently establish a serpentine flow of feedstock through multiple stacks of membranes. The stacks of membranes all share a common pressure containment vessel. Pressure boosters installed in the flow-through openings of separator plates separating consecutive stacks can serve to restore lost pressure of the feedstock and maintain effective permeation of permeate through the membranes. A pressure control valve at the outlet to the permeate-receiving cavities of a stack can be used to adjust the trans-membrane pressure.

A spiral wound filtration assembly including: i) a pressure vessel comprising a feed port, concentrate port and permeate port; ii) at least one spiral wound membrane module comprising at least one membrane envelop wound around a permeate tube which forms a permeate pathway to the permeate port; and iii) a bioreactor having a cylindrical outer periphery extending along an axis (Y) from a first end to a second end, an inlet located near the first end, and an outlet located near the second end; wherein the spiral wound membrane module and bioreactor are serially arranged within the pressure vessel.