Embodiments of the present invention provide the integration of the function of the feed spacer, the permeate carrier, or both, as a part of the membrane sheet in a spiral wound membrane element.

Track-etched membranes for filtration are provided. Filtration methods utilizing such membranes and cell culture methods are also provided.

A biofouling/biofilm removal system includes a filtration module configured to separate a permeate from a feed; a first inert electrode placed at an inlet of the filtration module; a second inert electrode placed at an outlet of the filtration module; and a power source configured to apply a current between the first and second electrodes. The inlet is configured to receive the feed and the outlet is configured to discard a concentrate, and the current applied between the first and second electrodes initiates electrochemical reactions inside the feed and along a biofilm formed in the filtration module, but not into the permeate.

The disclosure relates to enhancing alkalinity of brine, e.g. seawater, using bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BPMED) without removing divalent cations that otherwise cause scaling. In one embodiment, a BPMED is employed wherein the brine volumetric flow rate through a basification compartment is greater at a given current density than that through a brine compartment which increases the pH of the brine output while keeping it below the precipitation pH. In one embodiment, the spacer located in the basification compartment is thicker than spacers elsewhere in the BPMED so as resist membrane distortion due to the increased hydrostatic pressure in the basification compartment given the greater volumetric flow. The brine output having increased alkalinity can be returned to the ocean to mitigate acidification and enable capture of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

A filter element comprises a membrane layer; and a feed spacer on the membrane layer, wherein the feed spacer comprises a plurality of unit cells arranged in three dimensions, wherein each of the plurality of unit cells comprises a cavity defined by a triply periodic minimal surface, and wherein the cavities of the plurality of unit cells are interconnected to allow a fluid to pass through the cavities of the plurality of unit cells.

The present invention relates to a spiral-wound filter module exhibiting almost no heavy metal leaching and a manufacturing method thereof, and specifically, to a spiral-wound filter module, which can be used as a filter for producing safe drinking water by substantially reducing the amount of a heavy metal leached when immersed in water, and a manufacturing method thereof.

Embodiments of the present invention provide for the deposition of spacing elements on both opposing surfaces of either an entire folded membrane sheet or portions thereof in combination with features deposited on portions of the same sheet to create spacing geometries not otherwise achievable.

This disclosure provides, among other things, a filtration device comprising an open bottomed multi-well plate, a planar spacer that comprises apertures, and a porous capillary membrane. In the device, the planar spacer is sandwiched between the multi-well plate and the porous capillary membrane and the planar spacer is bonded to both the multi-well plate and the porous capillary membrane via an adhesive. Kits and methods of making the device are also provide.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a separation membrane element with which it is possible to stabilize the separation removal performance when a separation membrane element is operated. The present invention is a separation membrane element provided at least with a collecting pipe, a separation membrane, a feed-side channel material, and a permeation-side channel material, wherein: the feed-side channel material is configured from a fibrous column X configured from a plurality of fibrous materials A arranged in one direction and a fibrous column Y configured from a plurality of fibrous materials B arranged in a different direction to the fibrous column X; the fibrous materials A intersect the fibrous materials B to form intersections; and the fibrous materials A and/or the fibrous materials B have a small-diameter part and a large-diameter part between adjacent intersections in a section plane parallel to the respective fibrous column.

In at least one embodiment, a membrane filtration element is provided. The element may include at least one feed spacer including a first set of parallel strands extending in a first direction and including a plurality of first strands having a first thickness and a plurality of second strands having a second thickness that is smaller than the first thickness. A second set of parallel strands may extend in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction. The second set of parallel strands may include a plurality of third strands having a third thickness and a plurality of fourth strands having a fourth thickness that is smaller than the third thickness. In one embodiment, the first and second sets of strands include alternating thick and thin strands, which reduce pressure drop in membrane filtration systems.