A separator element comprising a porous rigid single-piece substrate (2) presenting firstly, at its periphery, a perimeter wall (2.sub.1) that is continuous between an inlet (4) for the fluid medium for treatment at one end of the porous substrate and an outlet (5) for the retentate at the other end of the porous substrate, and secondly, internally, a surface covered by a separator layer (6) and defining an open structure made up of empty spaces (3) for passing a flow of the fluid medium for treatment. The empty spaces (3) are arranged in the porous substrate so as to create within the porous substrate a first flow network (R1) for the fluid medium for treatment, having at least two interconnected flow circuits (R1.sub.1, R1.sub.2) for the fluid medium between the inlet (4) and the outlet (5) of the porous substrate.

Described are filter cartridges, filter apparatuses, and related methods that involve a filter cartridge that includes a cartridge support that includes centering surfaces, a helical strand, or both.

A method of processing a mixture of heated vapors, at least two of which substantially differ in polarity from each other, the method comprising directing said mixture of heated vapors at a temperature of at least 150 C. through a hydrophobic or hydrophilic mesoporous membrane comprising a mesoporous coating of hydrophobized or hydrophilized metal oxide nanoparticles, respectively, wherein the hydrophobic mesoporous membrane permits passage of one or more hydrophobic heated vapors and blocks passage of one or more hydrophilic heated vapors, and wherein the hydrophilic mesoporous membrane permits passage of one or more hydrophilic heated vapors and blocks passage of one or more hydrophobic heated vapors. The method is particularly directed to embodiments where the heated vapors emanate from a pyrolysis process. An apparatus for achieving the above-described method is also described.

A blood filtration device comprising a generally cylindrical housing having an interior wall. An interior member is mounted interior of the housing and comprises an outer surface having a porous membrane disposed thereon. The housing and interior member are relatively rotatable and define an annular gap therebetween. The blood filtration device also comprises an inlet for directing fluid into the annular gap, a first outlet for exiting filtrate passing through the membrane, and a second outlet for directing from the annular gap the remaining retentate. The porous membrane comprises a first layer and a second layer.

A reactor cell for measuring gas and liquid permeation is disclosed. The reactor cell comprises a reactor module having a reactor chamber and a cover. A first hole extends into the reactor chamber from a first surface, a second hole opposing the first hole extends into the reactor chamber from a second surface, a third hole extends into the reactor chamber from a third surface and a fourth hole opposing the third hole extends into the reactor chamber from a fourth surface. A hollow fiber is supported by and sealed into the first and second holes of the reactor module. The first and second ends of the hollow fiber are sealed with a sealing solution. Methods for making and using the reactor cell are also disclosed. As made and used, the reactor cell further comprises a molecular sieving membrane grown on an inner bore surface of the hollow fiber.

The invention relates to a device for the manufacture by extrusion of a porous tubular support from a ceramic composition, the device including: a fixed extrusion die (6) in which is mounted a punch holder (7) provided with a centered rectilinear punch (8a) and with at least one helically-shaped punch (8) wound around an axis of symmetry (X) along a winding direction and a winding pitch; a system (10) for driving in rotation the punch holder (7) around said axis of symmetry (X) along a direction of rotation opposite to the direction of winding of the punch(es) (8) and at a speed of rotation synchronized with the linear speed of extrusion of the ceramic composition.

Composite polyether block amide (PEBA) copolymer tubes incorporate an ultra-thin PEBA layer that enables rapid moisture transfer and exchange through the tube. A composite PEBA film may include a porous scaffold support and may be formed or incorporated into the composite PEBA tube. A porous scaffold support may be coated or imbibed with PEBA to form a composite PEBA film. A composite PEBA film may be wrapped on a mandrel or over a porous scaffold support to form a composite PEBA tube. A film layer may be applied over a wrapped composite PEBA film to secure the layers together. The film layer by applied by dipping, spraying or painting.

A method of manufacturing a separator element for obtaining molecular and/or particulate separation by tangential flow of a fluid medium for treatment into a filtrate and a retentate, the element having a structure (2) of at least two porous rigid columns (3) made of the same material, positioned side by side to define, outside their outside walls, a volume (4) for recovering the filtrate, each column (3) presenting, internally, at least one open structure (5) for passing a flow of the fluid medium, opening out in one of the ends of the porous column for inlet of the fluid medium for treatment, and in the other end for outlet of the retentate. The element is a single-piece rigid structure (2) made as a single piece that is uniform and continuous throughout, without any bonds or exogenous additions.

The present invention provides a joining and sealing arrangement for joining and sealing together a hydrogen separation membrane to a metallic connector comprising: a metallic hydrogen separation membrane mounted on or against a connector formation of the connector about a longitudinal axis, the connector being formed of a different metal to the hydrogen separation membrane, the hydrogen separation membrane having an outer diameter (D) about the longitudinal axis, the hydrogen separation membrane and the connector formation contacting at a connection interface in which an end face of the hydrogen separation membrane is proximate to, substantially abuts or overlaps an adjoining face of the connector formation; a connection that connects the hydrogen separation membrane and the connector formation about the connection interface; and a constriction collar configured to extend from at least the connection interface and extend axially over the hydrogen separation membrane relative to the longitudinal axis, the constriction collar comprising: an expansion section configured to axially extend over the hydrogen separation membrane relative to the longitudinal axis from a constriction end to an expanded diameter, the constriction end being configured to extend around the hydrogen separation membrane at or proximate the connection interface relative to the longitudinal axis and having an inner surface defining a constriction diameter (C) that is configured to extend around the outer surface of the hydrogen separation membrane, wherein the expansion section includes a transition section extending from the constriction end and comprises a curved surface having a transition radius of at least 0.1 D; and wherein the expansion section comprises an angled or curved section in which the diameter of the constriction collar expands from the constriction diameter C to the expanded diameter comprising at least 1.01 D.