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.

A filter module includes: a center tube having at least one purified water inlet on an outer peripheral surface thereof and provided at one end thereof with a connection portion having a purified water outlet formed therein; a reverse osmosis filter wound on the center tube, the reverse osmosis filtering raw water introduced through one end thereof and discharging the filtered raw water to the purified water inlet; and a post-treatment filter disposed inside the center tube and allowing purified water introduced into the center tube to be post-treated by passing through the post-treatment filter, wherein the center tube includes: a first tube member provided at one end thereof with the connection portion and having a first post-treatment filter mounting slot formed therein; and a second tube member detachably connected to the other end of the first tube member and having a second post-treatment filter mounting slot formed therein.

A device for mass transfer between blood and at least one gas/gas mixture, includes first and second chambers through which blood is able to flow and in each of which a respective plurality of mass-permeable hollow fibers are disposed around a respective axially extending core element, wherein a gas/gas mixture is able to flow through, and blood is able to flow around, the hollow fibers, wherein the second chamber follows the first chamber in the blood flow direction, wherein the first and second chambers are disposed next to one another, and in particular disposed spaced apart between the core element center axes thereof, and the two chambers have a connection in an axial end region by which the chamber volumes through which blood is able to flow are connected, and in particular are connected in the direction of the spacing.

A membrane arrangement for the permeative separation of a gas from gas mixtures has a porous, gas-permeable, metallic support substrate, a membrane formed on the support substrate and selectively permeable for the gas to be separated off. A ceramic, gas-permeable, porous, first intermediate layer is formed between the support substrate and the membrane and directly on the support substrate. A gastight, metallic coupling part is joined by a material-to-material bond to the support substrate. The support substrate and the coupling part are separated by a dividing line. The intermediate layer extends towards the coupling part over the gas-permeable surface of the porous support substrate at least to a distance of 2 mm from the dividing line and extends over the gastight surface of the coupling part by not more than 2 mm beyond the dividing line.

A method of concentrating a lithium-containing aqueous solution, the method comprising: (i) providing a water-permeable structure having an inner surface and outer surface, wherein at least said outer surface is coated with a water-permeable hydrophilic polymer having a thermal stability of at least 100? C.; and (ii) flowing a lithium-containing aqueous feed solution having an initial concentration of lithium over said inner surface while said outer surface is in contact with an aqueous draw solution containing a higher overall ion concentration than said lithium-containing aqueous feed solution, to result in forward osmosis of water from said lithium-containing aqueous feed solution to said aqueous draw solution, and wherein said forward osmosis results in a lithium-containing aqueous product solution having an increased concentration of lithium relative to the initial concentration of lithium in the lithium-containing aqueous feed solution.

A membrane assembly for the permeative separation of a fluid from fluid mixtures includes a porous, fluid-permeable, metallic support substrate, a membrane that is disposed on the support substrate and is selectively permeable to the fluid to be separated off, and a connecting part which is formed, at least on the surface, of a fluid-tight, metallic material. The support substrate is cohesively bonded along a peripheral section thereof to the connecting part. A ceramic, fluid-permeable, porous, first intermediate layer is disposed between the support substrate and the membrane. At least one ceramic bonding layer is disposed directly on the connecting part and the material bond and extends at least over the cohesive material bond and an adjoining section of the connecting part. The first intermediate layer ends on the bonding layer and has a greater average pore size than the bonding layer.

In some embodiments thereof, the present invention describes TFF (Tangential Flow Filtration) filtration devices that utilize tubular membranes for the separation of cells and particles. These devices encompass several innovative features, including the use of membrane tubes with either circular or non-circular cross-sections. These tubes are closely surrounded by both tube housing and filter housing to regulate the pressure of the liquid exiting the filter housing. Additionally, the membrane tubes may feature internal cores within their lumens and/or structures along their inner walls. These internal features serve to regulate flow patterns and pressures within the tubes. One notable aspect of this invention is the inclusion of features on the tube housing or tube core that effectively regulate pressure resistance and feed flow patterns. These features lead to a reduction in the required recirculation rate and contribute to improved transmembrane pressure profiles, making these membrane filters highly effective for cell retention in cell culture and other applications. The patent also introduces various filter designs that incorporate tubular membranes into TFF filtration devices to achieve multiple goals, including a more consistent TMP (Transmembrane Pressure) profile for efficient separation, reduced recirculation rates to generate adequate shear rates, higher packing densities of membrane surface areas within the same filter design, and enhanced manufacturability and recyclability of the filters. Overall, this invention represents a significant advancement in the field of TFF filtration, offering innovative solutions for a wide range of applications in the separation of cells and particles.

A filter device comprising a filter candle on which filter fabrics and membrane tubes are fastened, consists of a central tube, around which a number of perforated support tubes are situated. The seal prevents deposits of filter cake on the radially projecting clamping mechanism which adversely affect the cake discharge, and the seal ensures, by way of its geometrical form and through the selection of the same type material, a permanent sealing action of the connection and fixing of the filter fabric even during operation with temperature and pressure fluctuations, by eliminating the action of difference material coefficients of expansion.

A filter assembly that includes a water separator as part of the filter assembly. The water separator is arranged in the filter assembly and includes a filter element that is provided with a hydrophobic medium through which fuel/lubricant can pass through. The filter assembly also includes a water separator positioned downstream from the filter element. During the operation of the filter assembly, the water separator causes the water in the fuel to be separated and accumulate on the hydrophobic surface of the water separator and, due to the gravity, allows the water to flow downwards along the surface of the water separator into a water collection/sedimentation chamber where it can be evacuated from the filter through one or more passageways.

Provided is an adsorptive liquid filter including: a support tube having a hollow portion formed in a tubular shape and having a plurality of throughholes penetrating the hollow portion from an outer circumferential surface thereof; and an adsorptive membrane which is enclosed by the outer circumferential surface of the support tube and adsorbs foreign substances contained in contaminated liquid, the adsorption membrane including: a support member having a plurality of first pores; and a first adsorptive member which is stacked on the support member and has a plurality of second pores formed therein and is made by accumulating ion exchange nanofibers for adsorbing foreign substances.