Hydrogen purification devices and their components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include at least one foil-microscreen assembly disposed between and secured to first and second end frames. The at least one foil-microscreen assembly may include at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and at least one microscreen structure including a non-porous planar sheet having a plurality of apertures forming a plurality of fluid passages. The planar sheet may include generally opposed planar surfaces configured to provide support to the permeate side. The plurality of fluid passages may extend between the opposed surfaces. The at least one hydrogen-selective membrane may be metallurgically bonded to the at least one microscreen structure.

A sealing case for a filtration cassette that reliably prevents leaks after assembly and installation into a filtration system. The sealing case fits on the filtration cassette and provides a fluid-tight seal between the sealing case and around at least one port in the filtration cassette when installed in a filtration system. The sealing case may comprise two halves that mate together, and each half may be identical. The internal surface of the sealing case is flat or substantially flat.

Provided is a method of manufacturing a multilayer mixed matrix membrane which includes providing a support layer, casting a hydrophilic layer on a surface of the support layer, casting a hydrophobic layer on the hydrophilic layer, and allowing the layers to form a multilayer mixed matrix membrane. Also provided is a method of manufacturing a hollow fiber composite matrix membrane which includes providing a first solution having a hydrophilic polymer, providing a second solution having a hydrophobic polymer, and extruding the first and second solutions to form a multilayer hollow fiber composite matrix membrane. Additionally, a plate-and-frame membrane module for direct contact membrane distillation using a multilayer mixed matrix membrane is provided. The plate-and-frame membrane module includes a feed inlet capable of distributing process solution throughout the membrane module, a permeate inlet capable of distributing process solution throughout the membrane module, a tortuous promoter comprising multiple flow channels, a feed outlet, and a permeate outlet.

An assembly for a high output hydrodynamic separation unit includes, in one form, several components or parts. Top and bottom plates serve as caps for and distribute force through layers of separation channels. The compressive forces seal the channels and prevent leakage from the channels. An optional middle plate may also be provided to create smaller subsets of the layers of separation channels. At least one connector is provided to the combination of components to compress the layers of separation channels. In a variation, an optional outer shell may encase the unit to provide support and compress the stack with a unique threaded configuration.

The present disclosure provides systems, devices, and methods for reducing membrane fouling, scaling, and concentration polarization in order to reduce system energy consumption, reduce operational system maintenance and plant downtime, reduce environmental impact and waste, and/or increase membrane flux and/or recovery.

A filter holder for receiving filter cassettes (19) and a method for sterilizing the filter are provided. The filter holder has first and second parallel plates (3, 4). The first plate (3) is fixed and the second plate (4) is movable along at least one rail (2) by a drive (7, 9) so that the filter cassettes (19) can be clamped between the plates (3, 4) with a predefined clamping pressure. The drive (7, 9) is designed to be removable. The at least one rail (2) has at least one tension rod (5) with a spring clamping element (6) so that the first and second plates (3, 4) can be clamped with a pre-definable pressure against the filter cassettes (19).

A submerged membrane separator includes: a plurality of membrane cartridges arranged at predetermined spaces; a flow generating device for generating flows in one direction along the membrane surfaces of the membrane cartridges; and wall members on both sides of a channel of the flow in the one direction formed between the membrane cartridges adjacent to each other. The membrane cartridges can be attached and detached from another direction substantially orthogonal to the flows in the one direction and substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the membrane cartridges.

A frame for a membrane, the frame comprising a rear outer section for structural integrity of the frame, wherein the rear outer section surrounds an inner frame opening; a front inner section secured to a front of the rear outer section to form a first chamber for housing a membrane, and a section for retrieving the membrane, wherein the front inner section has a curved or angular front surface in the form of an integrally formed or separately attached skin and wherein the first chamber and the section for retrieving the membrane are at the opposite ends of the frame; a first membrane guide located within the first chamber for use in deployment of a membrane; wherein a first aperture from which the membrane may be deployed from the first membrane guide and a second aperture through which the membrane may be received are located at opposing ends of the front inner section such that, when deployed, the membrane covers the inner frame opening and the majority of the front surface; and wherein access panels are provided in the front inner section for access into the first chamber.

A separation module that includes a porous membrane, where the porous membrane includes a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer containing 10 to 40 mole percent repeat units derived from 2-methyl-6-phenylphenol and 60 to 90 mole percent repeat units derived from 2,6-dimethylphenol; and a block copolymer containing backbone or pendant blocks of poly(C.sub.2-4 alkylene oxide). The separation module can be used in devices for wastewater treatment, water purification, desalination, separating water-insoluble oil from oil-containing wastewater, membrane distillation, sugar purification, protein concentration, enzyme recovery, dialysis, liver dialysis, or blood oxygenation.

A laterally-fed membrane chromatography device for removing a solute from a fluid is provided. The device has a top plate, a middle plate and a bottom plate. The top plate has an inlet and a top channel for directing the fluid from the inlet towards a membrane stack. The middle plate houses the membrane stack. The membrane stack has a leading edge for receiving the fluid from the top channel, a trailing edge for distributing the fluid to the bottom channel, and is configured to remove the solute from the fluid as the fluid passes through the membrane stack. The bottom plate has a bottom channel and an outlet. The bottom channel is for directing the fluid from the membrane stack to the outlet. The top channel directs the fluid form the inlet over the leading edge in a direction that is transverse to the direction of flow of the fluid through the membrane stack.