A process for producing nitrogen-rich air by feeding high temperature air at 150 C. or more to an air separation membrane module is described. After being placed at 175 C. for two hours, the air separation module exhibits a shape-retention ratio of 95% or more in one embodiment. The nitrogen-rich air can be fed to a fuel tank for an aircraft, for example.

A fluid degassing device can include a shell configured to retain a selectively permeable hollow fiber bundle, wherein the shell defines a first flow port and a second flow port and at least a third flow port, and a selectively permeable hollow fiber bundle having a plurality of hollow fibers disposed within the shell such that a first flow circuit is defined between the first flow port and the second flow port, and a second flow circuit is defined in fluid communication with at least the third port such that an inner channel of one or more of the hollow fibers is in fluid communication with at least the third flow port, wherein second flow circuit is partially fluidly isolated from the first flow circuit such that at least one first fluid cannot pass through a wall of one or more hollow fibers, but such that at least one second fluid can pass through the wall of the one or more hollow fibers. The shell and the fiber bundle include a non-cylindrical shape.

The invention relates to extracorporeal blood circuits, and components thereof (e.g., hollow fiber membranes, potted bundles, and blood tubing), including 0.005% to 10% (w/w) surface modifying macromolecule. The extracorporeal blood circuits have an antithrombogenic surface and can be used in hemofiltration, hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration, hemoconcentration, blood oxygenation, and related uses.

A bioreactor has a biofilm that receives a gas through a supporting membrane and another biofilm attached to an inert support. The first biofilm is aerated through the membrane and provides nitrification. The other biofilm has an anoxic or anaerobic zone and provides denitrification. A module useful in the bioreactor has cords potted in at least one potting head. Optionally, some or all of the cords have a gas transfer membrane. The module may provide inert supports, active gas transfer supports or a combination of both types of support. Multiple modules may be assembled together into a cassette, the cassette providing inert supports, active supports or a combination. The module or cassette may have an aerator for mixing or biofilm control.

Polyurethane encapsulating compounds for the embedding of hollow fibers of filter elements are provided. These are obtainable by mixing a polyol component (A) and an isocyanate component (B) to give a reaction mixture and reacting the mixture to completion to give the polyurethane encapsulating compound, wherein the polyol component (A) comprises (a1) at least one fatty-acid-based polyol, (a2) at least one amine compound having at least one tertiary nitrogen atom and at least one isocyanate-reactive hydrogen atom and (a3) at least one metal compound that functions as a polyurethane catalyst, wherein the polyurethane catalyst (a3) does not comprise any tin, lead and/or mercury and the isocyanate component (B) comprises at least one aromatic isocyanate having at least two isocyanate groups. Further provided is a method for producing filter elements using the polyurethane encapsulating compounds and the use of the polyurethane encapsulating compounds for the embedding of hollow fibers.

The invention relates to a method for potting hollow fiber membranes in potting compounds of increased temperature resistance, wherein an isocyanate component with inorganic particles and a polyol component are processed into a potting compound and the hollow fiber membranes are tightly encased by the potting compound in at least one potting zone by the hardening of said potting compound.

Provided is a composition for forming polyurethane resin having a balance between reactivity and reducing viscosity and successfully imparting low-temperature storage stability, for use in fixing a hollow or flat sheet fiber separation membrane; and an MDI prepolymer containing a large amount of allophanate group without a metal compound and a method for producing the same while successfully controlling a reaction.

Solution is provided by using a composition for forming polyurethane resin, containing a specific isocyanate group-containing compound; allophanatizing MDI with a tertiary amine catalyst without containing a metal catalyst; and reacting in the presence of at least one selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic acid amide, a sulfonic acid amide and an active methylene compound.

A filter module (1) has a housing (2) formed from a plastic and a filter (3) made from a plastic is arranged in the housing (2). The housing (2) is bonded adhesively to the filter (3) by an adhesive (15) via a first bonding surface (7, 18) made from a first plastic and via a second bonding surface (14, 19, 21) made from a second plastic. The adhesive bonding of the first bonding surface (7, 18) and the second bonding surface (14, 19, 21) is accomplished via an intermediate piece (10, 20) with the bonding surfaces (14, 18, 21) made from a plastic that is identical to or different from the first plastic. At least one of the bonding surfaces (7, 18, 19, 14, 21) has been activated by plasma or corona pre-treatment prior to the adhesive bonding.

A heat exchanger for a blood circulation circuit comprises a hollow fiber membrane layer having a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, and a fixing portion fixing both end portions of the hollow fiber membranes from outsides of the hollow fiber membranes. The fixing portion mainly contains polyurethane, and each of the hollow fiber membranes has a heat conductive layer containing high density polyethylene, and an adhesion layer provided on an outside of the heat conductive layer, bonded to the fixing portion, and mainly containing a modified polyolefin resin.

A process for producing nitrogen-rich air by feeding high temperature air at 150 C. or more to an air separation membrane module is described. After being placed at 175 C. for two hours, the air separation module exhibits a shape-retention ratio of 95% or more in one embodiment. The nitrogen-rich air can be fed to a fuel tank for an aircraft, for example.