Disclosed are apparatus and methods for blood and other biological fluid purification using a membrane with cell containing vascular channel systems and filtration channel systems. Also disclosed are methods of making the apparatus as well as methods of making membranes.

Disclosed are apparatus and methods for blood and other biological fluid purification using a membrane with cell containing vascular channel systems and filtration channel systems. Also disclosed are methods of making the apparatus as well as methods of making membranes.

A tubular membrane pervaporation separation system, comprising a heater, one or multiple membrane separators arranged in parallel, a condenser and a vacuum pump; the separator comprises a vacuum vessel, a concurrent heating vessel and one or multiple pervaporation lines arranged in parallel; the line comprises membrane tube bundle modules and concurrent heating modules connected in series or in a series-parallel hybrid form, in the line, the membrane tube bundle modules are arranged between two adjacent concurrent heating modules; the vacuum vessel is connected to the condenser and the vacuum pump in sequence; the concurrent heating vessel is provided with an inlet and an outlet; one end of the line is connected to the heater and the other end is used to discharge; the modules are placed respectively in the vacuum vessel and the concurrent heating vessel, comprise one or multiple membrane tubes and concurrent heating tubes arranged in parallel respectively.

A tubular membrane pervaporation separation system, comprising a heater, one or multiple membrane separators arranged in parallel, a condenser and a vacuum pump; the separator comprises a vacuum vessel, a concurrent heating vessel and one or multiple pervaporation lines arranged in parallel; the line comprises membrane tube bundle modules and concurrent heating modules connected in series or in a series-parallel hybrid form, in the line, the membrane tube bundle modules are arranged between two adjacent concurrent heating modules; the vacuum vessel is connected to the condenser and the vacuum pump in sequence; the concurrent heating vessel is provided with an inlet and an outlet; one end of the line is connected to the heater and the other end is used to discharge; the modules are placed respectively in the vacuum vessel and the concurrent heating vessel, comprise one or multiple membrane tubes and concurrent heating tubes arranged in parallel respectively.

A housing of a separation apparatus includes therein a zeolite membrane complex. A sheath includes therein the housing. A fluid supplied to the inside of the housing has a temperature higher than the temperature around the sheath. A second exhaust port is used to exhaust a permeated substance that has permeated through the zeolite membrane complex in the fluid to the outside of the housing. The permeated substance exhausted from the housing can be led into an exterior space between the sheath and the housing through the second exhaust port and can be exhausted through an exterior exhaust port. At least part of the zeolite membrane complex is included in an inter-port space surrounded by the sheath, the second exhaust port, and the exterior exhaust port. This structure reduces energy required for fluid separation performed under high temperatures.

A continuous oil-water separation system includes a storage tank having an inlet and an outlet and storing an oil-water mixture, a filter housing including a storage space having a predetermined height and having an inlet connected to the outflow portion of the storage tank to allow the oil-water mixture to flow in therethrough, a water drain hole allowing water separated from the oil-water mixture to be discharged therethrough, and an outlet allowing a residual oil-water mixture to flow out therethrough, a super-hydrophilic oil-water separation filter positioned in the storage space of the filter housing to absorb water from the oil-water mixture and connected to the water drain hole to allow the absorbed water to be discharged therethrough, a pressure control valve installed on an outlet pipe extending from the outlet, and a hydrophobic membrane connected to a rear end of the pressure control valve on the outlet pipe.

The invention relates to a method for producing a tubular electrochemical separation unit comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells, arranged electrically in series, and comprising at least three layers, said method comprising: —a deposition step (110) of a first layer to form a first discontinuous layer (10) comprising several successive tubular modules (11) separated by spaces (12), —a deposition step (120) of a second layer, said deposition being achieved to form a second discontinuous layer (20) comprising several successive tubular modules (21) separated by spaces (22), so that tubular modules (11) are partially coated with tubular modules (21) of the second layer (20), —a deposition step (130) of a third layer, said deposition being achieved to form a third discontinuous layer (30) comprising several successive tubular modules (31) separated by spaces (32), so that tubular modules (21) are partially coated with tubular modules of the third discontinuous layer.

The invention relates to a method for producing a tubular electrochemical separation unit comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells, arranged electrically in series, and comprising at least three layers, said method comprising: —a deposition step (110) of a first layer to form a first discontinuous layer (10) comprising several successive tubular modules (11) separated by spaces (12), —a deposition step (120) of a second layer, said deposition being achieved to form a second discontinuous layer (20) comprising several successive tubular modules (21) separated by spaces (22), so that tubular modules (11) are partially coated with tubular modules (21) of the second layer (20), —a deposition step (130) of a third layer, said deposition being achieved to form a third discontinuous layer (30) comprising several successive tubular modules (31) separated by spaces (32), so that tubular modules (21) are partially coated with tubular modules of the third discontinuous layer.

The invention pertains to a polyaryl ether sulfone polymer solution [solution (SP)] comprising: —at least one sulfone polymer [polymer (PSI)] having recurring units, wherein more than 50% moles, with respect to all the recurring units of polymer (PSI), are recurring units (R.sub.PSI) selected from the group consisting of those of formulae (R.sub.PSI-1) and (R.sub.PSI-2) herein below: (R.sub.PSI-1) (R.sub.PSI-2) wherein: —each of E′, equal to or different from each other and at each occurrence, is selected from the group consisting of those of formulae (E′-1) to (E′-3): (E′-I) (E′-II) (E′-III) —each R′ is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, ether, thioether, carboxylic acid, ester, amide, imide, alkali or alkaline earth metal sulfonate, alkyl sulfonate, alkali or alkaline earth metal phosphonate, alkyl phosphonate, amine and quaternary ammonium; and —j′ is zero or an integer of 1 to 4; is a bond or a divalent group optionally comprising one or more than one heteroatom; preferably T is selected from the group consisting of a bond, —CH.sub.2—, —C(O)—, —C(CH.sub.3).sub.2—, —C(CF.sub.3).sub.2—, —C(═CCI.sub.2)—, —C(CH.sub.3)(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2—COOH)—, and a group of formula: (A) —at least one polar organic solvent [solvent (S)]; and —at least one mixture of polyhydroxyl aliphatic alcohols having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or derivatives thereof [mixture (PHA)], said mixture (PHA) comprising at least one ethylene glycol compound [compound (EthyGly)] and at least one glycerol compound [compound (Gly)], to its use for manufacturing membranes, and to membranes obtained therefrom. ##STR00001##

A filter structure includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet; a first filter embedded in the housing and including a polymer membrane for filtering a first fluid flowing from the inlet into the housing; and a second filter embedded in the housing, filtering a second fluid filtered by the first filter, and including mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN).