Liquid membrane modules with minimal effective membrane thickness and methods of making the same

摘要

Modules for use in fluid separations, especially contained liquid membrane separations, exhibit minimal effective membrane thickness. The modules have a module case and at least one pair of superposed fabric sheets disposed within the case, the fabric sheets being pleated and nested in the lengthwise direction of the case. Each fabric sheet contains warp-wise extending hollow fiber membranes. The hollow fiber membranes within the folds of one fabric sheet will therefore form alternating rows with the hollow fiber membranes within the folds of the other fabric sheet by virtue of the length-wise nested pleating. As a result, the effective membrane thickness value of the module is minimized thereby enhancing the efficacy of fluid separations.