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 a bundle of a dense plurality of hollow fiber membranes contained in the case. One set of the fiber membranes in the bundle constitutes feed-fibers while another set of the fiber membranes in the bundle constitutes strip-fibers for use in contained liquid membrane separations. The feed-fibers and strip-fibers are disposed within the elongate module case in opposite generally wave-like paths such that the feed-fibers and strip-fibers converge at generally lengthwise-separated crossing regions within the module. This disposition of the feed-fibers and the strip-fibers minimizes the effective membrane thickness value of the module as compared to conventional contained liquid membrane module thereby enhancing the efficacy of fluid separations.