Laterally-fed membrane chromatography device

A laterally-fed membrane chromatography device for removing a solute from a fluid, the device comprising:

• a top body having a first channel extending from an inlet along a first channel length and a first channel width of a top surface of a membrane stack, the first channel length extending a total lengthwise extent of the top surface of the membrane stack;
• a middle body housing the membrane stack, the fluid directed through the membrane stack in a second direction to remove the solute from the fluid;
• and
• a bottom body having a second channel extending from an outlet along a length and a width of a bottom surface of the membrane stack to collect a fluid flowing in a third direction after exiting the membrane stack;
• wherein the first channel width extends a total widthwise extent of the top surface at the leading edge of the membrane stack to direct the fluid to flow in the first direction across the top surface of the membrane stack;
• wherein the first direction and the third direction are transverse to the second direction, and
• wherein the top surface of the membrane stack has a top membrane stack surface area and the bottom surface of the membrane stack has a bottom membrane stack surface area matching the top membrane stack surface area.

A method of removing a solute from a fluid, the method comprising:

• directing the fluid through a top body in a first direction and over a first direction length and a first direction width of a top surface of a membrane stack, the top body having a first channel extending from an inlet along the first direction length and a first channel width of the top surface of the membrane stack, the first channel length extending a total lengthwise extent of the top surface of the membrane stack;
• directing the fluid through the membrane stack in a second direction to remove the solute from the fluid, the membrane stack housed in a middle body;
• and
• directing the fluid through a third body in a third direction, the third body for collecting the fluid from the membrane stack;
• wherein the first channel width extends a total widthwise extent of the top surface at a leading edge of the membrane stack to direct the fluid to flow in the first direction across the top surface of the membrane stack,
• wherein the first direction and the third direction are transverse to the second direction, and
• wherein the top surface of the membrane stack has a top membrane stack surface area and a bottom surface of the membrane stack has a bottom membrane stack surface area matching the top membrane stack surface area.