Minimal surface area mass and heat transfer packing

A mass transfer packing unit, comprising:

• an inlet for receiving a fluid;
• an outlet for discharging a product;
• a volume located with the mass transfer packing unit;
• a minimal surface area material located between the inlet and the outlet;
• the minimal surface area material having a minimal surface area;
• the minimal surface area having a mean curvature of zero at each point on the minimal surface area;
• the minimal surface area material dividing the volume into a first and a second interpenetrating networks;
• and
• the minimal surface area material being in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet for processing the fluid into the product.

A method for distillation comprising steps of:

• passing a vapor and a liquid countercurrently in a column;
• the column containing packing comprising a minimal surface area material;
• the minimal surface area material having a minimal surface area;
• the minimal surface area having a mean curvature of zero at each point on the minimal surface area;
• the vapor and liquid contacting the minimal surface area material;
• and
• extracting a product from the column.

A method for membrane distillation comprising steps of:

• heating a liquid to be concentrated
• passing the heated liquid to a first liquid passageway,
• the first liquid passageway being separated from a second liquid passageway by a vapor permeable, substantially liquid impermeable membrane wall;
• the membrane wall comprising a minimal surface area material;
• the minimal surface area material having a minimal surface area;
• the minimal surface area having a mean curvature of zero at each point on the minimal surface area;
• cooling a second liquid to produce a cooled liquid;
• supplying the cooled liquid to the second liquid passageway;
• and
• passing the heated liquid and the cooled liquid counter-currently so that vapor from the heated liquid passes through the membrane wall and condenses in the cooled liquid.