Monolithic Membrane Filters

An additive manufacturing method for producing a component (50) having at least partially or at least locally a porous material structure (60), comprising the steps of:

• providing (100, 102, 104, 106, 108) a porous or porosable base material (70, 70a, 71, 72, 73, 74);
• applying (120, 122, 124, 126) the porous or porosable base material to build up the component;
• and
• adjusting (110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 119) a porosity of the porous or porosable base material during the applying.

A monolithic component (50), comprising:

• a first end face (2) and a second end face (2a) opposite the first end face (2);
• and
• a porous structure (60) arranged between the first and second end faces and integrally constructed and connected to the first and second end faces, wherein the porous structure is at least partially or locally permeable;
• wherein the porous structure permeably separates a shell side of the porous structure from a carrier side of the porous structure at least partially and/or at least locally;
• wherein a carrier fluid is providable on the carrier side;
• wherein the porous structure is configured to ensure a material transfer of the carrier fluid with the shell side.

A monolithically constructed filter module (50) for a device for separating constituents from a fluid, comprising:

• a first end face and a second end face (2, 2a) opposite the first end face (2);
• a filter housing (5, 62) formed integrally with the first and the second end faces;
• a porous structure (60, 64) arranged in the filter housing and integrally constructed and connected to the first and second end faces and the filter housing, wherein the porous structure permeable at least in part or locally;
• a carrier fluid collecting connection (7, 7a);
• and
• a shell fluid connection (8, 8a);
• wherein the first end face and the second end face are each an integral fluid barrier for preventing a crossflow between the carrier fluid collecting connection and the shell fluid connection;
• wherein the porous structure permeably separates shell side (10) of the porous structure from a carrier side (1) of the porous structure at least partially and/or at least locally;
• wherein a carrier fluid is providable on the carrier side;
• wherein the porous structure is configured to ensure a material transfer of the carrier fluid with the shell side.