Method of preparing cells to enable one fluid to be affected by another fluid

A method of manufacturing a cell of the type having a plurality of passages therethrough and further of the type in which one or more fluids may selectively be passed therethrough, said method comprising the steps of:

• forming a plurality of thin membranes from glass fibres, said fibres having a filament diameter in the range of about 3 to 20 micrometers and being loosely felted together,
• corrugating alternate membranes, adjacent membranes being bonded to each other by a bonding agent whereby the corrugations form with the adjacent membranes the passages of the cell,
• coiling the bonded corrugated and non-corrugated membranes into a cylindrical roll of desired diameter and length,
• adding a fine hygroscopic powder filler to the glass fibre membranes whereby the fibres are embedded with the filler to form therewith a composite member and to provide said membranes with an increased active surface area, said filler being chosen from the group consisting primarily of molecular sieves, silica gel, aluminum hydroxide or mixtures thereof, and
• impregnating the formed powder filled member with an inorganic binder containing silicon whereby the bound powder filler forms a load-bearing layer which is cohesive throughout the increased surface area of said membranes and through the cross-section thereof and whereby said fibres serve as reinforcement for said composite reinforced member.