Apparatus for membrane-permeation separations using segmented flow

A membrane separation apparatus comprising a separation cell having a liquid inlet mean and liquid outlet means, the separation cell having an internal space partitioned from the liquid inlet means and liquid outlet means by walls of a plurality of continously hollow, selectively permeable membranes, the membranes being positioned within the cell and defining multiple parallel alongate flow channels which are in fluid communication between the liquid inlet means and the liquid outlet means, the improvement which comprises:

• a source of a liquid feed to the flow channels through the inlet means, a source of a segmentation phase, the segmentation phase immiscible with the liquid feed, a means for dispersing the segmentation phase in the liquid feed effective to produce benificial segmented flow of alternating segments of liquid feed and segmentations phase in the multiple flow channels defined by the membranes, the membranes having flow channels capable of sustaining segmented flow, and the membranes being capable of yeilding increased overall mass transport of a permeable component through the walls of the membranes in combination with the segmented flow.