Hydrogen separation member

A membrane for separating purified hydrogen from a hydrogen-containing gas, comprising:

• a hydrogen-permeable member adapted to have said hydrogen-containing gas applied to an input side thereof to produce substantially pure hydrogen at an output side;
• and
• a plurality of reinforcing members mounted adjacent said output side of said hydrogen-permeable member so that substantially all of said hydrogen gas passing through said output side also passes through said reinforcing members, each of said reinforcing members having a plurality of holes therein, each of said holes having a longitudinal and a lateral axis, said longitudinal axis being substantially longer than said lateral axis and said reinforcing members being mounted such that the longitudinal axes of the holes of adjacent reinforcing members intersect.