Separation membrane end cap

A separation element comprising:

• a permeable separation body defining a permeate channel in fluid communication with a first side of said separation body for collecting permeate;
• a permeate tube extending along an axis between first and second ends and in fluid communication with said permeate channel;
• a retentate channel on a second side of said permeable separation body;
• a seal surface connected to the permeate tube, and adapted to axially compress a sealing member between said seal surface and a seal surface of an adjacently positioned separation element, wherein said seal surface comprises an annular sealing surface secured about the outer circumference of the permeate tube, and is positioned in a plane perpendicular to the permeate tube, wherein said annular sealing surface includes an annular sealing member, to prevent fluid flow between said retentate channel and said permeate channel;
• first and second end caps disposed respectively about said first and said second ends of said permeate tube and having said permeable body there between, said end caps including a locking structure adapted to releasably engage with corresponding end cap of an adjacently positioned separation element, said seal surface connected to said end cap to prevent relative movement of said locking structure and said seal surface.

Am end cap for a separation element comprising:

• an inner hub defining an inner hub end surface;
• an outer hub defining an outer hub end surface;
• a plurality of ribs extending between said inner and said outer hubs;
• a groove on said inner hub end surface adapted to receive and retain an axial sealing member therein;
• a locking structure disposed on said outer hub surface, said locking structure including a plurality of projections and receptacles disposed about said outer hub, said projections of said outer hub adapted to releasably engage corresponding receptacles of an outer hub of an adjacent separation element to thereby connect said separation element with adjacent separation element and to axially compress said axial sealing member there between adjacent inner hub end surfaces.