Patent ID: 7587927
Filing Date: 2009-09-15
Classification: B01D,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of assessing the integrity of a porous material without allowing the method to reach a steady state comprising a) wetting the porous material with a liquid; b) contacting a first surface of the porous material with a mixture comprising a carrier and a detectable substance; c) applying pressure to the first surface of the porous material such that at least some of the carrier and the detectable substance permeate the porous material; d) recirculating the carrier and detectable substance found in a permeate of the porous material in a fixed volume on the permeate side while continuing to apply the pressure of (c); e) assessing the concentration of the detectable substance in the permeate of the porous material over time; and f) comparing the assessed concentration in (e) with the concentration of the detectable substance in a permeate of an integral porous material exposed to the same conditions over time, wherein an assessed concentration in (e) which is greater than the concentration of the detectable substance in a permeate of the integral porous material indicates the porous material is not integral.