A separation system comprising: membrane plate assemblies, wherein each of the membrane plate assemblies comprise: a spacer plate comprising a spacing region, wherein the spacer plate at least partially defines at least a first opening (101, 103) and at least a second opening (102, 104), wherein the spacer plate comprises a first surface having a first bonding area for a first membrane including surfaces (222, 231) and an opposing second surface having a second bonding area for a second membrane including surfaces (219, 230), wherein said first and second bonding areas are on opposing sides of the spacer plate and are offset with respect to each other; a first membrane bonded to the surfaces (222, 231) of said first bonding area; a second membrane bonded to the surfaces (219, 230) of said second bonding area; wherein the membrane plate assemblies form a stack, with adjacent membrane plate assemblies in the stack having alternating orientations such that each spacer plate is rotated 180° in plane with respect to the spacer plate adjacent to it and said first bonding area and said second bonding area of adjacent membrane plate assemblies align with one another; wherein the first opening (101, 103) is in fluid communication with a region between the first and second membranes (302, 303) defining a first flow path, and the second opening is in fluid communication with a region between adjacent membrane plate assemblies in the stack defining a second flow path; and one or more support plates coupled to hold the membrane plate assemblies in the stack, wherein at least one of the support plates defines at least one fluid port. membrane plate assemblies, wherein each of the membrane plate assemblies comprise: a spacer plate comprising a spacing region, wherein the spacer plate at least partially defines at least a first opening (101, 103) and at least a second opening (102, 104), wherein the spacer plate comprises a first surface having a first bonding area for a first membrane including surfaces (222, 231) and an opposing second surface having a second bonding area for a second membrane including surfaces (219, 230), wherein said first and second bonding areas are on opposing sides of the spacer plate and are offset with respect to each other; a first membrane bonded to the surfaces (222, 231) of said first bonding area; a second membrane bonded to the surfaces (219, 230) of said second bonding area; a spacer plate comprising a spacing region, wherein the spacer plate at least partially defines at least a first opening (101, 103) and at least a second opening (102, 104), wherein the spacer plate comprises a first surface having a first bonding area for a first membrane including surfaces (222, 231) and an opposing second surface having a second bonding area for a second membrane including surfaces (219, 230), wherein said first and second bonding areas are on opposing sides of the spacer plate and are offset with respect to each other; a first membrane bonded to the surfaces (222, 231) of said first bonding area; a second membrane bonded to the surfaces (219, 230) of said second bonding area; wherein the membrane plate assemblies form a stack, with adjacent membrane plate assemblies in the stack having alternating orientations such that each spacer plate is rotated 180° in plane with respect to the spacer plate adjacent to it and said first bonding area and said second bonding area of adjacent membrane plate assemblies align with one another; wherein the first opening (101, 103) is in fluid communication with a region between the first and second membranes (302, 303) defining a first flow path, and the second opening is in fluid communication with a region between adjacent membrane plate assemblies in the stack defining a second flow path; and one or more support plates coupled to hold the membrane plate assemblies in the stack, wherein at least one of the support plates defines at least one fluid port. wherein the first opening (101, 103) is in fluid communication with a region between the first and second membranes (302, 303) defining a first flow path, and the second opening is in fluid communication with a region between adjacent membrane plate assemblies in the stack defining a second flow path; and one or more support plates coupled to hold the membrane plate assemblies in the stack, wherein at least one of the support plates defines at least one fluid port.