Abstract:
A membrane microstructure device is disclosed (10). The membrane microstructure device (10) includes a first glass, ceramic or glass-ceramic plate (12) defining a first recess (32), a second glass, ceramic or glass-ceramic plate (20) defining a second recess (34), and a non-metallic porous membrane (30) sandwiched between the first and second plates (12, 20). The first plate (12), second plate (20) and porous membrane (30) are joined together and the porous membrane (30) is arranged to cover the first (32) and second (34) recesses to define a first microchannel between the first plate and the porous membrane and a second microchannel in fluid communication with the first microchannel between the second plate and the porous membrane. A method of manufacturing a membrane microstructure device is also disclosed.