adapter the vacuum flask is connected to a vacuum line to perform a separation experiment a vacuum of 10 to 14 psi may be applied and the time for a fixed volume of liquid to transport across the membrane may be recorded the device may be used to determine membrane permeability for example the time for 20 ml of water to pass through a known membrane area may be recorded for bulk fluid flow measurements a filtration setup is used with the membrane and sealed e g using adhesive the membranes and tubes are checked for leaks around the seal ensuring that all fluid flow occurs only through the membrane a pressure gauge or vacuum may be used to regulate the pressure across the membrane in general the pressure vacuum is chosen such that 5 20 ml depending on filtration setup membrane of water passes through a membrane during 2 to 10 minutes next flow rates for water are measured the tubes and membranes are then dried under vacuum and the flow rate for hexadecane is measured in certain embodiments membranes are tested for selectivity to determine their ability to separate water hexadecane using the device the emulsions are gravity fed through the membrane the emulsions are injected directly into the membrane tube setup the fluid that passed through the membrane is then collected in a pre weighed vial the residual hexadecane in the vial is isolated by allowing the.