Porous hollow fiber membranes having a low molecular weight cut-off, processes for their production, and their use for separation tasks in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceutical technology and food processing.

Disclosed is a hollow fiber membrane having hexagonal voids, suitable for use in high throughput filtration applications. Thus, the membrane includes (i) an inner surface; (ii) an outer surface; and (iii) a porous bulk disposed therebetween, wherein the porous bulk comprises at least a first region including: a) a first set of pores having a first controlled pore size and having outer rims; b) a second set of pores connecting the outer rims of the first set of pores, wherein the pore size of the first set of pores is greater than the pore size of the second set of pores; and c) a polymer matrix supporting the first set of pores. Also disclosed is a method for preparing such hollow fiber membranes, which involves coating a filament with a coating composition that includes a membrane-forming polymer and dissolvable nanoparticles, followed by phase invention, and dissolving of the nanoparticles. The filament is removed to obtain the hollow fiber membrane.

Disclosed is a method for producing a hollow fiber carbon membrane using a hollow fiber carbon membrane-forming material by means of a dry method or dry-wet method comprising a spinning step, a drying step, an infusibilization step, and a carbonization step as basic steps; wherein in the infusibilization step, heat treatment is performed at least two times at different temperatures, with the second temperature being higher than the first temperature. It is preferable that the second heat treatment is performed directly after the first treatment is performed, without once cooling to room temperature. The obtained hollow fiber carbon membrane has improved permeability, without reducing its separation coefficient.

Provided is a filtration device that can increase a filtration treatment amount by suppressing clogging of a filtration filter. A filtration device according to the present invention includes: a filtration filter that includes a filter that filters a filtration target contained in a fluid, and a frame that holds the filter; a support structure that holds the frame such that the filter is bent; and a fluid supplying unit that supplies the fluid with the filter being in a bent state.

The present invention relates to a composite porous hollow-fiber membrane including a first layer and a second layer which each include a fluororesin-based polymer, in which at least a part of molecular chains of the fluororesin-based polymer is oriented in a longitudinal direction of the composite porous hollow-fiber membrane, the molecular chains of the fluororesin-based polymer have a degree of orientation it in the longitudinal direction of the composite porous hollow-fiber membrane of 0.4 or higher but less than 1.0, the degree of orientation it being calculated with the specific formula.

The present invention is related to a method for fabricating multilayer singlebore membranes (10) or multilayer multibore membranes (20) for ultrafiltration applications including the following method steps: (a) feeding at least a material of a substrate (12), at least one material of a functional layer (14, 15) and a bore fluid (36) to a spinneret (30) simultaneously; (b) forming said membranes (10, 20) as a tube-like string (54) in a one-step process in said spinneret (30); (c) thereby assigning a functionality to said functional layer (14, 15) applied on at least one surface (13, 17) of said substrate (12). The invention is also related to a spinneret (30) for fabricating multilayer singlebore membranes (10) or multilayer multibore membranes (20), using the inventive method, and to a system comprising such a spinneret (30).

A hollow fiber carbon membrane is produced by preparing a membrane-forming dope for carbon membranes by dissolving polyphenylene oxide in an amount giving a concentration of 15 to 40 wt. % in the membrane-forming dope, and sulfur in an amount giving a ratio of 0.2 to 3.0 wt. % based on the polyphenylene oxide, in a solvent capable of dissolving these components; preparing the membrane-forming dope for carbon membranes into a hollow shape by means of a spinning method in accordance with a non-solvent induced separation method using a double annular nozzle; performing a crosslinking treatment at 200 to 240° C. in the air; then performing an infusibilization treatment by heating at 250 to 350° C.; and further performing a carbonization treatment by heating at 450 to 850° C. in an inert atmosphere or under vacuum.

The invention relates to extracorporeal blood circuits, and components thereof (e.g., hollow fiber membranes, potted bundles, and blood tubing), including 0.005% to 10% (w/w) surface modifying macromolecule. The extracorporeal blood circuits have an antithrombogenic surface and can be used in hemofiltration, hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration, hemoconcentration, blood oxygenation, and related uses.

The present invention provides an intrinsically anti-microbial hollow fiber membrane for filtration of liquids. The membrane comprises a plurality of porous hollow bilayer membrane fibers wherein the liquid enters from outside of the fiber, passing through the porous membrane into the lumen of the fiber and coming out from the hollow ending of the fiber, wherein this configuration provides a liquid outside-in arrangement and retains the filtrate outside. It means that membrane of the invention has built in characteristics to act against microbes in order to provide the use with a safe liquid free from microbes. The outer side or outer wall of the hollow fibers may be configured to become hydrophobic whereas inner side or inner wall of the hollow fiber membrane may be configured to become hydrophilic to enhance the water permeability to a great extent. The hollow fiber membrane may be configured to give it an intrinsic anti-microbial capability. A device containing above said membrane has also been disclosed.

Provided is a system that can prevent or reduce adhesion of a raw material component to a membrane surface and increase the recovery rate of the raw material component after concentration. A raw material liquid concentration system for a medicine production process is provided with: a forward osmosis membrane unit having a forward osmosis membrane, and a raw material liquid side space and an inductive solution side space which are separated from each other by the forward osmosis membrane; a raw material liquid channel for supplying, to the raw material liquid side space, a raw material liquid containing a solvent and a solute; an inductive solution channel for supplying, to the inductive solution side space, an inductive solution containing an inductive material; a concentrated liquid channel for removing a concentrated raw material liquid from the forward osmosis membrane unit; and a diluted inductive solution channel for removing a diluted inductive solution from the forward osmosis membrane unit. The forward osmosis membrane produces the concentrated raw material liquid and the diluted inductive solution by moving the solvent in the raw material liquid into the inductive solution and by moving the inductive material in the inductive solution into the raw material liquid.