Toray developed a new technique for a hollow fibre membrane with microscopic holes used for water treatment. The permeability of the membrane made by the technique is six times as smooth as that of the previous membrane. The membrane is provided with a water outlet hole having an inner surface whose diameter is tens of times as large as that of an outer surface of a water inlet hole. In the structure, water can flow through the membrane smoothly, as well as microscopic materials such as protein and oxygen are captured efficiently without affecting the permeability. Toray aims to put the product into the market in a few years, in expectation that it can be applied to water supply system, and wastewater treatment system for sewage or industry.

JCFA News Letter (No.17) September, 2019/Japan Chemical Fibers Association