Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for fractionating a liquid mixture ‘L2! containing a low-boiling (most volatile) and high-boiling (least volatile) component, in which use is made of membrane contactors ‘1,2!. The liquis mixture ‘L2! is passed through a liquid channel ‘23,25! of a membrane contactor ‘1,2! whereby a vapor ‘V1,V2! enriched in low-boiling component and a liquid ‘L0,11! enriched in high-boiling component are formed. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out this method, in which a number of membrane contactors are coupled.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtering a liquid in a tank has a plurality of elements and a frame for holding the elements while they are immersed in the liquid. The elements have a plurality of hollow fibre membranes attached to and suspended between an upper header and a lower header. The membranes are in fluid communication with one or more permeate channels in one or more of the headers. Releasable attachments between the headers and the frame allow the frame to releasably hold the elements by their headers. The size and configuration of the frame determines the positions of the upper and lower headers of each element relative to each other. Connections between the permeate channels and one or more permeate collection tubes attached to the frame are releasable and resealable connections which are made or broken automatically by the movements involved in inserting or removing an element into or out of the frame.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus employing membrane filtration in biodegradation processes for treatment of wastewater are described. A bioreactor system is described having an equalization system, a membrane bioreactor system, and a controller. Aeration systems for a membrane bioreactor, such as a mixer, and an ultrafilter subsystem are also described, as is a rotary membrane ultrafilter.

Abstract: Porous hollow polymer fiber membranes having convoluted inside and/or outside surfaces, as well as filter devices comprising a plurality of the hollow fiber membranes, the devices preferably being arranged to direct fluid flow from the inside surface of the membranes to the outside surface, methods of making the membranes, and methods of using the filter devices, are disclosed.

Abstract: A filter for an extracorporeal blood circuit including a bundle of hollow fibers having an end section encased in a potting material, wherein the end section of potting material has an end surface with open ends of the fibers distributed throughout the end surface, and a filter header cap having an inlet connectable to a blood line and an open end sealed around a side surface of the end section of the bundle of hollow fibers.

Abstract: A filter comprising one or more substantially unobstructed ducts (11), each with a longitudinal axis. Each duct has a porous wall which defines a lumen (17) that is surrounded by a helical groove (18) in the respective wall. The ratio of the cross sectional areas, when taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, of the totally unobstructed lumen of the duct to that of the open area of the duct, incorporating the helical groove and the lumen, governs the magnitude of the velocities of the fluid flow in the duct. The value of this ratio must allow these velocities to be sufficient to develop a level of interaction between the flow along the groove and the flow through the lumen that produces a flow pattern having a substantially continuous vortex (23), the axis of which is helical.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a membrane module, the membrane module having a plurality of porous membranes, the membranes being arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted to prevent excessive movement therebetween and means for providing, from within the module, by means other than gas passing through the pores of the membranes, gas bubbles entrained in a liquid flow such that, in use, the liquid and bubbles entrained therein move past the surfaces of the membranes to dislodge fouling materials therefrom, the gas bubbles being entrained in the liquid by flowing the liquid past a source of gas to draw the gas into the liquid flow. The gas bubbles are preferably entrained into the liquid using a venturi type device. The membranes are preferably partitioned into discrete groups to assist cleaning while maintaining high packing density.

Abstract: A hemodiafiltration system for treating blood which has module having a housing in which hollow-fiber membranes are arranged in the direction of the longitudinal extent and are embedded at their ends in first and second sealing compounds joined to the inner wall of the housing in a fluid-tight manner. The membrane module also has a dialyzate space and a substituate space separated from the dialyzate space in a fluid-tight manner by a continuous dividing wall. The membrane module further includes means for delivering and withdrawing a dialyzate to and from the dialyzate space, and means for delivering a substituate to the substituate space. The hollow-fiber membranes are used for blood treatment, filtration of the substituate, and delivery of the substituate to the blood.

Abstract: A filter device has two flow paths. The first flow path having at least one cap and fluid port. The second flow path surrounding the first fluid flow path and having at least one cap that overlaps the cap of the first fluid flow path. The second flow path also having at least one fluid port. The filter device providing a simple arrangement that is easily disinfected or sterilized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a hollow fiber membrane module or a capillary membrane module as well as a device having such a module. In the method, hollow fibers or capillaries (3) are placed, in an unsintered state, in a mold (1) structured for receiving the hollow fibers or capillaries (3) and are sintered once inside the mold (1). Subsequently or simultaneously, the fibers are potted in the mold.

Abstract: A membrane filtration device has a multiplicity of hollow fiber membranes, or fibers, unconfined in a shell of a module; a first header and a second header disposed in vertically spaced-apart relationship; said first header and said second header having opposed ends of each fiber sealingly secured therein, all open ends of said fibers open to a permeate-discharging face of at least one header; permeate collection means to collect said permeate, sealingly connected in open fluid communication with a permeate-discharging face of at least one of said headers; means to withdraw said permeate; said fibers, said headers and said permeate collection means together forming an integrated combination wherein said fibers are essentially vertically disposed and ends of individual fibers are potted in closely spaced-apart relationship in cured resin; with opposed faces at a fixed distance; each of said fibers having a length from 0.1% to less than 5% greater.

Abstract: A drinking element (1) for the drinking of a liquid comprises an outlet (3,10) for receipt in the mouth of a drinker of the liquid whereby the element (1) has one or more hollow filtration membranes (5) that are positionable with respect to the liquid and the outlet (3, 10) such that, when the drinker applies a suction force to the outlet (3, 10) liquid passes to the outlet (3, 10) through the one or more membranes (5) where it is filtered.

Abstract: The invention relates to a membrane module in order to filter media which are capable of flowing. Said module incorporates an integrated heat exchanger. According to the invention, the membrane module has the following characteristics: a plurality of rod-shaped, porous, ceramic filter elements (1) (ceramic rods); the ceramic rods (1) are provided with continuous bores (1.1) located parallel to an axis; the ceramic rods are arranged parallel to each other and a lid (3, 4) covers the end thereof: the ceramic rods (1) are sealed at their circumferences against the lid (3, 4); a lid (3) located at one of the membrane modules is provided with an inlet (2.1) for the medium to be treated and a lid (4) located at the other end is provided with an outlet (2.

Abstract: A filter device for mass exchange between two media separated by a membrane providing a low-stress transfer of blood flow from the connection area of the filter device to the fibers of a hollow fiber bundle is disclosed. Relatively uniform utilization of the fibers is provided by a membrane in the form of a hollow fiber bundle whose fiber cavities form a first flow space, with at least one inflow or outflow chamber connected to the first flow space being provided for supplying a medium to the hollow fiber bundle or removing a medium from the hollow fiber bundle. The inflow or outflow chamber is adjacent to an essentially circular or semicircular channel which is designed to be open in the direction of the ends of the hollow fibers and is connected to an inlet or outlet of the filter device.

Abstract: Solvent-resistant polybenzimidazole membranes, methods of making them and crosslinking them and composite membranes and hollow fiber membrane modules from them are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing fouling materials from the surface of a plurality of porous membranes (9) arranged in a membrane module (4) by providing, from within the module, by means (10) other than gas passing through the pores of said membranes, gas bubbles in a uniform distribution relative to the porous membrane array such that the bubbles move past the surfaces of the membranes (9) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. The membranes (9) are arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted to prevent excessive movement therebetween. The bubbles also produce vibration and rubbing together of the membranes to further assist removal of fouling materials.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recovering bioproducts from a feed solution. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a module housing, a membrane means disposed in the housing for filtering the bioproducts from the feed solution wherein a portion of the membrane means is coated with a polymeric coating, and an adsorbent bed disposed in the housing for retaining the bioproducts which permeate through the membrane, wherein the apparatus is adapted to allow fractionation and purification of the retained bioproducts from the bed by elution.

Abstract: A dual-stage filtration cartridge is provided. The cartridge can be embodied as a mid-dilution hemodiafiltration cartridge or a redundant sterilization filtration cartridge. The cartridge includes a housing having a first end and an opposing second end. The housing has a primary fluid inlet and outlet at the first end of the cartridge. The housing also defines first and second filtration stages with the first filtration stage including first filtering elements disposed between the first and second ends of the housing. Each stage has a separate inter-lumen fiber space, but shares a common extra-lumen space. The primary fluid inlet communicates with the first filtering elements at the first end so that fluid flows through the first filtering elements toward the second end. The second filtration stage includes second filtering elements disposed between the first and second ends of the housing with the fluid outlet communicating with the second filtering elements at the first end.

Abstract: The invention concerns the unclogging of a hollow fibre filter operating in frontal mode. Said filter comprises a filter body (1) maintaining the hollow fibres (9) in a vertical position, the liquid to be filtered being introduced into the volume of the filter body (1) via the bottom, the filtrate being evacuated via the top of the filter. The unclogging comprises a reverse injection of gas into the hollow fibres (9) and a circulation of unclogging liquid in the volume of the filter body (1), said circulation of liquid taking place from the top towards the bottom of the filter body.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane cartridge wherein a cartridge head and a bottom ring are connected and fixed to each other by means of a plurality of rods or pipes, the hollow portion at the end of each hollow fiber membrane on the cartridge head side is open, the hollow portion at the end of each hollow fiber membrane on the bottom ring side is sealed, and a plurality of through-holes are provided in an adhesion and fixation layer on the bottom ring side and are located in a bundle of the hollow fiber membranes.

Abstract: Hollow fiber membrane cassettes (1000) comprising an exterior casing (400), a filter (20) comprising two or more hollow fiber membranes (21), and an internal manifold (50) comprising first and second cassette headers (51, 52), wherein the cassette is arranged to allow feed flow, retentate flow, and permeate flow, and methods for making and using the cassettes, are disclosed.

Abstract: A device for potting a filter is described. The device comprises a housing having a first hole in the first region communicating between the surface and the lumen, and a second hole in the second region communicating between the surface and the lumen. A ridge extends around the first hole and the second hole to define a trough for receipt of a flowable potting material. During the manufacture of the filter assembly, the housing is rotated about an axis that bisects the housing and is perpendicular to an axis of the lumen, a flowable material is placed on the surface of the housing, a portion of the flowable material flows toward the first hole, is retained by the ridge, and passes through the first hole, and a portion of the flowable material flows toward the second hole, is retained by the ridge, and passes through the second hole.

Abstract: The invention relates to a membrane filter for water treatment, comprising a head piece (1) consisting of a permeate collecting chamber (2) with a permeate outlet (3), and at least one fiber bundle (4) made from capillary membranes, which are poured into the head piece (1) with an end that is open towards the permeate collecting chamber (2) and sealed on the opposite end thereof. The head piece (1) contains an air duct (16) to which the mouth piece (10) that protrudes into the fiber bundle (4) is connected with at least one air outlet (11). At its other end, the fiber bundle (4) terminates in freely movable manner in the untreated water (6).

Abstract: A system and a method for determining integrity of a dialyzer are provided. The dialyzer may have a gas, such as, for example, air, within the dialyzer. A liquid chamber may be connected to the dialyzer. Liquid within the liquid chamber may be directed toward the dialyzer. The air within the dialyzer may then be compressed. A monitor may be provided exterior to the dialyzer to measure a pressure decay within the dialyzer as the compressed air exits the dialyzer. A comparison between the pressure decay and a leak threshold associated with the dialyzer may assist in determining whether the dialyzer has a leak wherein the dialyzer is unacceptable for use.

Abstract: An element for use in ultrafiltration or microfiltration of potable water has a large number of small diameter hollow fibre membranes attached between two headers. Side plates attached to the sides of the headers define vertical flow channels containing the membranes. The elements may be placed side by side and stacked on top of each other to form cassettes having continuous vertical flow channels through the entire cassette. The membrane modules or cassettes may be arranged to cover a substantial part of the cross sectional area of an open tank. Tank water may flow upwards or downwards through the flow channels. A tank may be deconcentrated by at least partially emptying and refilling the tank with fresh water while permeation continues. Excess tank water created during deconcentration may flow generally upwards through the modules and out through a retentate outlet or overflow at the top of the tank.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hydration bag for providing potable or even sterile water from contaminated water sources. Specifically, there is disclosed two embodiments of a passive membrane osmotic device. The first embodiment has an interior space sealed with one or two membrane walls, having an osmotic agent formulation within the interior space, and having direct osmotic concentration properties. The second embodiment has a sealable nutrient/osmotic agent chamber with a spiral wound membrane wrapped around the nutrient/osmotic agent chamber to form the membrane element, wherein the membrane element is located within a sealable dirty water compartment or within a dirty water source and wherein the membrane element communicates with a clean water compartment. More specifically, the osmotic agent or nutrient can be a partially dehydrated food source, a sugar, a medicine, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing volume of feed liquid required in a porous membrane filtration system having a number of porous membranes (6) submersed in a volume of feed liquid to be filtered is provided, the method comprising the step of providing filler elements (9) within said volume of feed liquid to be filtered.

Abstract: A method of reducing solids fouling between porous membranes in a membrane filtration system of the type having a plurality of membranes mounted, at least at one end, to a header and operable to withdraw permeate from multicomponent liquid substrate in which said porous membranes are immersed, the method including rendering a portion of one or more of the membranes, adjacent the header, inoperative.

Abstract: An encapsulated filter cartridge is disclosed, which includes a filter assembly including a carbon block filter element and a microporous filter element. The filter cartridge has a permanently sealed sump defining an interior chamber configured to accommodate the filter assembly, the sump having an inlet for permitting unfiltered fluid to enter the interior chamber for communicating with the radially outer surface of the filter assembly and an outlet for permitting filtered fluid to exit the interior chamber from the axial portion of the filter assembly. The microporous filter element of the filter assembly may include a hollow fiber subassembly housed within the axial cavity of the carbon block element, said fiber subassembly including a plurality of hollow microporous fibers, or a pleated filter element surrounding the radially outer surface of the carbon block element.

Abstract: An element of immersed, suction driven, filtering membranes has a plurality of hollow fiber membranes suspended between upper and lower headers. The lower header is movable between a first position in which the fibers are substantially elongated and second position in which the two headers are closer to each other by between 1 and 4% of the un-potted length of the membranes. The weight of the lower header is sufficient to keep the lower header in the first position in substantially quiescent water while allowing the lower header to rise to the second position in upwardly flowing water. Aerators are mounted generally below the elements and supply scouring bubbles to each element at a higher rate and then at a rate less than one half of the higher rate in repeated cycles. The cycles are preferably between 10 seconds and 60 seconds in duration. The lower header rises to the second position when bubbles are supplied at the higher rate and falls to the first position when bubbles are supplied at the lower rate.

Abstract: A tubular membrane module includes a a tubular jacket delimiting a flow path for a fluid containing a plurality of components, a plurality of tubular membrane bodies bundled together in a bundle and disposed in the tubular jacket, and at least one interspace element disposed between at least two adjacent membrane bodies of the plurality of membrane bodies. Each of the tubular membrane bodies has a surface and is permeable for a first component of the plurality of components. The interspace elements reduces a diffusion path of the first component to the surface of the membrane bodies.

Abstract: In an apparatus for separating at least one component from a fluid mixture, comprising a plurality of hollow fiber membrane frames through which a carrier fluid is conducted while the fluid mixture flows through the frames in a direction normal to the hollow fiber membranes supported in the frame, a plurality of frames are stacked on top of one another and shaped so that, together, they form a sealed tubular structure for guiding the fluid mixture past the hollow fiber membranes extending across the frames.

Abstract: A modular fluid treatment system utilizing hollow fiber cartridges held within the controlled environment of a reaction chamber, with the system being designed to accommodate and facilitate ease of access to individual cartridges within a given module. The arrangement provides for parallel operation of a group of individual modules, while at the same time facilitating access to individual modules for cartridge replacement. Each module includes an elongated cylindrical reaction chamber with end caps, with the end caps being designed to sealingly engage and retain individual cartridges for use within the module, while at the same time providing for accommodating a wide range of tolerance for variations in cartridge length.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane cartridge comprises a bundle of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, both ends of which are fixed by adhesion, a cartridge head fixed at the periphery of the bundle at one end so as not to permit the passage of liquid either in or out, and a bottom ring fixed at the periphery of the bundle at the other end so as not to permit the passage of liquid either in or out, wherein the cartridge head and the bottom ring are not connected and fixed but are separated, the hollow portion at the end of each hollow fiber membrane on the cartridge head side is open, the hollow portion at the end of each hollow fiber membrane on the bottom ring side is sealed, and a plurality of through-holes are provided in an adhesion and fixation layer on the bottom ring side.

Abstract: A dialyzer is provided comprising a casing defining an interior and including a dialysate inlet and a dialysate outlet. A plurality of fibers are located in the interior of the casing and define a fiber bundle. A dialysate inlet fluid channel is provided in fluid communication with the dialysate inlet and includes a plurality of flutes that extend into a portion of the fiber bundles, the flutes define an opening for allowing dialysate to flow from the inlet fluid channel into the interior of the casing. Methods of providing dialysis are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a multi component liquid substrate while leaving particulate matter therein as a skein of hollow fiber filtering membranes immersed in the substrate which is contained in a non-pressurized reservoir. A pumping fluid communication with the lumens of the membranes draws a component of the substrate as permeate through the membranes by applying a section to the lumens of the membranes. In various embodiments, an aeration system as a gas distributor for discharging air directly into the substrate within the skein, upper and lower headers of the skein are spaced apart by a gas tube, and a gas distribution system has through passages through the lower header to discharge bubbles into the substrate above the lower header.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a contactor for degrassing a liquid. The contractor includes a perforated core and a microporous membrane fabric wrapped around the core. The fabric includes a polymethyl pentene hollow fiber as a weft fiber and a warp yarn. A tube sheet secures the ends of the wound fiber and a shell encases the tube sheet and fabric. The shell has at least one opening to permit fluid flow through the shell and an end cap. In a further embodiment the invention is directed to a contactor for degrassing a liquid wherein the contactor is adapted to withstand pressures greater than 0.4 MPa and temperatures greater than 50° C.

Abstract: Solvent-resistant polybenzimidazole membranes, methods of making them and crosslinking them and composite membranes and hollow fiber membrane modules from them are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for withdrawing filtered permeate from a substrate contained in a reservoir at ambient pressure. The apparatus includes a plurality of membrane assemblies. Each assembly has a plurality of hollow fiber filtering membranes, immersed in the reservoir, at least one permeating header with the membranes sealingly secured therein, and a permeate collector to collect the permeate sealingly connected to the at least one permeating header and in fluid communication with lumens of the membranes. The membranes of each assembly extend generally vertically upwards from a first header during permeation. One or more sources of suction are provided in fluid communication with the lumens of the membranes of each assembly through the permeate collectors and apply sufficient suction to withdraw permeate from the lumens of the membranes. An aeration system for discharging bubbles assists in keeping the membranes clean.

Abstract: To pot membranes in a header, a dense, viscous liquid, suspension or, preferably, a thixotropic, water soluble gel, is placed in a header pan in space reserved for a permeate channel. A plurality of hollow fiber membranes are collected together and their open ends are inserted into the gel. A fixing liquid, typically a resin, is placed over the gel. The fixing liquid surrounds each membrane and then solidifies, simultaneously sealing the outer surfaces of the membranes and forming a plug in the opening of the header to complete the permeate channel. After the fixing liquid has solidified, the gel is removed by various means. The space initially occupied by the gel becomes part of the permeate channel after the gel is removed. In one embodiment, membranes are grouped by a cushioning adhesive which later surrounds the membranes where they exit the completed header.

Abstract: A bioreactor having an outer shell compartment containing many coaxial pairs of hollow microporous fibers. An annular compartment exists between an outer surface of the inner hollow microporous fiver and the inner surface of the outer hollow microporous fiber. The annular compartment preferably contains blood or plasma. The blood or plasma is, thus, exposed to two microporous hollow fibers which have fluids which can purify or otherwise affect the blood through the walls of two different microporous hollow fibers. An artificial liver or kidney can result when liver or kidney cells are placed in the shell compartment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing fouling materials from the surface of a plurality of porous membranes (9) arranged in a membrane module (4) by providing, from within the module, by means (10) other than gas passing through the pores of said membranes, gas bubbles in a uniform distribution relative to the porous membrane array such that the bubbles move past the surfaces of the membranes (9) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. The membranes (9) are arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted to prevent excessive movement therebetween. The bubbles also produce vibration and rubbing together of the membranes to further assist removal of fouling materials.

Abstract: Apparatus for contacting first and second fluids at elevated pressures with a membrane such that one or more components of one of the fluids passes through the membrane into the other fluid, comprising a housing e.g. a pressure vessel (4), and a membrane module (20) housed in the pressure vessel and having a first fluid inlet (8a) and a first fluid outlet (8b) and a second fluid inlet (9a) and a second fluid outlet (9b), wherein a seal (61) extends round the membrane module and seals between an outside wall of the membrane module and an inside wall of the pressure vessel so as to separate the first fluid inlet from the first fluid outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for substance-specific treatment of fluids using groups of first and second treatment elements, adjacently positioned in a housing and made from membranes, the treatment elements having cavities open on one side, whereby the cavities of the first treatment elements are open in the direction of the inlet arrangement of the housing and the cavities of the second treatment elements are open in the direction of its outlet arrangement. A stream of the fluid to be treated is introduced via the inlet arrangement into a distribution space, which is delimited only by the housing, the inlet arrangement, and the ends, pointing to the inlet arrangement of the treatment element group adjacent to the inlet arrangement, and entering the cavities of the first treatment elements. The stream then flows successively through the walls of the first and second treatment elements, whereby the substance-specific treatment of the fluid takes place.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane, wherein an inner diameter (Id) is within the range of 100 to 200 &mgr;m, the ratio (Mt/Id) of a wall thickness (Mt) to the inner diameter (Id) is the range of 0.9 to 1.1, a bubble point (Bp) is at least 0.5 MPa, and the ratio (Di/Do) of the maximum major axis (Di) of the pores existing in the layer of up to 10 &mgr;m thick from an inner surface to the maximum major axis (Do) of the pores existing in the layer of up to 10 &mgr;m thick from an outer surface is within the range of 10.0 to 15.0; a hollow fiber membrane module formed of the hollow fiber membranes; and a water purifier formed of the hollow fiber membrane module.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane module having a structure, in which raw water is supplied into a filtration chamber containing a hollow fiber membrane and surrounded by a first sealing body having the open ends of the numerous hollow fiber membranes constituting the hollow fiber membrane bundle, a cylindrical case and a second sealing means, through a raw water supply port formed in the cylindrical case at a position near the second sealing body, and in which the drain of backwashing is discharged through a drain port formed in the second sealing body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a membrane module, the membrane module having a plurality of porous membranes, the membranes being arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted to prevent excessive movement therebetween and means for providing, from within the module, by means other than gas passing through the pores of the membranes, gas bubbles entrained in a liquid flow such that, in use, the liquid and bubbles entrained therein move past the surfaces of the membranes to dislodge fouling materials therefrom, the gas bubbles being entrained in the liquid by flowing the liquid past a source of gas to draw the gas into the liquid flow. The gas bubbles are preferably entrained into the liquid using a venturi type device. The membranes are preferably partitioned into discrete groups to assist cleaning while maintaining high packing density.

Abstract: Dialyzer and process of modification of a dialyzer with a laser are disclosed. Process for producing a dialyzer includes a medium IR pulsed laser surface treatment at least in place of the last precision cut. Process reduces standstill times during treatment of dialyzer ends to achieve a smooth surface of the dialyzer ends. Dialyzer hollow membrane ends in entrance and exit regions in the region of plastic embedding are funnel shaped, have rounded edges, and, along with the plastic, form a smooth, melted, and purified surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing fouling materials from the surface of a plurality of porous membranes (9) arranged in a membrane module (4) by providing, from within the module, by means (10) other than gas passing through the pores of said membranes, gas bubbles in a uniform distribution relative to the porous membrane array such that the bubbles move past the surfaces of the membranes (9) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. The membranes (9) are arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted to prevent excessive movement therebetween. The bubbles also produce vibration and rubbing together of the membranes to further assist removal of fouling materials.

Abstract: Hemodiafiltration system for treating blood, comprising a membrane module (1) in whose housing (2) hollow-fiber membranes (3) embedded at their ends in first and second sealing compounds (4,5) joined to the inner wall of the housing in a fluid-tight manner are arranged in the direction of the longitudinal extent, the membrane module (1) also having a dialyzate space (12) and a substituate space (11) separated from the dialyzate space (12) in a fluid-tight manner by a continuous dividing wall (10), and further comprising means for delivering (18,19) and withdrawing a dialyzate to and from the dialyzate space (12), and means for delivering (21) a substituate to the substituate space (11), the same hollow-fiber membranes (3) being used for blood treatment, filtration of the substituate, and delivery of the substituate to the blood, and an exterior space being formed around the hollow-fiber membranes (3) that is delimited by the inner wall of the housing (2) and sealing compounds (4,5) and divided along the longi