Abstract: A process for preparing a semi-permeable membrane includes providing an aqueous phase comprising a polyfunctional amine monomer, covering a surface of a porous support membrane with the aqueous phase, applying an organic phase comprising a polyfunctional acyl halide monomer, a phosphorous containing compound and a co-solvent, and allowing the polyfunctional amine monomer and the polyfunctional acyl halide monomer to perform an interfacial polymerization reaction to form a polyamide thin film composite layer. The presence of the co-solvent together with the phosphorous compound in the organic phase potentiates the effect of the phosphorous compound so that the water flux is increased without substantially sacrificing the salt rejection.

Abstract: A process for preparing a hollow fiber includes the steps of providing a dope solution including polyamide imide (PAI), providing an aqueous bore solution including polyethylene imine (PEI), extruding the dope solution in an cross-sectional annular shape and ejecting the bore solution in the center of the annular shape, allowing the PAI and the PEI to react, thereby forming an internal surface layer including the cross-linked reaction product, and forming a polyamide Thin Film Composite (TFC) layer by interfacial reaction of aqueous di- or triamine compound and organic di- or triacylhalide compound on the internal surface layer including the cross-linked reaction product.

Abstract: A hollow fiber module includes hollow fiber cartridges. A port receives a second solution to be treated in a shell side volume and another port for discharging the treated second solution. A first end cap has an inlet for a first solution and a distributer for distributing the first solution to a first end of the hollow fiber cartridges. A second end cap has a collector for collecting the treated first solution from the second end of the hollow fiber cartridges and an outlet for the treated first solution. A first connector has an inlet for the second solution and a distributer for distributing the second solution to a port of the hollow fiber cartridges. A second connector has a collector for collecting the treated second solution from the other port of the hollow fiber cartridges and an outlet for the treated second solution.

Abstract: A method of producing a hollow fiber membrane having an outside coating with a thin film composite (TFC) layer with a transmembrane protein, the method including the steps of: preparing an aqueous solution including a self-assembled nanostructure including polyalkyleneimine (PAI) and a detergent solubilized transmembrane protein and a di- or triamine, preparing an apolar solution including a di- or triacyl halide in an apolar organic solvent, contacting a hollow fiber membrane with the either the solution according to step a) or the solution according to step b), removing excess solution if any, contacting the hollow fiber membrane with the other solution, allowing an interfacial polymerization reaction to take place, and rinsing the hollow fiber membrane with an aqueous solvent. The hollow fiber is applicable e.g. for extracting water from the product solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to self-assembled nano structures comprising polyalkyleneimine (PAI) and a detergent solubilized transmembrane protein, such as an aquaporin protein.