Toray introduces ultrafiltration membrane designed to reduce biofouling in wastewater reuse
Module is based on a high-removal ultrafiltration membrane that Toray Industries unveiled in February 2025.
F-HFUG Series ultrafiltration membrane module
In May 2026, Toray Industries Inc., launched the F-HFUG Series ultrafiltration (UF) membrane module for wastewater reuse. The company has completed mass production technology and product reliability evaluations for the new offering, which helps improve lower-biofouling performance of reverse osmosis (RO) membrane and stabilizes long-term operations. This module is based on a high-removal UF membrane that the company unveiled in February 2025.
Nations everywhere are tightening wastewater regulations as water demand rises. Regions with limited resources position reusing wastewater as vital for supply stability. The challenge is that wastewater contains a lot of biopolymers that are a key cause of the biofouling that clogs membranes.
Proprietary micropore control technology delivered a nominal pore size of just 0.005 micrometers, among smallest in the industry according to Toray research as of April 2026.
Biopolymers are normally hard to remove. Pilot tests at a wastewater treatment plant demonstrated that the company’s UF membrane suppresses biofouling of downstream RO membranes while maintaining UF permeate flow. The decrease in RO water production attributable to biopolymers is around one-third that of regular membranes. This advantage should reduce chemical cleaning frequency and RO operational issues, helping cut overall wastewater reuse operating costs while lowering water production expenses.
Toray is deploying its UF membrane business globally, focusing on North America, which is accelerating the adoption of wastewater reuse processes. The company exhibited its new product at IFAT Munich 2026, the world’s premier trade fair for environmental technologies, May 4-7.
Under the Ignition 2028 medium-term management program that debuted at the start of April 2026, Toray aims to expand its water treatment business in such areas as seawater desalination and wastewater reuse.
Source: Toray Industries Inc.
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