Toray Launches High-Rejection Ultrafiltration (UF) Membrane for Wastewater Reuse
Toray has completed the commercialization of its high-rejection ultrafiltration (UF) membrane, "F-HFUG Series," which contributes to reducing the load on RO membrane processes with excellent low-fouling performance and achieving long-term stable operation. Full-scale sales will begin in May 2026.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 00:24
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 16:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 27, 2026 at 17:55 (1h 54m after Collected)
Toray Industries, Inc. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Akihiro Nikkaku; hereinafter "Toray") has completed the commercialization of an ultrafiltration (UF) membrane that contributes to reducing the load on RO membrane processes and achieving long-term stable operation with excellent low-fouling performance, and will commence full-scale sales in May 2026. This product is based on the high-rejection UF membrane technology announced by the company in February 2025, and the mass production technology has been established and product reliability evaluation completed for commercialization in wastewater reuse processes.
Globally, as water demand increases, wastewater regulations in various countries are being strengthened year by year. In regions with limited water resources, wastewater reuse is positioned as an important initiative to support stable business operations. On the other hand, wastewater contains many organic components (biopolymers), which are a major cause of biofouling (Note 1), leading to membrane blockage and posing a significant challenge in wastewater reuse processes.
This product is a UF membrane that achieves an industry-leading nominal pore size of 0.005µm through Toray's unique micropore control technology. This has confirmed that the permeate volume of biopolymers, which were conventionally difficult to remove sufficiently, has been reduced to approximately one-third compared to conventional Toray products. In pilot tests at sewage treatment plants, it was demonstrated that fouling of the downstream RO membrane was suppressed while maintaining the UF membrane's permeate flow, and the reduction in RO membrane water production caused by biopolymers was reduced to approximately one-third compared to conventional methods. As a result, a reduction in chemical cleaning frequency and operational troubles in the RO process is expected, contributing to a reduction in water production costs as well as overall operational costs for the entire wastewater reuse process.
Moving forward, Toray will expand globally, primarily focusing on the North American market, where the introduction of wastewater reuse processes is accelerating. This product will be exhibited at "IFAT Munich 2026," an international environmental technology trade fair to be held in Munich, Germany, from Monday, May 4 to Thursday, May 7, 2026.
Under its new medium-term management plan "IGNITION 2028," which started in April 2026, Toray aims to expand its business in water treatment applications such as seawater desalination and wastewater reuse. Moving forward, Toray will strongly promote business activities that contribute to solving water problems emerging worldwide by providing advanced water treatment membrane solutions and prompt and accurate technical support.
**High-Rejection Ultrafiltration (UF) Membrane for Wastewater Reuse "F-HFUG Series"**
(1) Product Name: F-HFUG-2020AN
(2) Surface Structure: See figure below
* Industry-leading class (for drinking water and wastewater reuse applications. As of April 2026, according to company research)
**Glossary:**
1) Biofouling:
Biofouling refers to a condition where a biofilm formed on the surface of an RO membrane reaches an unacceptable level, causing problems in RO process operation such as increased pressure loss and decreased permeate flow.
**Reference:**
Press Release, February 20, 2025
"Development of highly efficient ultrafiltration membrane capable of reducing CO2 emissions by over 30%
- Achieving both high rejection and high permeability in wastewater treatment processes through micropore control -"
https://www.toray.co.jp/news/article.html?contentId=jsmhvz3r
Toray UF Membrane Website:
https://www.water.toray/ja/products/uf/ (Japanese)
https://www.water.toray/products/uf/ (English)
Globally, as water demand increases, wastewater regulations in various countries are being strengthened year by year. In regions with limited water resources, wastewater reuse is positioned as an important initiative to support stable business operations. On the other hand, wastewater contains many organic components (biopolymers), which are a major cause of biofouling (Note 1), leading to membrane blockage and posing a significant challenge in wastewater reuse processes.
This product is a UF membrane that achieves an industry-leading nominal pore size of 0.005µm through Toray's unique micropore control technology. This has confirmed that the permeate volume of biopolymers, which were conventionally difficult to remove sufficiently, has been reduced to approximately one-third compared to conventional Toray products. In pilot tests at sewage treatment plants, it was demonstrated that fouling of the downstream RO membrane was suppressed while maintaining the UF membrane's permeate flow, and the reduction in RO membrane water production caused by biopolymers was reduced to approximately one-third compared to conventional methods. As a result, a reduction in chemical cleaning frequency and operational troubles in the RO process is expected, contributing to a reduction in water production costs as well as overall operational costs for the entire wastewater reuse process.
Moving forward, Toray will expand globally, primarily focusing on the North American market, where the introduction of wastewater reuse processes is accelerating. This product will be exhibited at "IFAT Munich 2026," an international environmental technology trade fair to be held in Munich, Germany, from Monday, May 4 to Thursday, May 7, 2026.
Under its new medium-term management plan "IGNITION 2028," which started in April 2026, Toray aims to expand its business in water treatment applications such as seawater desalination and wastewater reuse. Moving forward, Toray will strongly promote business activities that contribute to solving water problems emerging worldwide by providing advanced water treatment membrane solutions and prompt and accurate technical support.
**High-Rejection Ultrafiltration (UF) Membrane for Wastewater Reuse "F-HFUG Series"**
(1) Product Name: F-HFUG-2020AN
(2) Surface Structure: See figure below
* Industry-leading class (for drinking water and wastewater reuse applications. As of April 2026, according to company research)
**Glossary:**
1) Biofouling:
Biofouling refers to a condition where a biofilm formed on the surface of an RO membrane reaches an unacceptable level, causing problems in RO process operation such as increased pressure loss and decreased permeate flow.
**Reference:**
Press Release, February 20, 2025
"Development of highly efficient ultrafiltration membrane capable of reducing CO2 emissions by over 30%
- Achieving both high rejection and high permeability in wastewater treatment processes through micropore control -"
https://www.toray.co.jp/news/article.html?contentId=jsmhvz3r
Toray UF Membrane Website:
https://www.water.toray/ja/products/uf/ (Japanese)
https://www.water.toray/products/uf/ (English)