Patent ID: 8523982

Claim:
A separation membrane module for separating a specific component from a mixture containing a plurality of components, comprising: a plurality of separation stages each including a plurality of hollow fiber membranes arranged in parallel to each other; wherein the separation stages are connected in series via at least one connection portion allowing passage of the mixture, wherein the mixture is successively introduced into a hollow portion of each hollow fiber membrane of each separation stage, so that the specific component is separated from the mixture as the specific component transmits through each hollow fiber membrane from an interior to an exterior of each hollow fiber membrane, wherein the number of the hollow fiber membranes of each separation stage is determined to be larger than the number of the hollow fiber membranes of the other separation stage located just on its downstream side with respect to a direction of flow of the mixture through the separation stages; and wherein a negative pressure is applied to the exterior of the hollow fiber membranes of each separation stage and is determined to be larger than the negative pressure applied to the exterior of the hollow fiber membranes of the other separation stage located just on its downstream side.