HOLLOW FIBER MEMBRANE MODULE FOR USE IN PRODUCTION OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE, AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE

摘要

Disclosed is a hollow fiber membrane module (1) for use in the production of a chemical substance, which can be used in the continuous fermentation that comprises filtrating a fermentation culture of a microorganism or a cultured cell through a hollow fiber membrane, collecting a chemical substance from a filtrate, retaining a concentrated solution in the fermentation culture or refluxing the concentrated solution, and further adding a fermentation raw material to the fermentation culture. In the hollow fiber membrane module (1), multiple hollow fiber membrane bundles are accommodated in a tubular case, at least one end part of each of the hollow fiber membrane bundles is fixed onto the tubular case in such a manner that the end surface of each of the hollow fiber membranes is opened by means of a hollow-fiber-membrane-bundling material, and the hollow-fiber-membrane-bundling material comprises a synthetic resin that exhibits a hardness retention rate of 95% or more after the material is brought into contact with a saturated water vapor at 121°C for 24 hours. The hollow fiber membrane module (1) can keep substance productivity at a high level and can be used in the production of a chemical substance by a sterilizable continuous fermentation method.