Separation membrane, separation membrane element, and method for producing separation membrane

A separation membrane comprising:

• a separation membrane main body having at least a substrate and a separation functional layer;
• and
• a channel material having a composition different from that of the separation membrane main body and affixed to a substrate-side surface of the separation membrane main body,
• wherein the channel material is discontinuous in a first direction and continuous in a second direction from one end to another end of the separation membrane main body.

A method of producing a separation membrane comprising:

• preparing a separation membrane main body having at least a substrate and a separation functional layer;
• softening, by heating, a material having composition different from that of the separation membrane main body;
• forming a channel material on a permeate side by arranging the softened material on a substrate-side surface of the separation membrane main body such that the material is discontinuous in a first direction and continuous in a second direction from one end to the other end of the separation membrane main body;
• and
• affixing the channel material on the permeate side onto the separation membrane main body by solidifying the material.