Membrane module with unilaterally embedded hollow fiber membranes

Membrane module for substance-specific treatment of a fluid, comprising:

• a) a housing extending in a longitudinal direction;
• b) therein, arranged substantially in the longitudinal direction, at least one bundle of hollow-fiber membranes with semi-permeable walls having a porous structure, wherein said hollow-fiber membranes each have first and second ends and at least one lumen extending along a longitudinal axis of the membrane, wherein each hollow-fiber membrane is embedded in the housing via a sealing compound only at the first end and flow around the second end is substantially unrcstricted, and wherein the hollow-fiber membranes are surrounded by an external space delimited by the inner wall of the housing and by the sealing compound, each hollow-fiber membrane having an inside facing its at least one lumen and an outside facing the external space;
• c) at least one first inlet arrangement for introducing fluid to be treated into the housing on only one of two sides (inside or outside) of the hollow-fiber membranes at a time;
• and
• d) an outlet arrangement for draining the treated fluid from the housing, whereby the outlet arrangement is open toward the external space surrounding the hollow-fiber membranes;
• the lumens of the hollow-fiber membranes being open at their second ends and leading into the external space.