Objective: To observe the safety and efficacy of polyethersulfone membrane dialyzer used by chronic renal failure patients in clinical maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Methods: From January to February 2009, 36 patients were recruited from Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. The experiment was approved by the ethnical committee, of Xinhua Hospital and under permissions from patients. All the patients were randomized into polyethersulfone group (PES, n= 18) and polysulfone group (PS, n=18). Hemodialysis was given by using Fresenius 4008S capacity-controlled dialyser and ultra-purified bicarbonate dialysate, more than 3.5 h each time, three times per-week, followed by heparin antieoagulation for a week, three times totally. Changes in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), phosphate (P2+), hemoglobin and albumin levels were determined for the efficacy and safety evaluation. Results: The serum BUN, Scr and P2+ concentrations significantly reduced after hemodialysis with different dialyzers, and the decrease amplitude of two groups was equivalent(P>0.05). The clearance rate of the serum BUN and Ser had no significant difference among two groups(P>0.05). The clearance rate (ml/min) of the serum P2+ was 144.57±27.83 v.s. 117.15±22.77 in two groups. The clearance rate of the serum P2+ in PES group was more than that in PS group, and the difference was significant between two groups (P=0.0001). It was indicated that PES and PS membrane could efficiently eliminate serum micromolecule solute in MHD patients, so PES membrane excelled PS membrane in eliminating serum P2+. The hemodialysis safety index, for example serum hemoglobin, albumin and blood pressure, had no significant difference between the two groups before and after hemodialysis (P>0.05). Conclusion: The efficacy and safety of the PES hollow fiber membrane dialyzer is equivalent to that of the imported PS membrane dialyzer in hemodialysis for MHD patients. The PES membrane excels PS membrane in eliminating serum P2+.