A high-density filtration module for separating a liquid from a high viscosity and/or high solids feed comprising sheets of porous filtration membrane being disposed generally concentrically about a central porous tube. The membranes are separated by a sheet of feed liquid spacer material having two sets of generally parallel ribs of similar size regularly spaced apart from one another which project from opposite surfaces of a thin central layer. Permeate carrier layers are disposed adjacent discharge surfaces of the sheet membranes. The sets of ribs are arranged so that each rib is located substantially equidistant from the two adjacent ribs in the opposite set, and the central layer is about 40% or less as thick as the base of a rib where it joins the central layer.