A　tubular　ceramic-based　multilayer　composite　nanofiltration　membrane　has　been　developed　for　dye　desalination.　Poly(acrylic　acid)(PAA)/poly(vinyl　alcohol)(PVA)/glutaraldehyde(GA)　was　dynamically　assembled　on　to　the　inner　surfaces　of　tubular　ceramic　microporous　substrates　which　had　been　pretreated　using　dynasylan　ameo　silane　coupling　agents.　Subsequently,　the　composite　membranes　were　thermally　crosslinked　to　form　covalent　ester　bonds.　Experimental　results　proved　that　the　composite　membrane　had　good　nanofiltration　performance　for　dye　desalination.　The　(GA/PVA/PAA)(3)/ceramic　multilayer　membrane　shows　over　96%　retention　of　Congo　red　and　less　than　3%　NaCl　retention　using　a　permeate　flux　of　about　25　L/(m(2)h).　An　investigation　of　membrane　performance　as　a　function　of　operating　conditions　suggested　that　the　covalent　crosslinking　multilayer　membrane　possessed　much　higher　stability　compared　to　other,　electrostatically　assembled,　multilayer　membranes.　(c)　2013　American　Institute　of　Chemical　Engineers　AIChE　J,　59:　3834-3842,　2013