Membrane Filtration - AQUALITY® Membrane Filtration
Increasing water efficiency with membrane technology
What is membrane filtration?
Membrane filtration is a water treatment process that uses a semipermeable membrane to separate contaminants from water. It is widely used in various industries, such as the food and beverage industry, municipal wastewater treatment, and industrial effluent management. This process is highly effective in removing particles, bacteria, and even dissolved substances, providing a higher quality of treated water compared to traditional filtration methods.
A common application of membrane filtration is the Membrane Bioreactor (MBR). An MBR combines biological wastewater treatment with membrane filtration, offering advanced purification by removing both organic and inorganic pollutants.
Difference between filtration and Reverse Osmosis
Our AQUALITY®membrane Ultra-filtration and Reverse Osmosis solutions are designed for closing the water loop. Although both use membranes as a barrier, the process of reverse osmosis is not the same as filtration.
Filtration is the removal of particles by size exclusion, while in reverse osmosis such physical holes may not exist. With reverse osmosis, water is able to diffuse through the membrane polymer by bonding between segments of the polymer's chemical structure
Types of membrane filtration systems
There are four primary types of membrane filtration processes, each serving different purposes based on the size of the particles they filter and the needs of various industries:
Our AQUALITY®membrane Ultra-filtration and Reverse Osmosis solutions are designed for closing the water loop. Although both use membranes as a barrier, the process of reverse osmosis is not the same as filtration.
Filtration is the removal of particles by size exclusion, while in reverse osmosis such physical holes may not exist. With reverse osmosis, water is able to diffuse through the membrane polymer by bonding between segments of the polymer's chemical structure.
Our AQUALITY® membrane technology produces high-quality water and integrates seamlessly in any existing wastewater treatment or water recovery plant.
- Ultrafiltration (AQUALITY® UF)
- Revrerse Osmosis (AQUALITY® RO)
- High Recovery Reverse Osmosis (AQUALITY® HRRO)
AQUALITY® UF. Setting a barrier to bacteria
Our AQUALITY® Ultrafiltration (UF) is a variety of membrane filtration in which hydro-static pressure forces a liquid against a semi-permeable membrane. The permeable membrane becomes a barrier to suspended solids and bacteria, producing water with very high purity and low silt density.
Ready for drinkwater and Reverse Osmosis applications
The filtrate is typically characterized by a complete removal of suspended solids, a log 5 reduction (>99.999%) of bacteria such as Cryptosporidium, a filtrate turbidity <0.1 NTU (no matter what the feed-water turbidity is) and an SDI (Silt Density Index) < 2.
This means that the filtrate is ready for reuse in drinking water applications or is perfectly pre-conditioned to serve as feedwater for a reverse osmosis installation.
AQUALITY® RO. Removal of salts and viruses
The AQUALITY® Reverse Osmosis technology makes use of semi-permeable membranes for the removal of dissolved salts and potential viruses from the feed water after suspended solids, viruses and colloidal material have been removed in a previous filtration step.
While ultra-filtration will retain suspended solids, AQUALITY® RO will retain dissolved solids.
Cross-flow filtration
The AQUALITY®RO desalination process uses a pump and a
semi-permeable membrane. The pump provides the driving force for the
separation, while the semi-permeable membrane passes water in preference
to the solute that is dissolved in the water. The majority of the
solute is left behind to form a more concentrated stream. Since feed and concentrate stream move tangentially to the membrane, the filtration
principle is called cross-flow filtration.
Applications
- Seawater desalination
- Desalination of brackish water
- Production of highly purified process water
- Production of drinking water from any water source
Used in the following industries
AQUALITY® High Recovery Reverse Osmosis
AQUALITY® HRRO is an advanced Reverse Osmosis allowing to boost water recovery from 75 up to 95 percent.
Traditional reverse osmosis is designed in a sequential multi-membrane, multi-stage configuration, each membrane making a small contribution to the overall water recovery. Improved recovery is only achieved in adding RO stages, requiring higher Capex, Opex and footprint.
AQUALITY® HRRO features equal feed and permeate flow rates. At a predefined set point, the system automatically flushes out all the concentrate, returning to its normal operation mode. By increasing the cycles within the same configuration, recovery rates up to 95% can be achieved.
When to use AQUALITY® HRRO?
- As a smart alternative for RO
- In a combination of feed-water + RO concentrate recovery
- As a brine concentrator
- When fluctuating inlet conductivity
- To reduce chemicals consumption in the production of demin water
Applications
- Process water production
- Pure water supply
- Wastewater reuse
- Ingredient water
- Boiler water
- Brackish water desalination
- Drinking water production
Used in the following industries
Frequently asked questions
Can membrane filtration remove dissolved salts?
Yes, reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) can effectively remove dissolved salts from water.
How does membrane pore size affect filtration performance?
Smaller membrane pore sizes allow for finer filtration, removing smaller particles and contaminants. For example, microfiltration removes larger particles, while reverse osmosis filters out dissolved salts and very fine molecules.
What maintenance is required for membrane filtration systems?
Regular maintenance includes cleaning the membranes to prevent fouling, monitoring system performance, and replacing membranes as needed to ensure optimal operation.
How does the energy consumption of membrane filtration systems compare to other water treatment technologies?
Energy consumption varies by process. Microfiltration and ultrafiltration are energy-efficient, while reverse osmosis consumes more energy due to the high pressure required to remove dissolved salts.
Can membrane filtration be used for treating industrial wastewater?
Yes, membrane filtration is highly effective for treating industrial wastewater, including removing suspended solids, organic compounds, and even specific dissolved contaminants, enabling water reuse and regulatory compliance.
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