Water Treatment Chemical-Membrane Compatibility Study
Over the past 40years membrane separations technologies, commonly known as reverse Osmosis have become the technology of choice for advanced water treatment. While originally designed as cost effectiveness process for seawater desalination.
New Applications such as wastewater reclaim, brine recovery and zero liquid discharge among others have created not only new membrane technology but also new foulants that require more complex preventive or removal chemicals like coagulants/flocculants, antiscalants, biocide, biodispersant, speciality enzymes and CIP chemicals.
These chemicals may affect on membrane surface which may reduce the flux and membrane performance. Commanly CIP helps to restructure the membrane performance as it could be reversible damage . But if frequency of CIP increase due to the fouling of chemicals, it may affect membrane performance permanantly and damage will be irreversible which will change the morphology of membrane surface and membrane life.
It has been commonly observed that non-oxidizing biocide also affect membrane morphology. Due to various reason fouling of antiscalant has been observed on the membrane surface during autopsy which has created reversible or irreversible impact on membrane surface. Apart from this speciality, CIP chemicals, biodispersant, flocculant and coagulant can also contribute increase in CIP frequency and affect the membrane performance and membrane life.
Vipanan helps to chemical manufacturers to asses their product for chemical-membrane compatibility study based on UMCP*. Vipanan has facility and experience to design and conduct such types of compatibility studies. These studies always helps chemical manufacturers and their end users to secure their membrane life.
* Universal Membrane Compatibility Protocol
