Residential Commercial Ultra-low pressure membrane element Extremely low pressure series High-desalination membrane element High flux brackish Series Oxidation Resistance brackish series Fouling Resistance membrane element High desalination of seawater membrane element High flux membrane desalination membrane element
Internal pressure Tubular Membrane Submerged Column-Type Submerged MBR Horizontal UF Membrane External pressure
With the increased use of MF/UF (CUF) membranes, innovative pre-treatment methods have come along.
One that has shown significant improvement to membrane permeability is the use of Ozone before CUF. Several studies have shown an excess of 25% increase in flux rate [LMH] and at Cembrane we have seen up to 50% flux increases on secondary effluents and surface waters.
However, a question often raised is, does ozone oxidation before the MF/UF “kick the fouling can down the road” to the Reverse Osmosis?
A fairly recent study demonstrates that not only is the fouling reduced on the CUF pre-treatment, the also enjoys a lower fouling rate from the introduction of ozone in the CUF pre-treatment. Here are some conclusions:
· Oxidation by ozone or UV peroxide enhanced sustainable CUF flux
· Oxidation reduced hydrophobic, biopolymer and humic fractions
· Altered organic properties attributed to reduced RO biofouling potential
· Oxidation significantly altered the texture of RO fouling material from smooth and dense to porous and granular
· Biofilm analysis revealed ozone-coagulant-CMF greatly limited extension of bacteria communities from the membrane surface suggesting oxidation reduces RO biofouling.
