A facet of technological advancement is trying to reduce the more conspicuous problems that consistently arise due to the nature of a system process. Of course, even with decades of improvement, nothing is infallible. In this article we discuss the common issues that can occur with UF filter systems. Ultra filtration is a pressure driven membrane separation technology that is a compact and sophisticated filtration method used in reuse applications of drinking water and tertiary waste water. The semi-permeable membrane can remove solids as small as 0.01 microns, including sludge and viruses. However, membrane filtration technologies will have problems without proper care for appropriate pre-treatment, operation, and maintenance. Ultrafiltration is almost very similar to industrial Ro plant. UF filter systems are usually affected by three main problems. See our upcoming article on how GWT solves problems with ultrafiltration for information on how to solve these problems to optimize the process.
Fouling of the membrane:
UF filtration, like any other membrane separation technology including reverse osmosis, is susceptible to what is known as membrane contamination. In simple terms, pollution is what happens when particles adhere to the surface of a membrane. The uncontrolled construction will ultimately lead to reduced efficiency, a pressure drop and increased energy consumption. There are a few different types of pollution that can occur. Each has its own cause, as well as a difference in effects. Of these membranes, some are reversible and others irreversible.
Solids:
Floating solids and colloidal particles collect on the surface of the ultrafiltration membrane and in its pores, thereby preventing the flow of water through the membrane. This contamination is more common in applications with high turbidity and suspended solids without suitable pre-treatment.
Scaling:
Membrane scale is no different than what happens in pipes that transport water with high concentrations of hardness materials. When the concentration of these dissolved minerals is high enough to exceed the saturation limit of the solvent solution, they begin to precipitate from the solution onto the surface of the membrane. These minerals can crystallize, making them almost impossible to remove without any form of chemical cleaning or antiscalant pre-treatment. Calcium and magnesium are two primary minerals that can cause scale deposits on the membranes of UF filter systems.
Microbiological:
Biological contaminants such as algae and microorganisms are often found in surface water sources. Provided with a warm environment and low flow rates, these contaminants will adhere to the surface of a membrane and begin to multiply. Over time, they can form a film that prevents water from flowing through the membrane and causes an increase in pressure differential between the membranes. This increased pressure difference will put more strain on the pumps and increase the amount of energy they absorb.
Waste disposal:
This relates to the discharge of the UF filter concentrate. The filter system did what it should do and you have clean water that you can safely discharge into an outside stream without paying fines for environmental regulations. Or maybe you are going to re-use it somehow. Whatever happens, you have this water supply. But what about all those contaminants that were removed? Unfortunately, this concentrate stream has not disappeared into nothing to never be treated again. No. It is still there, whether it is attached to the membrane or in a concentrate waste tank, and something needs to be done. The problem is that you can’t just throw it out the window and call it a day. This waste water is a concentrated form of what was also in the feed water. Therefore, in some cases it may be safe enough to release into the environment, but in other cases the facility will be charged a high fine if it contains harmful pollutants.
Increased permeate contamination:
This point is fairly rare for systems that are properly maintained and controlled. To repeat, permeate refers to the water that is separated from the contaminating solids. It is the clean water that you get from this filtration process. That is why it is certainly a problem if you notice that the quality of your permeate water is deteriorating. Or there are larger solids or bacteria that should have been retained by the membrane that pollutes the water. This decrease in removal efficiency is usually indicative of a compromised membrane. Polymeric membranes can wear out over time. They can break down high temperature or pH values fairly quickly, and without a proper pre-treatment regime, rough particles can damage the inner pores of the membrane. Obvious, membranes don’t work very well if they’re full of extra holes (except for their pores of course). And now the system does not meet the designed specifications and you must replace the membrane and recirculate the contaminated permeate.
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