What is membrane filtration?
One of the most effective and affordable methods for separating components, from suspended or dissolved particles in a liquid, is membrane filtration.The facility describes the membrane filtering process as a physical separation technique, to separate molecules according to their features and various sizes.
Some chemicals can pass through the membrane, which is a physical barrier, depending on their physical and chemical characteristics. Membrane filtration, then, is a physical process that uses semi-permeable membranes to separate particles. The membrane is often formed by a porous support layer underneath and a thin, thick layer on top.
Membrane technology makes it possible to increase product quality, while lowering total production costs.
What are the Types and degrees of membrane filtration?
The follow?ing list and description of the four different sorts of technologies are as follows:
1: A micron filter
2: Ultrafiltration
3: Nanofiltration
4: Reverse Osmosis
Membrane filtration is a cross-flow dynamic filtering method. The substance (liquid or gas) flows through membranes in a horizontal direction, rather than vertically across the filter area.
Advantages and disadvantages of membrane filtration
The bene?fits of membrane filtration are:
1) Performance-based
2) Easy to use
3) Compact units
4) Compared to other treatment plants, it takes up less room
5) A variety of pollutants can be separated using membrane filtration technology
6) Chemical free disinfection is possible
The drawbacks of membrane filtration are:
1) Because of its fouling, membranes must be replaced on a regular basis
2) The creation of contaminated water from waste or backwashing
Now, let us discuss these processes in detail-
· Microfiltration
Fluids, fats, and suspended particles can be cleaned of impurities like bacteria, by the physical separation process known as microfiltration.Typically, microfiltration can be used in conjunction with other membrane technologies, like reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, or nanofiltration.
Stainless steel, textile fabric, or plastic may be used in the fabrication of micro filter surfaces, depending on the region of use. In order to offer exceptional economy, and incredibly stable performance regardless of variations in feed water, several new technology membranes are composed of durable materials and wide area formats.
More than 0.1 micron-sized particles can be removed using MF membranes. It is a very effective method for removing large colloids, microorganisms, and minute suspended particles from huge volumes of water.
Compared to other types of membrane filters, operating pressures are lower. This system typically uses 1 to 2 bar operating pressure and backwash, and air washing procedures to reduce the need for chemical regeneration or memory replacements.
Application and benefits of microfiltration
a) Reduces silt density index (SDI) to safeguard ion exchange, and reverse osmosis membranes.
b) Eliminates suspended solids and turbidity.
c) By using this method, chlorine and other contaminants that may be present in feed, can be removed.
d) Minimal waste generation.
e) In contrast to other kinds of membrane filters, microfiltration produces filtrates that are stable and low in chemicals.
f) Minimal running costs.
· Ultrafiltration
In order to remove very small particles, macromolecules, colloidal particles, proteins, microbiological contaminants, and large organic molecules from the feed stream, ultrafiltration is a low pressure, cross flow separation technique.
Membranes used in ultrafiltration can filter out particles as small as 0.1 to 0.01 microns. This kind of membrane allows all smaller molecules and dissolved salts to pass through. Proteins, colloids, big organic molecules, and microbiological pollutants, are all rejected by the UF membrane.
Due to the extreme sensitivity of reverse osmosis membranes to organic, colloidal, and silica fouling, increased working cycles and frequent membrane replacement are required. The most effective pretreatment method for reverse osmosis performance is ultra-filtration. The RO memory's lifespan is extended by pretreatment with UF, which also decreases fouling.
At 90% recovery, the Ultrafiltration system is in operation. Accordingly, 90% of the feedstock will be available as permeate, and the remaining 10% will contain all of the material that would be drained, if it were to be rejected.
Applications, advantages and disadvantages of UF membranes
a) Ceramic, hollow fibre, and pharmaceutical water processing, are frequent applications of UF technology for control in both low and high temperature distribution.
b) In the fields of metallurgy and pharmaceutical cold sterilization, as well as metal recovery and wastewater cleansing, ultrafiltration is employed.
c) The UF system will keep colloids, big organic compounds, bacteria, viruses, and pyrogens (endotoxins) in check.
d) When employed in pre-filtration treatment, RO systems are extremely well protected.
e) This ultrafiltration membrane technology allows for the unrestricted passage of dissolved salts, and smaller organic molecules.
· Nanofiltration (NF)
The word "nanofiltration" refers to a specialised membrane process that rejects particles, which are about between 0.001 micron and one nanometre in size. Technology for liquid separation using nanofiltration lies between reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration. It denotes that this membrane sits between ultrafiltration and reverse filtration.
Nanofiltration employs filters with bigger pore diameters and lower pressures than reverse osmosis. The size of single and divalent heavy metal ions is the particle size that is preserved in NF.
Because, they can generally reject the single-positively charged soft ions like sodium and potassium, but not the double-positively charged hard ions like calcium and magnesium, Nano filters are also known as membrane softeners. Depending on the material used to make the membrane, the removal of monovalent ions by some types of NF membranes, ranges from 50% to 90%.
Applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and water softening industries, use nanofiltration membranes and systems.
· Reverse Osmosis
The highest level of membrane filtration technique for liquid separation is reverse osmosis (RO). Most organic chemicals as well as all dissolved salts and inorganic molecules, are effectively separated by the RO membrane system.
Reverse osmosis membranes may separate particles as small as 100 Daltons (0.001 micron). Reverse osmosis plants are designed and staged in single or multiple passes, for extraordinarily high recovery rates, low fouling performance, and chemical-free system stability.
RO systems have the following benefits:
a) They are compact and modular in design.
b) Highest possible throughput efficiency.
c) 95% recovery rates are achievable.
d) Extremely high rejection rates leading to filtrate with high purity.
Manufacturers and suppliers of high quality RO Plants
Please feel free to contact Netsol Water with any inquiries because we have over 10 years of experience, custom-designing and producing water treatment systems intended to conserve water resources. We can help you through the process of coming up with the best solution and a reasonable price, for maximising water consumption in your commercial or industrial property.
We work with each of our clients to give high-quality filtration systems at affordable pricing, since we are aware that you need the best systems available, at fair and competitive prices.
Netsol Water is Greater Noida-based leading water & wastewater treatment plant manufacturer. We are industry's most demanding company based on client review and work quality. We are known as best commercial RO plant manufacturers, industrial RO plant manufacturer, sewage treatment plant manufacturer, Water Softener Plant Manufacturers and effluent treatment plant manufacturers. Apart from this 24x7 customer support is our USP. Call on +91-9650608473, or write us at enquiry@netsolwater.com for any support, inquiry or product-purchase related query.
