TECHNICAL PAPERS
This paper was presented t the 81st International Water Conference held virtually November 8-12, 2020. Spiral-wound reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membrane elements are used in a variety of desalination applications around the world to address the rising demand for freshwater and conform to stricter environmental standards and regulations. Due to increasing water shortages, new desalination applications and processes continue to be developed, including ones that require spiral-wound membrane elements capable of handling operating pressures up to 1740 psi (120 bar). Because current industry-standard brackish water RO and NF elements are designed to operate at pressures of around 100-400 psi (7-28 bar) and are limited to a maximum feed pressure of 600 psi (41 bar), membrane manufacturers continue to investigate and develop elements that offer high salt rejection while withstanding higher feed pressures. This paper focuses on why high-pressure and ultra-high-pressure spiral-wound elements are needed, what benefits they provide, and the applications they’re used in.
Combination of UF and Powdered Activated Carbon to Remove Pollutants
Micropollutants, antibiotic-resistant germs, and phosphorus from wastewater treatment plants are increasingly polluting the aquatic environment. With the BIO-CEL® Activated Carbon Process, MICRODYN-NADIR has developed a process that effectively removes these pollutants from the effluent of wastewater treatment plants. This technical report presents the process and its performance and economic efficiency.
Achieving Water and Energy Savings Using a Hard-Shell Sanitary Membrane Element
Membrane systems have become a critical part of most modern dairy plants. These dairy membrane systems follow strict sanitary guidelines, including the use of sanitary membrane elements and daily cleaning cycles that require significant volumes of water. As environmental regulations tighten and many food and dairy companies adopt sustainability goals, reducing the water and energy usage of these critical membrane systems has become a high priority for many users. This white paper focuses on one of the key areas in a sanitary membrane system that has the potential to unlock substantial water and energy savings: bypass flow.
Innovative Spiral-Wound Membrane Elements for High Temperature Desalination Applications
This paper was presented at the 80th International Water Conference held November 10-14, 2019 in Orlando, FL. While spiral-wound reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membrane elements have proven very successful in a variety of desalination applications, more and more applications are emerging that require spiral-wound membrane elements capable of handling high temperatures or extreme cleaning conditions. Because industry-standard RO and NF water elements are limited to a maximum operating temperature of 45°C (113°F), membrane manufacturers are investigating alternative materials to build high temperature elements for applications where standard RO and NF elements cannot be used. Learn more about why high temperature spiral-wound elements are needed, which applications require these types of elements, and how different element components can be combined to tackle an even broader range of applications than ever before.
From cellulose acetate (CA) hollow fiber membranes to advanced thin-film composite membranes in a spiral-wound configuration, developments in reverse osmosis (RO) membrane technology allow the desalination industry to tackle an even broader range of applications than ever before. This paper (presented at the 79th International Water Conference November 4-8, 2018 in Scottsdale, AZ) focuses on the advancements in membrane chemistry, the history of RO element design, current RO desalination applications as well as future advancements in RO membrane technology and where the RO desalination industry is headed.
Produced Water Treatment for Reuse in Cyclic Steam Boilers and Crop Irrigation
This paper was presented at the 76th International Water Conference (Nov. 15-19, 2015 in Orlando, FL) and addresses a Bakersfield, CA-based field study on produced water. The study consisted of a treatment scheme featuring an electrolysis technology followed by a polymeric ultrafiltration membrane, iSep™. Read the paper to learn more about how this system de-oiled and removed suspended solids.
Innovative Ultrafiltration Membrane for Produced Water Treatment
This paper, presented at the Produced Water Society Seminar on January 13th, 2015 in Houston, TX, explores three produced water case studies using an innovative UF membrane that was successfully operated with the following upstream treatment technologies: 1) coalescer, 2) walnut shell filter and 3) electric coagulation.
Coal: Wastewater Reuse at a Methanol Production Plant
This paper, originally presented at the 75th International Water Conference (Nov. 16-19, 2014 in San Antonio, TX) features ECO Environmental Investments, Ltd., a coal-to-methanol plant in Ordos Inner Mongolia and the wastewater reuse iSep™ pilot study performed there.
Storm Flow Management – Membrane Bioreactor and iSep™ UF
In 2010, a pilot test was conducted to demonstrate the use of a spiral-wound polymeric ultrafiltration (UF) membrane system (iSep™), followed by deep-bed media filtration, for the treatment of raw wastewater during storm events. Learn more about the three case studies reviewed in this paper, originally published by the American Membrane Technology Association for the 2015 Membrane Technology Conference & Exposition.