Membranes for Industrial RO Systems

The role of the RO membrane

RO membranes are made of TFC (Thin-Film Composite) polyamide and provide the most advanced stage of water filtration. They remove heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, pharmaceutical and plastic residues, and most chemical pollutants in water. The pores in RO membranes are so small (0.0001 micron) that they allow only water molecules (H2O) and some of the smallest free minerals to pass through. The pre-filters simply help the membrane do its job: the sediment filter captures larger particles, the water softener removes limescale, and the activated carbon captures organic molecules and chlorine. This considerably extends the membrane's life.

Want to learn more about how reverse osmosis works? Click here.

Choosing your membranes

We offer several membrane brands:

Vontron is a Chinese brand with a proven track record over many years, delivering excellent water quality at a low price.

Filmtec is an American brand that currently offers the best performance on the market. These membranes are used by NASA astronauts.

Ecosoft is a subsidiary of the Austrian BWT group that rolls its own membranes using Filmtec (Dow) film, offering better prices on membranes with Filmtec quality.

Several factors affect the flow rate of an industrial reverse osmosis membrane: 

1. Feed water pressure: Feed water pressure is a crucial factor affecting the flow rate of a reverse osmosis membrane. The higher the pressure, the greater the force pushing water through the membrane, resulting in a higher permeate water flow rate.
2. Water temperature: Water temperature also affects the flow rate of a reverse osmosis membrane. In general, at higher temperatures, water molecules have more kinetic energy, making it easier for them to pass through the membrane and increasing the flow rate.
3. Salt and contaminant concentration in the feed water: The higher the concentration of salts and other contaminants in the feed water, the greater the resistance water encounters as it passes through the membrane, which can reduce the flow rate.
4. Pretreatment and membrane condition: Membrane cleanliness and the RO system's pretreatment are important factors affecting the membrane's ability to allow water to flow through.
5. Reverse osmosis system design and configuration: The design and configuration of the reverse osmosis system, including the size and number of membrane elements used and the efficiency of components such as pumps and pretreatment equipment, can also affect the final flow rate.

Finally, the higher the flow rate, the lower the water quality. In addition, calculations for our RO systems are based on a feed water quality of 2,000 ppm. If the feed water has a lower ppm level, the flow rate will be higher. With very low conductivity, a 4040 membrane can even reach up to 600 l/h while maintaining good output water quality.

Maintenance

An RO membrane should be replaced every two to three years with continuous use. 

With less frequent use, it may last longer. If you forget to replace the membranes, you will notice a drop in flow rate, indicating that they are clogged, or a drop in water quality, indicating that they have become porous. Replacement takes just a few minutes.

Dimensions