Jordan University of Science & technology JUST
Chemical Eng. Dept.
Summer 2023
A large number of companies are manufacturing RO and NF
membranes
Leading companies are :
Dow Chemical Company (Filmtec) www.dow.com
General Electrics (Osmonics)
Hydranautics www.membranes.com
Koch www.kochmembrane.com
Toray www.toray‐membrane.com
Sidmas
Toyobo www.toyobo.co.jp/e/
Trisep
Dupont (Permasep) ‐ only replacement
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Several materials and blends are used e.g.,
o cellulose acetate (di‐, tri‐)
o aromatic polyamide
o aromatic polyamide urea
o polyvinyl alcohol
Two types of membranes are manufactured
o one polymer
o two or more polymers
Both have an asymmetric structure with an ultra thin
active layer and one or more support layers..
Cellulose acetate membranes consists of one polymer
withvarying density (pore size) across its thickness.
Composite membranes are made of (at least) three different
polymers:
o polyester support layer (woven or non woven)
o polysulphone intermediate support layer
o active layer on top e.g., polyamide.
o Top layers have very narrow pores, smaller than 0.001 μm
(or 0.000001 mm).
o As a consequence the hydraulic resistance is high.
o Making top layer very thin, keeps hydraulic resistance
Acceptable.
**Remark: Very thin top layers are very vulnerable for
damage e.g. mechanical and chemical (pH, cleaning
solutions)
o Several “coatings” can be applied to:
improve the salt rejection.
o The materials are deposited from a solution on the
membrane surface.
o Tannic acid solution was commonly applied to restore the
rejection of Dupont’s permeators.
**Remark: The application of these coatings on spiral wound
elements is not common practice.
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o Membranes consists of organic polymers (e.g., cellulose
acetate, polyamide) of thickness 0.1‐0.3 mm
o Material of this thickness cannot usually withstand high
pressures (5‐90 bar). To solve this problem a number of
different membrane configurations are developed.
o The four most important configurations are :
1. Tubular
2. hollow fiber
3. spiral wound
4. plate and frame
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o For desalination mainly:
1. hollow fibers,
2. spiral wound
o The capacity of an element or permeator is between :
1. a few liters per day to about
2. 125 m3 per day
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o Hollow fiber membranes are asymmetric in structure.
o Triacetate is mainly applied as material
o Diameter ranges
1. from 42 – 85 μm (inside – outside)
2. from 90 – 300 μm (inside – outside)
o Only one manufacture is making these devices
1. Toyobo
2. replacement in existing plants.
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o Toyobo’s fibers are about three times thicker than a human
hair and are made of cellulose triacetate.
o Pressure forces the (pure) water through the fiber walls
into the bore of the fiber.
o One or two elements are placed in one vessel
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o Flat membrane envelop is formed around fabric spacers
and closed on three sides.
o The open side terminates at a perforated product water
tube.
o The envelope or leaf, together with an external spacer for
the feed water stream, is rolled spirally around the
product tube.
o One or more (20 or even more) leafs are connected with
the product water tube.
o The element is then installed in a pressure vessel
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o The feed water flows axially through the channels (external
spacer) between the spiral windings.
o Water permeates through the membrane and flows radial
inside the membrane envelope towards the product tube.
o Systems have up to seven elements within one pressure
vessel in an array (module).
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