Membranes

For

POU and POE Applications

Types of Membranes
MF Microfiltration UF Ultrafiltration NF Nanofiltration RO Reverse Osmosis

Global demand for all membrane types in water treatment is growing dramatically
1985
57 MM gpd 45 MM gpd
300 MM gpd

1995
110 MM gpd
1,070 MM gpd

2005
260 MM gpd

9% growth

165 MM gpd

780 MM gpd

6,250 MM gpd

23% growth

267 MM gpd
HH & Comm. UPW (Ultra Pure Water) Process Water

1,190 MM gpd
HH & Comm. UPW (Ultra Pure Water) Process Water

7,580 MM gpd
20% growth
HH & Comm. UPW (Ultra Pure Water) Process Water

Note: gpd = gallons per day

Source: The Dow Chemical Company-1999

Cross-section TFC
Polyamide Polysulfone Ultrathin Barrier Layer Microporous Polysulfone Substrate Reinforcing Polyester Fabric

0.2 m

40 m 120 m
Courtesy Dow Chemical Co.

Flat sheet membrane Cross-section

Courtesy Dow Chemical Co

Membrane Operating Modes

Dead Head Cross Flow Periodic Back Pulse/Back Flush

Cross Flow

Dead End

Membrane Configurations
Flat Plate Pleated Hollow Fiber Tubular Spirol Wound

Hollow Fiber and Module

Upper Bonded Section
Reci r or R culation ejec t

Upper Potting Pure Filtrate

Membrane Bundle

Module Feed

Module Housing
Pore = 0.1 m Matl = PVDF Mode = OutsideIn

Raw Feed

Lower Potting

How a Spiral Wound Element Works

Selective Separation of Feedwater by Passage through Membrane Feedwater / Brine Channel Spacer Product Water

Water Flow

Reject Water
Product Water Flow (After Passage through Membrane) Permeate Channel Spacer

Membranes

Dow Chemical Co

Spiral Design

Feed spacer

Permeate spacer Membrane leaf

Dow Chemical Co

Membrane arrangement Membrane element

Dow Chemical Co

POU Reverse Osmosis

History of RO membranes
Cellulose Acetate Film Desalination Demonstration 1959 Ried & Breton Discovery of Asymmetric CA Membrane 1962 Loeb & Sourirajan Nonaqueous CA Casting Solution Patent 1962 CA/CTA Blend Membrane 1970 CA Membrane Swelling Agents Patent 1977 CA Thin-film Composite Concept North Star 1964 Macroporous Polysulfone Supports North Star NS-100 Membrane North Star NS-200 Membrane North Star NS-300 Membrane FilmTec 1967 B-5 Nylon Hollow Fiber DuPont 1967 B-9 Polyamide Hollow Fiber DuPont 1969 B-10 Seawater Hollow Fiber DuPont 1972 CTA Hollow Fiber Membrane Dow Chemical 1971-4 CTA Seawater Hollow Fiber Toyobo 1978 DOWEX* Low Pressure CTA Hollow Fiber Module 1980

1972

1973

1977

FILMTEC FT30 Membrane Thin FilmComposite 1978

* Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company

POU RO Units by Year

300000 250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0
19 85 19 87 19 89 19 91 19 93 19 95 19 97 19 99 20 01

Data from WQA yearly RO Shipment Data USA Only

Faucet

Reverse Osmosis

Prefiltration Pretreatment

Post Treatment

Reject

Storage Tank

Typical POU RO System

Contaminants addressed by POU RO Systems

Arsenic Nitrate Heavy Metals Organics- Pesticides,THMs Cysts Virus and Bacteria ( developing) Radionuclides TDS- Sodium,Sulfates, etc Other tastes/odors

RO- Typical Rejections

Bacteria Cysts Organics
MW>300 MW<300

99%+ 99.9%+
75-99% 0-95% 80-98% 90-99%

Dissolved Ions
monovalent divalent

Factors - Pressure, Temperature, Concentration, Chemistry

Test of Arsenate Removal with Kinetico Drinking Water System+VX (TFC Reverse Osmosis) 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 Hours of Operation
As (V) in
As (V) out

Arsenic Concentration ( g/l)

Test of NO2 Removal with Kinetico Drinking Water System+VX (TFC Reverse Osmosis) 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0 50 Hours of Operation 100 150

Concentration (ppm)

NO2 influent NO2 effluent

Test of NO3 Removal with Kinetico Drinking Water System+VX (TFC Reverse Osmosis) 35 30 Concentration (ppm) 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 Hours of Operation NO3 influent NO3 effluent

POE Membrane Systems

Reverse Osmosis UF/MF

Contaminants addressed by POE Membranes RO

Arsenic Nitrate Organics TDS Cysts, Virus*, Bacteria* Heavy Metals Tastes/Odors Radionuclides

UF
Organics Cysts, Virus*, Bacteria* Tastes/ Odors

Point of Entry Water Filtration System

Filtered Water

Unfiltered

Solids, Turbidity, Cloudiness

POE Features / Benefits

Raw Water Inlet

This low energy System filters municipal, well, cistern, lake and river water. The UF 100 can easily be adopted to work with existing household piping.

Prefilters
Removes large particles from source water before the Membrane. Activated Carbon improves taste and minimizes unwanted odours by reducing aesthetic chlorine.

Ultrafiltration Membrane Drain

Rejected impurities are flushed to drain during the automated cleaning cycle. Microscopic pores physically block out bacteria, cysts and viruses from the water.

Outlet
Clean, filtered water is distributed to every tap in your home.

Continuous Supply
Thousands of ultrafiltration membranes filter water on demand without the need for a storage tank.

Automatic Cleaning System

Uses filtered water to clean membrane fibers every day.

Assurance of Performance for POU/POE Membrane Systems

Product Certifications
NSF/ANSI STD 58, STD 53, STD 42 ( STD 55)

Monitors
Conductivity Lights (RO Only)

Usage Meters Periodic Maintenance

Certified Technicians

Conclusions
Proven Membrane Products Exist Today
technology and designs improving all the time

Certification Processes and Standards in Place

products technicians

Monitoring and Sensors Improving Many Consumers are already Practicing

Bottled Water Faucet Devices POU POE

Costs (?)- Case by Case