This is a classic case of ...
Published by Terry Scheurman, President at Applied Specialties, Inc.
This is a classic case of old meets new.
With everything we do, it is critically important to ask "Why?". It becomes even more important to ask why when there is a problem. In textile operations it was common to use cationic polymers to knock out color bodies and even sizing products when conventional clarifiers were used. If these materials are larger than the nominal filter size for your UF, the obvious question is "why are you still using the cat?" Have you obtained a bench size UF to see if the cat is needed?
Yes, most low molecular weight pDADMACs or EPI-amines will go thru the UF and they will plug the RO especially if you have some low to medium molecular weight polyacrylate contained in the wastewater or being added as an RO antifoulant. Run a particle size analyses on the feed to the UF and the filtrate from the UF. That will tell you what size particles are passing thru and the amount.
Remember "Why". And hope this helps.
1 Comment
We do not have resources to investigate what u r suggesting. I m observing the problem or plant parameters. Its looks like it been polymer r the reason. And also working on replacements of polymer
Published by Fawad Ahmed Akhtar, Wastewater Treatment & Reclaim Incharge at Feroze 1888 Mills
1 Comment
Actually you do and if not the equipment you need is easy to obtain and inexpensive. You will need a turbidimeter, a vacuum aspirator for a sink, vacuum flask and a Millipore vacuum funnel. This is the very same equipment needed to run a SDI. If you have RO's and are not running SDI's on the water going to the RO's, you are making a grave mistake. Your UF membrane will have performance specifications. Get Millipore filters of the same pore size. Then run filtration tests of the feed to the UF. Weigh the pads before use and let them dry at 150F. Time how long it takes to filter 1 liter of water. Use the before and after weights to determine how much material was filtered. Send the filter pads to a lab for analyses. That will get you started. This gets me back to my original Post. "Why?" If you have membrane equipment, why are you not tracking its performance? Having an RO and not running SDI's is asking for maintenance trouble.
Published by Terry Scheurman, President at Applied Specialties, Inc.