Click here to enlarge imageCoinciding with a company reorganization, Toray Membrane USA introduces two new low pressure brackish models of TMG20-400C and TMG20-430C RO membrane elements. They feature a new permeate tube design, standardizing permeate tube dimensions without special adaptors when replacing competitor elements. Toray also offers a new 34 mil brine spacer for models of TM720N-400 high rejection brackish elements and TMG20N-400 low pressure brackish elements. The thicker brine spacer makes the element more resistant to fouling and easier to clean in waters with higher suspended solids and difficult process water applications. In other news, Randy L. Truby was named chairman of Toray Membrane global marketing & sales, working closely with Toray headquarters in Japan and its offices in Switzerland, Singapore, Dubai, etc. COO Steven J. Cappos was promoted to CEO and Gabriel Juarez to VP of operations. Toray Membrane USA Inc., Poway, California, USA, www.toraywater.com.Enquiry No. 47
Severn Trent saves U.S. town millions
Severn Trent Services renewed a public-private partnership with Lewes, Delaware, USA, for operation and maintenance of the seaside town’s 1.5 MGD wastewater system was renewed at a value of $450,000 a year. Since the PPP’s start in 2002, its technical specialists worked with the Lewes Board of Public Works to obtain an NPDES discharge permit that wouldn’t require relocating effluent discharge from the Lewes Rehoboth canal, saving the town millions of dollars. In 2005, the town began building a new facility with the MBR technology. It was completed at half the cost of the original concept that would have required spray irrigation of effluent. The new MBR facility, dedicated in April 2008, is the first of its kind in Delaware. Severn Trent Services Inc., Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, USA, www.severntrentservices.com.Enquiry No. 48
New point-of-use polisher improves water analysis
Scientists performing analyses on common industrial contaminants can now be assured of VOC-free ultrapure water for their work thanks to the new VOC-Pak™ filter cartridge from Millipore for removal of VOCs from ultrapure water. Analytical methods used to test drinking water and other samples for VOCs use ultrapure water as a critical reagent, but even low VOC levels can affect analysis accuracy. “This cartridge removes these contaminants to levels below detectable limits for many common VOCs,” said Jean-François Pilette, group product manager for Millipore’s Lab Water systems. Designed for use with Millipore’s Type I water purification systems (such as the Milli-Q®, Direct-Q®, Synergy® and Simplicity® systems), the filter cartridge is compatible with the water dispensing outlet to provide VOC-free water for standard solutions preparation, sample dilution or glassware rinsing. Employing activated carbon media, it’s effective provided VOCs in feed water don’t exceed 1 ppb (1 µg/L) and TOC is below 5 ppb. Millipore Corp., Billerica, Massachusetts, USA, www.millipore.com.Enquiry No. 49
UF drinking water modules
German UV drinking water specialist Seccua GmbH and Nitto Denko unit Hydranautics, of Oceanside, California, USA, signed a cooperative agreement to jointly develop new markets and to expand Hydranautics’ extensive product offering with 4” ultrafiltration modules supplied by Seccua. To date, Hydranautics makes and distributes modules for large-scale projects in the UF market. This new partnership opens the door to a dominant position in the rapidly growing global market for small-scale installations. Seccua will share its knowledge in the field and supply Hydranautics with UF modules. With production facilities near Munich since 2004 and offices in Surprise, Arizona, USA, over 400 of Seccua systems are now in successful operation, including in dining cars of the latest generation of high-speed, inter-city trains in Europe. The first unit went into operation in 1998. The company is capable of manufacturing 1,500 units a year. Seccua GmbH, Steingaden, Germany, www.seccua.com.Enquiry No. 50
World’s first EDI module with membrane stage