Forward Osmosis (FO) membrane producer Hydration Technology Innovations (HTI) has started production of a new highly durable, dimensionally stable, thin film composite membrane to add to its OsMem™ FO membrane line.
HTI has begun full-scale commercial manufacturing of this membrane, producing spiral elements which the manufacturer claimed have more than double the permeability and flux rate of its existing Cellulose Tri-Acetate (CTA) FO membrane.
HTI said the thin film composite provides an economical alternative to treating industrial wastewater, by serving as a pre-treatment to revere osmosis. The new membrane can be used for applications such as landfill leachate, oil & gas wastewater, cooling tower make-up water and Osmotic Membrane Bioreactors (OsMBR).
The thin film composite membrane is a high permeability, high rejection membrane that is pH tolerant in a 2.0 to 12.0 range and can also withstand the rigors of pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) operating conditions. The flat sheet flux of production membranes averages 20 LMH (liters per square meter per hour) in FO mode and 49 LMH in PRO mode at a test condition of 1 M NaCl as draw solute and DI water as feed solution at 23C and CFV (cross flow velocity) of 30 cm/sec.
The product is also testing at a power rating of 3.5W/m² for PRO at 10C at 150psi. Comparatively, HTI's CTA FO membrane has a flux of 9 LMH. Salt rejection values for the new product also compare favorably for polyamide membranes at 99.3% minimum. www.HTIwater.com
