MIDLAND, Mich., July 18, 2002 -- The Dow Chemical Co. has introduced a new line of extra low-energy reverse osmosis (RO) elements for municipal water applications.
FILMTEC™ XLE-440 elements offer high rejection rates at 30% lower operating pressures than previous membranes.
"These elements are intended for use in low to medium pressure brackish feedwater systems," says Jon Goodman, market manager for FILMTEC Membranes at Dow. "The cost savings associated with systems incorporating these membranes will help drive growth of RO water purification systems into high-volume markets, including municipalities and in-home RO systems."
FILMTEC XLE-440 elements are conservatively rated at 99.0% stabilized salt rejection with a maximum operating pressure of 600 psig (41 bar). The lower pressures allow for a considerable cost savings in municipal systems where flowrates are consistently high and water quality is still a primary concern.
FILMTEC XLE-440 elements are produced via an automated process at Dow's production facility in Minneapolis, Minn. As with all FILMTEC RO elements, they are fabricated to offer the widest cleaning pH range (pH 1-12) in the industry and a durability that allows system operators to clean at higher pH than other elements.
"All FILMTEC elements are constructed on a state-of-the-art automated production line, providing extremely consistent quality when compared to elements constructed in non-automated processes," says Goodman. "Working at high production rates, it would be impossible to consistently manage all of the minute details that go into each element without the use of specialized computers, automated systems and diagnostic equipment."
Dow is a science and technology company that provides innovative chemical, plastic and agricultural products and services to many essential consumer markets. With annual sales of $28 billion, Dow serves customers in more than 170 countries and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress, including food, transportation, health and medicine, personal and home care, and building and construction, among others. Committed to the principles of Sustainable Development, Dow and its approximately 50,000 employees seek to balance economic, environmental and social responsibilities.
For further information, visit the Dow Liquid Separations web site at www.filmtec.com. Or call the Customer Information Group at 1-800-447-4369.
