GOLETA, CA, Oct. 4, 2004 -- TriSep Corp., a manufacturer of reverse osmosis (RO) and ultrafiltration (UF) membranes has received the prestigious International Aquatech Innovation Award at Aquatech 2004 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
The award was given for the development of SpiraSep, a spiral-wound backflushable, immersed ultrafiltration membrane process. It's is intended for the most innovative product or service on display at the biennial event.
Aquatech Amsterdam is one of the world's largest international water technology exhibitions, with an estimated 750 exhibitors and 25,000 attendees from 47 countries.
For the award, an independent jury consisting of experts from industry, research institutes and government authorities assessed the entries in terms of not only their innovative nature, but also their practical applicability, social relevance and the extent to which they integrate the potable, process and waste water sectors of the water industry. The jury's report said its decision was based on the following:
"TriSep has developed a spiral-wound ultrafiltration membrane module that combines a number of innovations. First of all, the spiral-wound membrane configuration results in a number of technical and economic benefits. It is a handy, robust module whose spiral plant structure gives sound membrane-substrate bonding and eliminates the possibility of breakage at the base of the membrane. Second, the backflushing and aeration scrubbing of the membrane prevent fouling. Finally, the combination of these elements with underpressure (suction) enables high permeate fluxes to be achieved, thereby greatly increasing the yield. This results in more compact and cheaper designs which makes it more likely the system can be operated economically."
The award was presented by P.W. Hatenboer, jury chairman, and received by Peter Knappe, vice president of operations for TriSep Corp.
"It's an honor to be recognized by the international water technology community for our innovation and we continue to advance this revolutionary process to better serve our industry. We look forward to working with system integrators worldwide to incorporate SpiraSep ultrafiltration technology into their product offering," Knappe said.
TriSep (www.trisep.com) is based in Goleta, Calif. SpiraSep is designed to compete with hollow fiber membranes and can be applied to the full spectrum of UF and microfiltration applications, including municipal, industrial, drinking water, wastewater, seawater and process applications.
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