Ultrafiltration UF
Membrane barrier to colloids, oil & microbes. Pressure-driven membranes (0.01–0.1 µm) that deliver an absolute barrier to suspended solids, oil, bacteria and viruses — the modern RO pre-treatment standard.
System Schematic
Representative process-flow — configured to your streamUnderlying Technology & Scientific Principle
Ultrafiltration uses semi-permeable hollow-fibre or spiral membranes with 0.01–0.1 µm pores. Water and dissolved salts pass; suspended solids, oil emulsions, colloids, macromolecules, bacteria and viruses are physically rejected — a near-absolute size barrier independent of feed variability.
Working Mechanism
Feed is pumped across the membrane at low pressure; permeate passes through the pore structure while rejected matter concentrates and is removed by periodic backwash, air scour and chemically enhanced backwash (CEB). Operated dead-end or cross-flow.
Separation / Removal Efficiency
Produces permeate with SDI <3, turbidity <0.1 NTU, oil <5 mg/L and >4-log microbial removal — consistently meeting RO-feed and reuse specs.
Operating Principle & Parameters
TMP 0.2–2 bar; flux 40–100 LMH; recovery 90–95%. Performance limited by reversible/irreversible fouling, managed by backwash and CIP.
Flow Rates & Volumetric Capacities
Skidded racks from 5 to thousands of m³/h; modular trains added for capacity. Compact footprint per unit volume.
Fluid Media Compatibility
PVDF/PES hollow-fibre or spiral modules in PVC/SS skids. Tolerant of oil and saline feeds with appropriate pre-treatment; chlorine limits per polymer.
System Schematic & Process Integration
Pre-treatment to RO/NF and direct reuse polishing; downstream of de-oiling, biological treatment (as MBR) or media filtration.
Options / Variations Available
Inside-out vs. outside-in hollow fibre; submerged (MBR) vs. pressurised; PVDF vs. PES; CEB/CIP automation packages.
System Complexity & Automation Level
High — fully automated filtration, backwash, air-scour, CEB and CIP cycles on flux/TMP, with integrity monitoring.
Applications & Performance Delivered
RO pre-treatment
Delivers stable low-SDI feed, protecting and de-bottlenecking RO.
Oily-water reuse
Absolute barrier to residual oil and solids for reuse standards.
Membrane bioreactor (MBR)
Couples biological treatment with UF for compact high-quality effluent.
Contaminant Removal Profile
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