Ultrafiltration

[mahiout]

Hi guys

We're trying to install an ultrafiltration plant to treat rain water and backwash water from sand filter, the problem we are facing is that the back wash water contains human hair and skin, any advice on how to deal with the prblem.

thanks

 

[brennanpe]

What type and configuration of membrane are you planning to use? There are large channel tubular membranes that this would not be a problem with. The only possible issue with the tubular membrane is surface area of membrane relative to floor area of the system.

Take a look at

http://www.kochmembrane.com

brennans7

 

[mahiout]

Brennan
Thanks for taking the initiative of answering my question.
The membranes are of hollow fiber-capillary type, each fiber contains 8 capillaries with 1 mm Dia.

 

[brennanpe]

Hollow fiber membranes are not the best chose when solids are involved. You run the risk of the solids becoming built up on the upstream side of the tube sheet as well as the probability of plugging the fibers. Again, this type of application is typically handled via tubular membranes.

If you are stuck with the HF membrane, what type of pretreatment are you using? You could install a backwashable pre-screening device to screen the solids out prior to UF.

See the following links:

http://www.amiad.com

http://www.filtomat.com

 

[mahiout]

Cheers Brennan, We have actually come a decision to use one of the sand filters in the prefiltration stage but stricly for removing hair and skin, the filter will have back washing intervals much longer, about 10/1,which will allow as to substancially reduce the amounts of wasted water.
We're also installing a GAC filter.
We're going to run the system and see how it goes!