Y2K generation FILMTEC* RO membranes combined with new pretreatment techniques to treat raw water with high fouling potential: summary of experience

Improvements achieved by the new FILMTEC products as well as results of fie ld experiences made with FILMTEC seawater and brackish water reverse osmosi s (RO) membranes are presented as per their status as of February 2000, alo ng with the analysis of the relationship between the achieved performance a nd the pretreatment used in the respective plants, The field performances p resented correspond to two commercial RO plants: one is a brackish water RO (BWRO) plant using a fouling-resistant membrane, FILMTEC BW30-365 FR, and the other is a seawater RO (SWRO) plant using the new seawater membrane, FI LMTEC SW30HR-320, for higher fouling RO feeds (e.g., open intakes). Possibl e pretreatment steps are analyzed in relation to measured efficiency to lim it the fouling incidence, and possible optimization is reviewed as well.