Increased scale of plant stimulates R&D

Koch Membrane Systems (KMS), a division of the Koch Chemical Technology Group, acquired Fluid Systems Corporation in 1998. Since then, KMS has invested heavily in research and development and is now launching a series improved reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membrane products and processes.


Innovations include: Fluid Systems TFC® SR2 nanofiltration membrane/elements;

Fluid Systems Mega Magnum® large diameter spiral wound elements; Fluid Systems

TFC® FR fouling resistant membranes; Arsenic removal technology.

Fluid Systems’ TFC® S nanofilter/softening membrane has been in wide use

in the USA for over ten years. The new TFC® SR2 membrane will produce more

water per metre of membrane surface area, removing organics,iron and particulates.

New spiral efficiency

With the increase in the size of desalination plants all over the world, KMS

has responded to demand from end users for an even more efficient spiral element.

This has resulted in the launch of the Mega Magnum®, which will be an 18″

dia by 60″ long spiral element containing over 2,500 feet² of membrane

area.

The Mega Magnum® will result in RO/NF systems that require less space,

manifolds and pressure vessels and could, in many cases, lead to savings in

the capital cost of the system and civil works of over 20%. KMS will be able

to incorporate all of its RO/NF membranes into the Mega Magnum® configuration.

KMS has also tested a new polymeric membrane on municipal secondary effluent

which has a low rate of fouling. This membrane also responds better to chemical

cleaning. The TFC® FR membrane will be ideal for treating wastewaters and

surface water where pre-treatment is extensive and chemical cleaning is more

than once per month. In some cases, the TFC® FR membrane will operate more

than three times as long between cleanings.

Finally, under the auspices of the US Environmental Protection Agency, KMS

has recently completed Environmental Technology Verification testing, to certify

the performance of its TFC® ULP membrane which has been designed to reduce

arsenic levels in drinking water.

Testing which was carried on a groundwater source over a 34-day period at the

Park City Spiro Tunnel Water Filtration plant in Utah, verified that TFC®

ULP will reduce arsenic by 99%. The full report can be accessed via the internet

at www.epa.gov/safewater/mcl/html.

Bob Skelton, the regional manager of KMS, with responsibility for the company’s

European water market, commented, ‘The new products being launched this year

will have a significant impact on the expanding applications of membranes to

a wide array of water and wastewater streams.’

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