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Ceramic Ultrafiltration: a Workhouse in Industrial Desalination, Manufacturing and More
Saltworks delivered a full-scale, compact and automated XtremeUF ultrafiltration system to an advanced materials manufacturing plant in the US.
Ultrafiltration (UF) filters particles with a size range of about 0.01 to 1 µm. This includes oils, grease, precipitated by-products, bacteria, viruses, and suspended solids. UF is widely used in wastewater treatment, often employing polymeric membranes. However, ceramic membrane UF systems have some advantages and have recently made great advances. When traditional polymeric UF does not meet your needs, consider Saltworks’ XtremeUF.
Polymeric & Ceramic UF
Most UF systems employ polymeric membranes, especially those in municipal water treatment. However, polymeric UF membranes struggle in harsh environments and with higher particulate loads.
Ceramic UF membranes are now commodity standardized items. Their cost has been driven down, opening UF’s application range. They are extremely robust membranes—”as hard as rock”. In comparison to polymeric membranes, not only do ceramics treat more impaired wastewaters, they take a beating and performance can be recovered, if operated correctly.
Introducing XtremeUF
Saltworks has developed a ceramic membrane system for repeated industrial implementation. We use off-the-shelf commodity ceramic membranes widely available from multiple vendors. We package them into a well-engineered and intelligently automated skid that keeps the membranes clean as it operates.
Our novel UF systems offer lower energy and higher performance, with both cross flow and dead-end options.
Clarifier Replacement
Clarifiers are a wonderful technology, treating most of the world’s wastewater. However, new water challenges can require new thinking. When warranted, XtremeUF can replace a clarifier in a flow sheet, offering:
- Higher quality output water with less ‘slip’ of smaller particles, ensuring you meet your discharge standards
- Zero coagulant addition, reducing chemical consumption and fouling potential of any downstream membrane assets
- Increased capacity per unit footprint, albeit at higher energy consumption
Depending on the application—and with consideration of the above three points—Saltworks uses clarifiers or XtremeUF.
XtremeUF Solutions
XtremeUF filters almost any wastewater, opening up UF applications to highly impaired waters where polymeric UF cannot cope. XtremeUF ensures that your membranes maintain performance, even when treating the toughest wastewaters.
With different capacity and filter specifications available, XtremeUF is suited for many applications. It is available with filtration specifications of 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.2 µm.
We have pilot plants ready to prove performance at your site or ours. Contact us to learn more about what XtremeUF can do for your project.
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