Protecting Your RO Investment
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Considering the significant cost factors for
today’s RO filtration systems, protecting that investment becomes an economic
necessity. Virtually all RO manufacturers specify a feed water stream with <
1.0 NTU (nephelometric turbidity units) and a Silt Density Index (SDI) of <
3.0. For the purpose of presenting a fair comparison of commercially available
prefilters, Argonide tested their NanoCeram® filter cartridge
against the offerings of two market leaders which are often used as prefilters
for RO systems. The results are listed in Table 1 below for purposes of
comparison:
Table 1. Turbidity Reduction & Silt
Density Index (SDI30) for filtered A2 Fine dust suspension and/or
Municipal tap water through cartridges
Manufacturer
|
Type
|
Flow Rate (GPM)
|
Type of water
|
Turbidity, NTU
|
SDI30a
|
in
|
out
|
Argonide (NanoCeram®)
|
P2.5-10 2.5” x 10”
|
4
|
A2
dust b in RO water
|
252.00
|
<0.01
|
0.2 ± 0.3c
|
Municipal
tap water
|
0.87
|
<0.01
|
0.5 ± 0.1d
|
“A”
|
1μ Absolute 2.5” x 10”
|
4
|
A2
dust b in RO water
|
239.00
|
60.00
|
NDe
|
Municipal
tap water
|
0.54
|
0.10
|
4.4 ± 0.2f
|
0.35μ Standard 2.5” x
10”
|
4
|
A2
dust b in RO water
|
239.00
|
55.00
|
NDe
|
Municipal
tap water
|
0.57
|
0.14
|
4.6 ± 0.2f
|
“B”
|
1μ Standard 2.5” x 20”
|
4
|
Municipal
tap water
|
1.3 ±
0.1g
|
0.4 ±
0.1g
|
N/A
|
1μ Absolute 2.5” x 10”
|
4
|
A2
dust b in RO water
|
243.00
|
23.00
|
NDe
|
Municipal
tap water
|
1.3 ±
0.3g
|
<0.01h
|
5.5 ± 0.2f
|
5μ Standard 2.5” x 20”
|
4
|
Municipal
tap water
|
1.5 ±
0.7g
|
1.1 ±
0.4g
|
NDe
|
“C” *
|
0.1μ Hollow Fiber Membrane 6.5” x
85” Module
|
22
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
<0.08
|
< 2.0 - 3.0
|
* Manufacturer’s
published specifications. This unit was not independently tested by Argonide.
Notes:
a)
Silt
Density Index (SDI30);
b)
ISO
121030-1, A2 Fine Test Dust available from PTI technology Inc.;
c)
Average
of six measurements;
d)
Average
of four measurements;
e)
Not
done since turbidity of filtered water is unacceptable high (expected to be
less than 1 NTU);
f)
Average
of three measurements;
g)
Average
over 3 hrs test;
h)
During
first 30 minutes of run;
i)
After
30 minutes of continuous water run.
The NanoCeram® filter cartridge
exhibits a significant advantage in removing submicron particulate when
compared to other commercially available filter cartridges typically used as
prefilters to RO systems. Virtually all RO membrane manufacturers specify a
minimum quality for the feed waters to their systems in order to maintain
system integrity and an economical return on investment. Even under extreme
loading, NanoCeram® yields NTU values BDL (below detectable limits)
providing long-lasting protection of RO and even UP membranes susceptible to
premature fouling.
|
