GE Sepa RO Membranes

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GE Sepa RO Membranes

• By Austin Anderson
• Materials Science 3344
• Dr. Larry Peel

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Reverse Osmosis Membranes
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RO elements
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What is a membrane made from?

• In the late 1950s asymmetric cellulose acetate
  (CA) membranes were developed for RO processes.
• its derivative is polyamide (PA) polymer
  membrane.
• A polyamide is a polymer containing monomers
  joined by peptide bonds.

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RO membrane biofouling

• Scanning Electron Microscope of 3-day old biofilm
  forming on surface of a CA RO membrane.
• The biofilm begins to develop from discrete
  microcolonies which eventually grow together to
  form a confluent biofilm. 

Micromem Analytical, 2004
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RO membrane biofouling

• Primary organic film
• Primary cell adhesion EPS production
• Cell growth
• Particle/colloid entrainment
• Secondary cell adhesion
• Confluent biofilm
• Biofilm sloughing

Clapp et al., 2004
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SEM image ofMembrane with biofouling
Ridgeway and Flemming, 1996
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Pilot studies
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Lab-scale studies
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References

• Clapp, Lee. Texas AM University - Kingsville
  department of Environmental Engineering.
• General Electric., Instruction Manual for
  Osmonics Sepa CF II Membrane Element Cell.
• General Electric., http//www.osmolabstore.com/def
  ault.htm
• Wikipedia, http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyamide