Ultrafiltration

Ultrafiltration (UF) is a pressure-driver purification process that separates particulate matter from soluble compounds using an ultrafine membrane media.

PT Arianto Darmawan directly supplies DuPont IntegrafluxTM products.

Ultrafiltration

In ultrafiltration, water and low-molecular-weight substances are passed through an ultrafine membrane by the application of pressure to the system; flow through the membrane is achieved by applying a pressure gradient between the outer and inner walls of the membrane structure. Feed pressure is from 4 to 100 psig (typically < 30) and transmembrane pressure is generally <14 psig.

UF offers:

High and consistent product quality measured by turbidity (NTU) or silt density index (SDI).
Tolerance to feedwater quality upsets.
No use of pretreatment chemicals (polymer, coagulant, pH adjustment) and associated costs for sludge disposal.
Small footprint and less weight than media filters.

When used as a pretreatment for reverse osmosis (RO), UF also helps reduce fouling of the RO membranes, which can lead to:

Reduced chemical cleaning frequency and consequently, lower operating costs and downtime.
The potential to operate RO at higher flux, with fewer membranes and vessels — leading to lower capital cost for the RO system.