Nanofiltration Systems

The fundamental principle of Nanofiltration membrane's technology is the use of pressure to separate soluble ions from water through a semi permeable membrane. The membrane, operates under a different hydraulic profile which is also known cross flow filtration , unlike a dead end filter.

Most Nanofiltration membranes are composite materials supported by polymer substrate and manufactured in a spiral design as opposed to a flat sheet or tube geometry. The predominant model used today for industrial applications is the spiral configuration.

Nanofiltration (NF) in water treatment “bridges” a gap between UF and RO membranes.  It is sometimes referred to as a loose or lower rejecting RO membrane.  It could also be called a tight UF, as NF membrane pore size ranges from .01 to a little less than .001.  Generally, an NF membrane or system lets more salt pass than an RO membrane.  In addition, an NF membrane element will produce the same quantity of product at 50 to 70% the applied pressure as RO.

There are applications where a 75% rate of salt rejection is preferable to 95 to 99%, especially when it is achieved using only half of the energy.  Unlike with RO membrane elements, the NF offerings of the major membrane manufacturers are quite different in performance from company to company.  With RO membrane elements, any model with less that 99.5% sodium chloride rejection, especially with seawater membranes, is considered inferior.  In the case of NF, there is a “place” for any membrane with a NaCl rejection rate of 40%, or more.

Nanofiltration has also been called a “softening” membrane as while its salt rejection may be 80% or less, hardness rejection will often remain well over 90%.  Like RO, and unlike UF, an Nanofiltration Systems will recover a percentage of the feed water.  Most all NF membranes are of a spiral wound configuration.  It’s estimated that NF membrane element sales are less than 5% of RO sales for th major manufacturers.

Other applications of nanofiltration are:
•    The removal of heavy metals from wastewater
•    The removal of pesticides from groundwater
•    Wastewater recycling in laundries
•    Water softening
•    Nitrates removal

Examples of NF Applications:

Application	Permeate	Concentrate	Benefits of NF
Whey / Whey Permeate	Salty wastewater	Desalted whey concentrate	Allows the recovery of lactose and whey protein concentrate with reduced salt content
Textile	Dyes	Water, salts, BOD, COD and color	NF is used to desalt  dyes resulting in a higher value product
Caustic cleaning solutions	Caustic cleaning solution	BOD, COD, suspended solids, caustic cleaner	Allows caustic cleaning solution to be recycled resulting in reduced cleaning chemical costs
Recycle of acid solutions	Acid solution	BOD, COD, calcium, suspended solids, acidic water	Allows acid solution to be recycled resulting in reduced cleaning chemical costs
Water	Softened water	Hard water	Potable water production. Softened water reduces scaling on equipment and heat exchange surfaces
Antibiotics	Salty waste product	Desalted, concentrated Antibiotics	NF produces high value pharmaceutical products