PLANTS AND WITH

SEMIPERMEABLE
TECHNOLOGIES MEMBRANES
MICROFILTRATION ULTRAFILTRATION NANOFILTRATION REVERSE OSMOSIS
10 - 0,1 µm 0,1 - 0,01 µm 0,01 - 0,001 µm 0,001 - 0,0001 µm

Particles in suspension Colloids Virus

Bacteria, cells Macromolecules Ions

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PRINCIPAL Waste water treatment • Beer and wine

APPLICATIONS OF • Reclamation of plating salts concentration
OUR MACHINES WITH • Reclamation of rinse waters and • Milk concentration
SEMIPERMEABLE complete water reuse • Concentration of various
MEMBRANES • Removal of water from organic and inorganic acids
emulsified oil • Salts separation from rennet
Water purification • Lowering BOD and COD • Final filtration of wine without
• Production of potable water in waste water using mineral powders.
from brackish and sea water • Detergents removal from water
• Salts separation, including • Reclamation of pesticides Medicals and pharmaceutical
chlorides, sodium, calcium, • Treatment of cataphoretic paint • Low sodium diets
fluoride, sulphates, phosphates, from rinse water. • Water for medical treatments
nitrates, carbonates, • Sterile water for injections
aluminium, gold, silver, nikel, Food processing and chemical • Separation of salts from organ
copper, etc. industry extracts
• Organic separation • Water removal • Separation of enzymes
• Sedimental removal • Selective salt removal • Separation of organic
• Water reuse • Protein enrichment components from fluids
• Pre-treatment for • Whey fractionation and • Artificial kidneys
pharmaceutical evaporators concentration • Natural concentration
• Bacteria, spores, viruses • Molasses concentration of proteins, vitamins,
and algae removal • Orange, tomato, apple juice, antibiotics and many
• Steam boilers feed. must concentration. other pharmaceutical products.

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THE PHENOMENON OF REVERSE OSMOSIS Figure 1
OSMOSIS AND OTHER
TECHNOLOGIES BASED ON
SEMIPERMEABLE MEMBRANES
Reverse osmosis is the separation the system is in equilibrium.
of dissolved salts from water The addition of pressure energy
by means of semipermeable to the concentrated solution will
membrane. The porosity of the stop the transport of water across
membranes used for reverse the membrane when the applied
osmosis varies from 4 to 100 pressure equals the apparent
Angstroms (0,0004 to 0,0010 osmotic pressure between the
microns). two solutions. As more pressure is
The salts rejection is possible up applied to the more concentrated
to 99.75% the removal of many solutions as shown in figure 2,
organic materials up to 100%. the water will begin to flow from
The name “reverse osmosis” is the more concentrated solution REVERSE OSMOSIS Figure 2
derived from osmosis, the natural to the less concentrated solution.
phenomenon which provides The rate of water transport is a
water to tree leaves and water function of pressure applied to
to human and animal cells to the concentrated solution, the
support life. Normal osmosis osmotic pressure of each solution
takes place when water passes and the area of the membrane
from a less concentrated solution being pressurized.
to a more concentrated solu- The organic materials have
tion through a semipermeable practically no ionic charge.
membrane (figure 1). A certain Accordingly they are not
amount of potential energy exists involved in the phenomenon of
between the two solutions on reverse osmosis. The passage of
each side of the semipermeable organics through semipermeable
membrane. The potential energy membranes depends only in
difference between any solution their molecular dimension and
and pure water is named absolute the membrane porosity. Then
osmotic pressure. Water will flow the molecules of the organic
because of this energy difference materials are separated from
from the less concentrated to the water or another solvent only by
more concentrated solution until a molecular screening effect.
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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
CROSSFLOW FILTRATION AND
CONVENTIONAL FILTRATION
Membranes work on crossflow membrane is not a consumable
technology. This means that the even if it progressively det-
liquid to be treated flows over eriorated. In conventional fil-
the membrane surface and only a tration the whole liquid volume
part said “permeate” passes passes through the filter element.
through the membrane. The impurities are totally retained
Due to the turbulent flow the by the filter which must be
membrane surface is conti- substituted when clogged as a
nuously cleaned. Therefore the normal consumable.
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PRINCIPAL ADVANTAGES
The only energy required is the unit for reverse osmosis or other
one needed by the electric high technology but gives a complete
pressure pump. No moving part system including pre and post-
except pump. No regeneration is filtration, chemical feed for scale
required. Ion exchange resins and pH control, ultraviolet
need expensive and corrosive equipment when needed or other
chemicals for regeneration. membrane process, suitable
Energy requirements are low chemicals to clean periodically
because there is no phase change. the membranes and the machine.
Operating cost is relatively Necessary information for initial
independent from salt concen- start-up and maintenance are Ultrafiltration machines
tration (D.I. resin costs are given to any customer. with ceramic or polymeric membranes
proportional to the salt We carry out studies, laboratory
concentration and high mineral analysis and tests on the samples
water D.I. cost is much higher of the customers in order to find
than reverse osmosis). Our the best and the most convenient
Company does not only deliver solution.
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TYPES OF MEMBRANES
AVAILABLE Innovative membrane water systems
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Our units are made using membrane • Membranes of different polymers

modules logged inside pressure vessels. in the form of a spiral wound
The vessels are supported by a steel element for reverse osmosis
frame and are normally horizontally treatment of liquids quite clear
placed. The membrane elements are with ultrafiltration or micro-
supplied by a pressure pump. The filtration
number of membrane elements is • Membranes of different polymers
dependent on the rate required. available only for ultra and
For all models the liquid which passes microfiltration in the form of
through the membrane is called hollow fibers for liquids with Different kinds of membranes:
“permeate” and the more concentrated medium and high turbidity - Ceramic
solution which remains is called • Ceramic tubular membranes only - Hollow fibers
“concentrate”. for ultra and microfiltration for - Nanofiltration
Our units are made with a modular treatment of liquids highly - Reverse osmosis.
system coupling together an adequate corrosive and temperatures up to
number of membrane modules on a 90°C.
unic skid. Innova plants with semipermeable
Membrane elements are available in a membranes are built with a modular
variety of types depending on the criteria, making use of a certain
problem to solve. number of separators, to obtain the
We currently use the following types: needed capacity.
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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SEMIPERMEABLE MEMBRANES

REVERSE OSMOSIS ULTRAFILTRATION

It is achieved with membranes having porosity up to 0,0002 It is achieved with membranes having porosity up to 0,05
microns. It is mainly used for removal of salts from water but microns. Mainly used for extraction of salts from organic
it is also used for particular concentrations where it is simply matters having low and medium molecular weight, for recovery
required to extract water from chemical solutions. of electrophoretic paint, for recovery of degreasing and
phosphating solutions in metal finishing. Used also as pre-
treatment before reverse osmosis.

NANOFILTRATION MICROFILTRATION
It is achieved with membranes having porosity up to 0,007 Obtained with membranes having porosity up to 1 micron.
microns. It is mainly used for removal of nitrates and hardness Main uses are crossflow filtration of beer, wine, fruit juices.
from water and for removal of many organic matters. Used also as post-treatment after a biological waste-water
Used also for separation of lactose from salts. treatment plant.

Different reverse osmosis plants

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HIGH QUALITY
CHEMICALS OF
OUR OWN PRODUCTION
In order to give our customers a full service
we can supply the following chemicals:
• OSMOGUARD: Chemical based on carbo-
xillic and polyacrilic products which complex
calcium and magnesium salts avoiding scale.
This product is long lasting, very easy to be
used, does not change PH and cod.
• STERILGUARD: Bacteriostatic chemical Plant for milk and juices concentration
which removes free oxygen from feed water so bacteria and
algae cannot survive. It also eliminates free chlorine without
any need of active carbon.
• OSMOCLEAN: Detergent types A2-C2 studied for mem-
branes cleaning when a certain flow reduction is noted.
With the use of these specific chemicals, membranes life
is considerably increased and maintained very high for a
long time.
• ALKALITE: Balanced mixture of mineral salts and oligoele-
ments to add into produced water for potable use, in case
that the water produced by the membranes is too low in
salts content and/or hardness.
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THE FILTRATION SPECTRUM

Via F. Baracca, 15/B - 20010 BAREGGIO (MI) - Italy

Tel. +39 02 90361802 - +39 02 90364635 - Fax +39 02 90361803
E-mail: [email protected] - www.innovaitaly.com Innovative membrane water systems
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