Ultrafiltration (UF) is a membrane filtration process similar to Reverse Osmosis, using hydrostatic pressure to force water through a semipermeable membrane. The pore size of the ultrafiltration membrane is usually 103 - 106 Daltons. Ultrafiltration (UF) is a pressure-driven barrier to suspended solids, bacteria, viruses, endotoxins and other pathogens to produce water with very high purity and low silt density.
Ultrafiltration (UF) is a variety of membrane filtration in which hydrostatic pressure forces a liquid against a semi permeable membrane. Suspended solids and solutes of high molecular weight are retained, while water and low molecular weight solutes pass through the membrane. Ultrafiltration is not fundamentally different from reverse osmosis, microfiltration or nanofiltration, except in terms of the size of the molecules it retains.
A membrane or, more properly, a semi permeable membrane, is a thin layer of material capable of separating substances when a driving force is applied across the membrane. Once considered a viable technology only for desalination, membrane processes are increasingly employed for removal of bacteria and other microorganisms, particulate material, and natural organic material, which can impart color, tastes, and odors to the water and react with disinfectants to form disinfection byproducts (DBP).
As advancements are made in membrane production and module design, capital and operating costs continue to decline. The pressure-driven membrane processes discussed in this fact sheet are microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO).
Benefits
No need for chemicals (coagulants, flocculates, disinfectants, pH adjustment)
Size-exclusion filtration as opposed to media depth filtration
Good and constant quality of the treated water in terms of particle and microbial removal
Process and plant compactness
Simple automation
Environmentally friendly
What does ultrafiltration remove?
Endotoxins
Plastics
Proteins
Silica
Silt
Smog
Viruses
Maintenance:
Ultrafiltration systems contain extremely fine membrane filters which need to be properly cleaned. The cleaning process used depends on whether a UF system is being used to remove organic or inorganic contaminants, or even both. To remove organic contaminants the general cleaning protocol for the cleaning of tubular membranes is to use a low foam, medium alkaline detergent at 0.6% to 1% for a maximum of 40 to 60 minutes. To remove inorganic contaminants the best treatment is with citric acid at a maximum concentration of 3.0 %. The acid should circulate for 1 to 3 hours. Hydrochloric acid can also be used to clean membranes, as can oxalic, sulfuric and nitric acid.
Ultrafiltration (UF) is a variety of membrane filtration in which forces like pressure or concentration gradients lead to a separation through a semipermeable membrane.Industries such as chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing, food and beverage processing, and waste water treatment, employ ultrafiltration in order to recycle flow or add value to later products. Blood dialysis also utilizes ultrafiltration.