Production Scale Modules

full-size ceramic membrane pilot system

Produced water pilot unit utilizing full-size ceramic membrane modules. Please use inquiry form to inquire about pilot trials

This new generation of "honeycomb" inorganic membrane modules for microfiltration and ultrafiltration has a variety of abrasion-resistant ceramic membranes applied to silicon carbide monolith supports.

Product features include:

  • Compactness

  • Low life-cycle costs

  • High-temperature processing

  • Chemical inertness

Next Generation Ceramic Membrane Technology

CeraMem® Silicon Carbide Membranes with stainless steel housing

CeraMem® Silicon Carbide Membranes with stainless steel housing

Many industrial plants totaling tens of thousands of square feet of membrane have been sold in several countries around the world using this patented technology in first generation CeraMem® membrane products.

This second generation membrane module incorporates new chemically inert , silicon carbide membranes and support monoliths featuring superior chemical and mechanical durability.

This broad range of aqueous chemical stability will provide improved productivity, due to enhanced cleaning and flux maintenance, for applications involving oily wastewaters including deoiling of oilfield produced water, treatment of desalter bottoms, and the treatment of metal working fluids.

Other features include:

  • Operation across the full pH range from 0-14

  • Faster restoration / recovery of flux rates

  • Increased membrane permeability

Module Range & Specifications - Production Scale Membrane Elements (2mm & 5mm)

Dimensions: 34 inches (864mm) L x 5.6 inches (142mm) diameter. Area is approximately 115 ft.² (10.7m²) for the 2mm channel and 54 ft.² (5.0 m²) for the 5mm channel.

Membrane Type Water Flux (Typ.), lmh/bar

0.5µm - mixed oxide MF membrane

1,000

0.2µm - α - alumina MF membrane

400 

0.2µm - silicon carbide (SiC) MF membrane

1,200

0.1µm - α - alumina MF membrane 

350 

0.1µm - α - alumina abrasion resistant MF membrane

250

0.1µm - titania MF membrane

1,000 

50nm - silicon carbide (SiC) UF membrane

800

0.01µm - titania UF membrane

250 

0.005µm - silica UF membrane

200 

Ongoing development is expected to result in the expansion of the product line to include nanofiltration and pervaporation membranes, all with inorganic membranes.

Operating Conditions

Operating Parameter Range

Max. Temperature 

>150°C (dependent on seals and housings) 

Max. Trans-membrane Pressure

150 psi (10 bar) (dependent on housings

pH Range (except 0.005µm

2 - 13 

pH Range 0.005µm

2 - 9¹ 

pH Range, SiC membranes only

0-14

Recommended Cross-Flow Velocity

9 - 12 ft/sec (3-4 m/sec)

Volumetric Flow Rate for 12 ft/sec

400 gpm (90 m³/hr)² 

Pressure Drop at 12 ft/sec. in 2mm channel

19 psi (1.3 bar), H2O @ 25°C

Pressure Drop at 12 ft/sec. in 5mm channel

7 psi (0.5 bar), H2O @ 25°C

¹Highly hydrophilic, non-fouling membrane for non-alkaline service

²At 12/ft sec crossflow velocity, corresponds to 0.039 theoretical hp/ft² (@ 3.7m/sec, 0.32 theoretical kW/m²)