RO plants used at commercial sites should be maintained and clean on
decided schedule time. Commercial RO
plant manufacturers bring special warnings that you should consider while
cleaning the RO plant at the facility. Follow these guidelines and know the
best way to sustain performance of the RO system.
Periodic cleaning of membranes can enhance system performance. In
normal conditions, biological matter, mineral scale, organic substances and
colloidal particles can create foul membranes.
Some warnings are listed below:
- Cleaning chemicals are dangerous and can hurt the walls of the RO plant. You need to read and comply with all disposal and safety precautions. If you are the user of RO plant, you must comply with all federal, state and local regulations that may apply.
- You can use an acid cleaning solution for removal of inorganic salts like CaCO3, CaSO4, BaSO4, and metal oxides. It is not advisable to use sulfuric acid because it may cause calcium sulfate to damage the plant membranes. A normal cleaning solution has a solution o 0.2% hydrochloric acid, solution of 0.2% sulfamic acid, solution of 0.5% phosphoric acid, solution of 1.0% sodium hydrosulfite.
- You must use alkaline cleaning solutions for removal of silica, organic matter, and bio films from the RO plant membranes. A good solution for organic cleaning has a solution of 0.1% sodium hydroxide, solution of 0.1% sodium hydroxide and 0.1% of Na-EDTA, solution of 0.1% sodium hydroxide and 0.05% sodium salt of dedecyl-sulfate, solution of 1.0% sodium triphosphate, 1.0% na-EDTA, and 1.0% trisodium phosphate.
How to clean the RO plant
membranes?
To set-up a cleaning station for RO plant membranes, you need to
follow these directions-
- Note down the amount and TDS of the fill with the system set when operating pressure is normal.
- Make 15 gallons of inorganic cleaning solution that should have approx 2pH in a polypropylene or FRP tank with a removable cover. You should use RO water for make-up water if possible.
- Connect a hose from the cleaning solution tank to the pre-filter inlet over the RO plant.
- Feed the permeate and the drain tubes back to the cleaning solution tank. This will re-circulate when you clean the membranes.
- Turn on the RO pump. Make adjustments in the concentrate control valve to a concentrate pressure of 50 psi.
- Switch off the system and reconnect to the feed water supply.
- Switch on the system and flush at 50 psi for 15 minutes. Eject all the permeate and concentrate water.
- Repeat this process for organic cleaning solution.
You can get more updates about cleaning
and sanitation of RO plant from commercial RO plant manufacturers.
