High flow reverse osmosis membrane element Ecosoft HF-4040

This membrane is suited for commercial applications including water purification in private homes, drinking water production, beverages, breweries, livestock and poultry farms, aquaculture, greenhouses, mist humidification systems, laundries, and the food industry.

The HF membrane is a good choice when the priority is maximum energy savings or operation with low-power pumps capable of delivering only 6–7 bar. It is suitable for purification of relatively clean tap water with low salt content, where extremely high salt rejection is not required. At the same time, it should be used with high-quality pretreatment to protect the membrane from rapid fouling.

The nominal permeate flow rate of one Ecosoft HF-4040 element is 10.2 m³/day, or approximately 2400 GPD.

Ecosoft HF-4040 membranes are designed for purification of low-mineralized feed water, such as tap or well water, with TDS up to 1500 mg/L. In Ecosoft RO systems operating at 75% recovery and feed water temperature of 12°C, feed water TDS of 1500 mg/L typically corresponds to permeate TDS of approximately 100 mg/L.

The operating pH range is 3–10 in operational mode and 2–12 in chemical cleaning mode. This allows effective chemical cleaning under controlled conditions.

The maximum operating water temperature is 45°C. Standard performance calculations are based on test conditions at 25°C.

No, Ecosoft HF-4040 is best suited for low-mineralized feed water such as tap or well water, with TDS up to 1500 mg/L. For water with higher salinity, a membrane with higher salt rejection is generally a better choice.

Ecosoft HF-4040 membranes offer stabilized salt rejection up to 98.0%, which is slightly lower than the high rejection series, but sufficient for most commercial applications.

It is not recommended to use reverse osmosis without proper pretreatment. Reverse osmosis membranes are highly sensitive to iron, even more than to hardness salts. If iron content exceeds 0.1 mg/L, it can oxidize on the membrane surface and form a layer that is difficult to remove by standard chemical cleaning. If the feed water has a high iron content, pretreatment with iron removal or Ecomix systems is recommended.

A flushing flow rate of around 30–40 liters per minute at low pressure up to 2 bar is usually recommended to remove accumulated contaminants without forcing them deeper into the membrane structure.

If pressure in the permeate line exceeds pressure in the feed line even by 0.3–0.5 bar, the membrane selective layer may separate from the substrate. In such cases, the membrane usually has to be replaced.

In the presence of even trace amounts of oxidants or certain bacteria, hydrogen sulfide can be converted into elemental sulfur, which deposits inside the membrane as a sticky coating that is extremely difficult to remove.

This is normal during the first 15 minutes of operation. A new membrane contains a preservative solution that must be flushed out, and the membrane needs time to reach stable operating conditions. The first portion of permeate after start-up should always be discharged.

Like iron, manganese can oxidize and form a black deposit on the membrane surface. The problem is that manganese oxide acts as a catalyst, increasing the oxidizing effect of even trace amounts of chlorine and accelerating damage to the polyamide layer. The manganese level should be below 0.05 mg/L.

For full CIP cleaning, only permeate or highly demineralized water should be used. Salts from tap water can react with cleaning chemicals and precipitate inside the membrane structure.

Ecosoft HR-4040 membranes offer higher salt rejection than HF-4040 membranes and can remove nitrates and silicates from water more efficiently. Ecosoft HF-4040 membranes have lower salt rejection, but provide higher permeate flow at extra-low operating pressure and are recommended for feed water with TDS up to 1500 mg/L.