iron & manganese with membranes

[semo]

I posted this is chemical engineering under membranes with no response so maybe someone here has worked with this.

Just curious; but, has anyone had any dealings good or bad with using membrane technology to filter iron/manganese from potable water applications?

I've done many plants using conventional methods (aeration/sedimentation/filtration, oxidation/greensand, aeration/flocculation/filtration, etc.); but, have only seen membrane technology for this process as illustrated by a couple membrane providers.

The iron/manganese after oxidation forms a floc that is light and sticky. It seems to me that this will have a detrimental affect on the membrane, causing it to foul early.

 

[bimr]

The normal membranes will not work. By normal, I mean ro and low pressure. You could probably use some type of tubular membrane that is typically used for waste treatment. But the tubular membrane is probably not cost effective for your application.

Some of the membranes will require pretreatment. The pretreatment (multi-media)will probably take out the iron.

 

[semo]

That is kinda what I figured. I've seen some of the membranes pushed with pretreatment. Usually the pretreatment is standard aeration, sedimentation/flocculation. I can't see the cost justification for the membranes with this process when one can use standard mixed media filtration at an equal or lower cost.

But, I've read some articles on using membranes for iron removal and they've recommended no aeration prior to the membrane. That is the only way I can visualize them working without fouling at a high rate.

Thanks for your input. We're just now having the opportunity to use membranes as we have a well with high radium counts.