Membrane Technology - Intro Treatment (3 Contact Hours)

Learning Objectives for California Water Treatment – Membrane Technology Module

Module 1: Membrane Filtration Fundamentals

• Define membrane filtration and describe how straining through a semi-permeable barrier removes particles.

• Differentiate between MF, UF, NF, and RO based on pore size, pressure requirements, and target contaminants.

Module 2: Membrane System Components and Design

• Identify key components in a membrane system, including pressure vessels, contactors, pre-treatment, and post-treatment processes.

• Calculate flux and percent recovery, and understand how flow rate, membrane area, and temperature affect performance.

Module 3: Hollow Fiber and Spiral-Wound Membranes

• Compare inside-out and outside-in hollow fiber configurations and explain their cleaning and maintenance implications.

• Describe spiral-wound RO membrane construction and staging for high recovery.

Module 4: Integrity Testing and Monitoring

• Understand integrity test procedures like pressure holding tests, bubble tests, and conductivity profiling.

• Interpret on-line monitoring data such as turbidity, TOC, TDS, and conductivity to detect fouling or damage.

Module 5: Fouling and Cleaning Protocols

• Identify common fouling types: organic, biological, and inorganic, and their chemical cleaning strategies (e.g., NaOH, H₂O₂, EDTA).

• Explain Clean-In-Place (CIP), backwashing, air scouring, and other strategies to restore membrane performance.

Module 6: Reverse Osmosis Applications

• Describe RO system valving, sample collection, and operating precautions to prevent membrane damage.

• Understand temperature correction factors and how water temperature affects permeate production.

Module 7: Desalination and Advanced Applications

• Outline how RO is used in brackish and seawater desalination, indirect potable reuse, and regional case studies (e.g., Carlsbad Desalination Project).

• Discuss energy recovery devices and concentrate/brine management strategies, especially for inland systems.

Module 8: System Maintenance and Performance Optimization

• Describe data logging practices, RO system maintenance, calibration, and membrane autopsies.

• Recognize performance decline indicators such as differential pressure rise, flow decrease, or salt passage increase.