Technology Offer
Title:
Water purification and wastewater treatment using submerged hollow fibre microfiltration
technology (Ref: 11 AT 0106 3LFG )
Abstract:
An Austria SME specialising in water treatment and waste water purification has developed an
ultra and micro filter system for using porous organic hollow fibre membranes with 25% more
efficiency that ensures elimination of bacteria and viruses, significantly reducing the filter surface
area requirement and reduction of replacement and maintenance costs. Searching for
commercial partners for a joint venture and technical assistance.
Description:
Industry standard filters have membranes that are not protected by an enclosure system and
filter membranes work on an ultra-filtration basis without protection of the filter in a cartridge
fitting. Fouling occurs due to particles being not being filtered effectively via ultra-filtration and
flushing and air scouring is limited in its effect.
These new filters are 25% more inefficient when compared to standard technologies in addition to
having a longer life span, lower maintenance and economies of scale.
The process involves the usage of special organic fibres at the ultra and micro filtration stages of the
water treatment and waste water purification. The basic principle of this filtration is the use of
porous organic hollow fibre membranes with micro-pores as the filtering medium and the fibres
have a diameter of less than 1mm (dependent on the type of application). The pores are much
smaller than standard ultra-filtration membranes measured in microns and can remove bacteria
more effectively. EU bathing water standard.
Hundreds of fibres are combined into bundles wound around a supporting carrier cartridge in order
to achieve a sufficiently large surface area and enable a constant flow of water. The carrier
cartridge has a suction connection for filtered water and a pressure air connection for air scour,
which allows cleaning of the fibres from outside simultaneously to normal operation.
The typical transmembrane pressure amounts to 200 - 500 mbar and ensures a passing velocity of
10-60 l/m ² per hour (dependent on raw and/or waste water content). The organic hollow fibres
with outer dimensions of 0,3 – 0,5 mm allow for a TMP (turbomolecular pump) range from 50 – 600
mbar and a clean passing velocity up to 300 l/m2 per hour.
The new filters have a higher integrity and can be easily fitted to existing systems. The life span of
the filter is increased due to the physical protection of the membranes and the more effective
flushing via air scouring that reduces anti-fouling. Standard membranes are more often than not
flushed.
The fibres are protected via the carrier cartridge and are not subjected exorbitant mechanical loads.
Cartridges contain 32 individual filter elements up to a max. of 100 depending on filtration
requirements. A cartridge is ca. 1.2 m long, 0.6m wide and 0,8m in height.
The Austrian company’s main business activities are consulting and design, supply of equipment,
EPC contracting and turn-key contracting, and project development and operation management.
Innovations and advantages of the offer
• The use of a carrier cartridge significantly reduces the surface area requirement due to the
multiple filter elements contained in a single cartridge.
• Bacteria and viruses can be removed from the water to be treated due to the small size of the
pores of 0,1 - 0.6 micron. A removal of bacteria and viruses with 10,000 to 10 million fold reduction
independent of type or form of organism.
• The process does not require disinfection products and is odourless.
• The operational sequences with filtration and bacteria/virus elimination are accomplished in a
single process using existing equipment.
• The filtration modules have a long life expectancy (5 years dependent on usage).
• They are cheap and easily replaceable. Filter elements can be individually replaced or an entire
cartridge.
• Extremely compact applications
• Easy access and maintenance
• Does not require expensive “out of tank” pipework such a settlement tank and associated
pipework due to the high filtration efficiency.
• A high resistance to oxidative chemicals.
• Very robust fibres with anti-fouling properties
• More effective air scouring of the filter membrane eliminates the build-up of waste materials.
• Chemical cleaning at reduced costs due to the high filtration efficiency. Few chemical agents are
needed.
• A 25 % increase of cleaning compared to other membranes.
Current and Potential Domain of Application
• Membrane bioreactors
• Surface water treatment
• Ground water treatment
• Pre-treatment before reverse osmosis (RO)
• Elimination of turbidity, algae, bacteria and virus, Giardia, Cryptosporidia, Fe, Mn, As,...
List of Keywords
Technology
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Plant Design and Maintenance
Cleaning Technology
Process Plant Engineering
Apparatus Engineering
Market
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Other industrial equipment and machinery
Other Industrial Products (not elsewhere classified)
Industrial Services
Current Stage of Development
Already on the market
Exploitation of RTD Results
Private Research
Collaboration Type
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Joint Venture Agreement
Assembly
Engineering
Technical consultancy
Quality control
Maintenance
Comments
- Type of partner sought: SME, industrial partner.
- Specific area of activity of the partner: Municipalities, industrial clients, general contractors, real
estate companies and institutional investors.
- Task to be performed by the partner sought: Investment for further technical development and
commercialisation. Technical assistance for technical consultancy, assembly and installation. Sales of
highly technical products. After sales service and maintenance. Companies that offer a turnkey
solutions, fully certified and accredited by local authorities.