SYNOPSIS

Polymeric Tubular UF membranes have been in the industry for more than 30 years, and are one the least understood products and processes. Today, polymeric tubular membranes are replacing hollow fiber UF in applications where conventional hollow fiber UF has been demonstrated to be problematic, such as high solids loading, high turbidity or highly variable influent. Tubular UF membranes can provide the same high quality permeate as hollow fiber UF, but eliminates many of the pre-treatment processes typically needed by the hollow fiber UF. This presentation provides insight into the processes and applications where tubular membranes have demonstrated superiority to hollow fiber UF. These applications include increased RO Recovery by cold-lime softening to remove hardness and silica, recovery of Ultra-Pure Water  (UPW) by removal of grinding compounds in several semiconductor manufacturing processes, removal of heavy metals in plating and PCB industry, surface water processing where influent conditions are variable and pretreat to desalination where highly organic and variable seawater conditions exist. Membrane construction types, general system design, pretreatment and process descriptions as well as example case studies will be examined providing a guide of when the use of tubular membranes is most applicable.

BIODATA OF SPEAKER

Mr. Douglas is a Geological Engineering graduate from the University of Minnesota in 1978. After leaving Minnesota, Mr. Douglas worked for Schlumberger Well Services in Colorado and Wyoming, then management positions with Environmental Remediation Companies including Westinghouse, Thermo Electron and International Technologies in Florida and Pittsburgh. He then spent ten years with US Filter that was purchased by Veolia and Siemens Water. His time with US Filter/ Siemens was spent almost exclusively with the tubular membrane products working with customers, systems and technologies.  Mr. Douglas is currently the Director of Sales and Marketing for Porex Filtration, manufacturer of reusable, backwashable, chemically cleanable filter cartridges and tubular membrane filter elements.