ZeeWeed pressurized UF membranes

The use of pressurized ultrafiltration membranes is applied in various treatment processes: for the removal of suspended solids, macromolecules, and bacteria downstream of a secondary sedimentation process in order to obtain high-quality permeate intended for agricultural reuse, or for the production of drinking water from seawater/rivers/lakes where a high water quality suitable for human consumption is required.

ZeeWeed® pressurized membranes are manufactured in two different materials depending on the required application: PVDF or PES. With the first material, a hollow fiber membrane is obtained whose surface consists of billions of pores acting as a physical barrier to impurities while allowing water molecules to pass through. PVDF ZeeWeed membrane devices operate in an OUT-IN configuration, meaning that filtration occurs from the outside of the hollow fiber toward the inside, so that suspended solids remain on the outer surface of the membrane while only the permeate (clarified water) reaches the internal channel of the fiber (lumen), from which it is then collected and conveyed to the final discharge.

The PES version differs in its operating configuration, which is IN-OUT, and in the membrane construction itself, featuring a multi-channel tubular fiber into which the pressurized wastewater to be filtered is introduced. PES allows the membrane to remain permanently hydrophilic and reduces the tendency to fouling.

Both membrane types are assembled into modules, which are housed in pressurized vessels arranged in pre-assembled skids according to the required membrane surface area. The specific module configuration allows direct coupling to adjacent modules and to the permeate header, creating a self-supporting unit ready for installation without the need to build additional frames and piping (rackless solutions).

Main features:

• Availability of membranes in either IN-OUT or OUT-IN configuration
• Suitable for retrofitting existing plants
• 50% lower capital investment cost for rackless solutions
• Optimized footprint, which can be reduced by up to 50% compared to conventional solutions
• Fast on-site installation, as the system is delivered pre-assembled and ready for operation
• In use for over 20 years, with reliability proven by thousands of references worldwide
• Highly reliable and robust, minimizing extraordinary maintenance requirements
• Among the longest service life available on the market (> 10 years)

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