The water that millions of people drink every day contains a huge amount of a variety of harmful impurities, substances and bacteria. Many people are sure that all these substances can be neutralized by boiling. This opinion is erroneous. Experts rightly argue that using boiling water cannot be removed from everything. The stakes are high - everything that is in the water can provoke serious diseases and cause irreparable damage to health.
In order to save their body, many people install membrane filters for water, which, according to manufacturers, are able to maximize purify water of any quality.
So, these systems can remove a variety of bacteria, harmful suspensions, impurities and even
heavy metals from it, while maintaining the structure and its salt balance unchanged.
What is a membrane?
One of the main properties of almost all water treatment systems is the retention of various harmful substances, impurities and their compounds.
Membrane filters perform these tasks with a thin film of synthetic materials. It has special pores through which only oxygen and water pass. Everything else, and this is the mass of a wide variety of organic and inorganic substances, remains on the surface. For the production of such membranes, polyurethane, cellulose, acetate and lavsan are used, but there are other materials that have similar properties.
Varieties of cleaning systems
Membrane type filters are far from a new technology. Their history begins in the 19th century. Then the first filters were made on the basis of fiber, however, for some reason, this system was not able to get proper distribution then. And only in the 60s of the last century, engineers developed a new membrane. This is a prototype of what is used today.
The differences between such membranes are in pore size, as well as in design.
For example, with small holes in the filter there will be higher pressure. Several steps, each of which will purify water from various pollutants, will significantly improve the quality of drinking water. However, the price rises.
Microfiltration membrane
In systems of this type, the sizes of microscopic holes can vary from 0.1 to 1.0 microns. These products are used in first-level cleaning devices. They purify water from those compounds that make the water cloudy. This type of filter membrane is nothing but a preparatory level. Only then can we proceed to finer cleaning. Often this solution is used when it is necessary to treat waste water.
Ultrafiltration
The ultrafiltration membrane may have pores, the size of which ranges from 0.02 to 0.1 microns.
At this stage, all
colloidal particles and various macromolecular substances are removed from the water. In addition, this filter copes with bacterial contamination. The only caveat - this product is not able to remove salts. Often, these solutions are used in sewage treatment plants on an industrial scale. They can also be found in household filters, where salt content in water is allowed.
Nanofiltration
Nanofiltration membranes have pores from 0.001 to 0.02 μm. These elements are responsible for softening very hard water. This membrane can retain organochlorine and heavy metal particles in its pores. If we talk about the level of purification from heavy metals in percentage terms, the system is able to hold them only 30%. But at the same time, this nanofiltered part almost completely passes dissolved salts.
Reverse osmosis membrane
In it, the pores have the smallest sizes - they can range from 0.0001 to 0.001 microns.
The product has high selective properties and is designed to remove almost all contaminants, impurities, harmful substances that people use with water.
This membrane is capable of passing gases and a small amount of salts. If it is necessary to filter the sea, then the water filtration system with these elements allows you to desalinate it by 97%. The cleaning process using these membranes leads to the fact that salts, viruses, various bacteria, oil products and much more are almost completely neutralized.
Filters make real high-quality and harmless water out of running water , which is then bottled, used to prepare a wide variety of drinks, and is used in the pharmaceutical and other industries. It is also widely used in electronics, microbiology. This water purification technology is very effective. However, prices for such items are quite high.
Operating principle
So, these filters are a very thin membrane with a huge number of pores of various sizes. These elements are able to provide the maximum level of cleaning. In addition, after the water has passed through the membrane filters, it does not change its composition. Both salts and trace elements important to humans remain in it.
In the process of filtration with membranes, water has a high level of purification, and is also full, saturated with all the necessary minerals.
In these and similar systems using membranes, the tangential principle of fluid movement near the membrane works. Water enters the filter through one channel, and leaves through two. It follows that water accumulates on both sides of the membrane.
The overall performance of these filters depends on the area and thickness of a particular membrane. Water pressure and its temperature also significantly affect productivity.
Camping filters: principle of operation
For hiking enthusiasts, there are popular Nerox elements, the operating principle of which differs significantly from stationary installations. So, membrane filters are placed in a container containing dirty water. Pure water will be discharged into another tank through a special channel.
These filters are quite effective and allow maximum purification of the liquid. But they have one serious flaw. It is necessary to periodically clean the membrane of sediment. Manufacturers claim that the system should be cleaned manually.
How and what to process the membrane
If the precipitate is inorganic, then it is easier to remove it with agents that contain acid. Organic substances, their compounds, biomass are easily washed out with alkali-based solutions. Do not use nitric and sulfuric acid for cleaning.
With their help, you can easily disable the expensive membrane element.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the advantages that this system of water filtration possesses, they distinguish simplicity, ease of operation and maintenance of the membrane. In addition, the liquid after all stages of purification is very clean, but at the same time, the salt composition is preserved in it. The membrane is able to remove even the smallest impurities. Most systems are quite compact in size. Some models can be successfully used in the field, as well as as wastewater treatment systems. Disadvantages - high price. In addition, they note that with all the work efficiency, the speed of this process is incredibly low. Installation of storage tanks will be required.
Types of systems by design
So, if we talk about the design, then there are several types of membrane filters. These are models based on a single substance, without substrates. There are also membranes based on fabric or from various porous materials. These are elements of a reinforced type. Still produce products from raw materials with large pores.
Reverse osmosis filters
A disk-type reverse osmosis membrane is in most cases thin elements based on composite materials. Each layer of such a filter is made of a variety of compounds.
Tubular
Systems of this type are made of porous materials. It can be plastic, ceramics, metal or cermets. As for the sizes, the diameter of such a membrane in different models can be up to several centimeters.
In addition, an asymmetric and symmetric tubular membrane can be distinguished. The former have the same pore density throughout the volume. In the second case, one of the surfaces can be made of a denser material. This is a working layer that reports the degree of purification. Large-porous membranes only allow purified water to pass through.
Roll Filters
This is such a system where the membrane is mounted on the drain hose. When the water supply starts, the fluid moves in a spiral. After that, its entire volume accumulates in a special hose and is discharged from its second end.
The design is comfortable and the working part is ultra-thin. This is a guarantee of high performance. Also in this case, the risk of contamination is significantly reduced. These solutions can be used for a variety of purposes, including for filtering wastewater.
Hollow fiber
You can also highlight hollow fiber membrane filters. They are in the form of tubes. A certain amount fits in the filter device. The result is a solution where the working surface is significantly increased, which in the best way affects productivity.
The disadvantage is the practically absent flow control along the filter fibers.
These patterns are often clogged. Because of this feature, they should not be used for wastewater treatment.
Prices
Manufacturers set various prices for equipment. In most cases, the cost depends on the performance and degree of purification. Consider the most popular models from different manufacturers and their price.
Nerox - 1350 rubles
These products are suitable for wastewater filtration. The osmosis filter allows you to maintain salt balance. The product is lightweight and compact. This model can be used both stationary and in nature. In order for the system to work properly, it is necessary to periodically clean the membrane.
Aqua Expert - 1450 rubles
This model is designed to work with water of any quality. You can also apply a filter to wastewater. According to the manufacturer, the membrane allows you to restore the structure of the liquid. The system is very easy to use and clean if necessary.
Solutions from Aquaphor
Reverse osmosis "Aquaphor" is a productive, compact home system for the purification of drinking water. The series of these filters differed from the usual reverse osmosis systems in that they have a nice design.
The system has a special design. So, the model consists of a collector and a replaceable cartridge. Unlike traditional reverse osmosis cleaning systems, this filter is much easier to maintain and operate.
The manufacturer claims a high resource replaceable cartridges. Also, these models are easy to replace filters. To do this, just press the button, remove the cartridge and insert a new one. Reverse osmosis "Aquaphor" does not require constant disinfection: when replacing a cartridge, almost all surfaces on which bacteria could settle would be perfectly clean. The purified water after these filters will contain only oxygen. All other impurities will be screened out. Filtration quality is very high.
Filters from the Ekosoft company
The Ukrainian manufacturer "Ekosoft" produces household systems under the brand "Our Water". Among the product lines are pitcher, flow, reverse osmosis systems. Today this company is quite successful, and the products are in demand and receive positive reviews.
Unique technologies developed by scientists from Ukraine make it possible to effectively purify water from almost all impurities known today. The osmosis filter is able to cope with iron, manganese, organic compounds, heavy metals. Ready-made company solutions are in great demand. These systems really make water quality and clean.
The cost of Our Water solutions is quite high. However, this is not just a filter. This is a whole range of equipment that is designed to make the lives of most people better. All necessary equipment included. The company also produces replaceable filters for the entire product line. All those who care about health should definitely buy such systems. Water is life, and pure water is a healthy and happy life.