Reverse Osmosis (RO) System Biofiouling Problems Controlled Using bioeXile and bioDART

GoalImprove reverse osmosis performance by reducing biofouling and increasing system efficiency.

<p><!-- wp:acf/two-cols-text {"name":"acf/two-cols-text","data":{"option_change_padding_block":"1","_option_change_padding_block":"field_6629e1de35327","padding_options":"py-to-60","_padding_options":"field_6629e0d2860af","background_colour":"blue","_background_colour":"field_6629e20935328","block_options_clone":"","_block_options_clone":"field_662a1b96b768f","block_title":"Overview","_block_title":"field_6629f36ac5d6b","block_content_clone":"","_block_content_clone":"field_662a1b96b76fb","text_list_0_text_item":"\u003cul class=\u0022list-check-mark\u0022\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eIndustry: \u003c/b\u003eFood Processing\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e","_text_list_0_text_item":"field_662a1bf77d245","text_list_1_text_item":"\u003cul class=\u0022list-check-mark\u0022\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eApplication\u003c/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e:\u003c/b\u003e Reverse Osmosis (RO) Membrane Treatment\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e","_text_list_1_text_item":"field_662a1bf77d245","text_list_2_text_item":"\u003cul class=\u0022list-check-mark\u0022\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eProblem: \u003c/b\u003eChallenging quality river water source resulted in frequent fouling of RO membranes yielding an additional $80,000 annual operating expense increase\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e","_text_list_2_text_item":"field_662a1bf77d245","text_list_3_text_item":"\u003cul class=\u0022list-check-mark\u0022\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eSolution\u003c/b\u003e: Upgraded the RO cleaning and monitoring program using bioeXile-L, an NSF rated cleaner, to clean the RO membranes, and installed a bioDART Biofilm Monitor\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;","_text_list_3_text_item":"field_662a1bf77d245","text_list_4_text_item":"\u003cul class=\u0022list-check-mark\u0022\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eResult:\u003c/b\u003e Cleaned the RO membranes in half the time with a higher recovered permeate flow than ever before\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e","_text_list_4_text_item":"field_662a1bf77d245","text_list":5,"_text_list":"field_662a1bb97d244"},"mode":"edit"} /--><!-- wp:heading {"level":5} --></p> <h5 class="wp-block-heading">Customer Challenge</h5> <p><!-- /wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph --></p> <p>A sugar mill in the Asia Pacific region was unable to satisfy plant demands due to fouling problems in the RO. On average, the permeate flow rate would decrease from 100 m3/hr down to about 75 m3/hr between weekly clean-in-place (CIP) cleanings. Both the influent river water clarification and the RO treatment programs from the previous water treatment company needed improvement.</p> <p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:heading {"level":5} --></p> <h5 class="wp-block-heading">Recommended Solution</h5> <p><!-- /wp:heading --><!-- wp:paragraph --></p> <p>A complete site survey was performed and an improved chemical clarification program was implemented. An autopsy of the RO membranes found the fouling was actually biofilm and not inorganic scale.</p> <p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --></p> <p>To improve RO operations, a bioDART Biofouling Monitor was installed in the RO feedwater line to provide an early warning of impending biofouling. The weekly CIP procedure was changed to use Chem-Aqua&rsquo;s bioeXile-L cleaner instead of the standard approach using harsh cleaning chemicals. A non-oxidizing biocide was used.</p> <p><img src="/link/9beab704490240d5a90cdac5886d0a62.aspx" alt="" width="614" height="332" /></p> <p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:image {"id":14848,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"center"} --><!-- /wp:image --><!-- wp:heading {"level":5} --></p> <h5 class="wp-block-heading">Results Achieved</h5> <p><!-- /wp:heading --><!-- wp:list --></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The RO membrane permeate flow was restored in half the cleaning time (just 6 hours) and recovered to a higher flux-rate than ever before.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Chemical handling safety concerns were reduced by using the mild NSF rated bioeXile-L cleaner.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>By increasing permeate recovery rate, system uptime, and speed of cleaning, the $0.52 m3/hr average cost of RO permeate decreased to $0.36 m3/hr.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <p><!-- /wp:list --><!-- wp:group {"layout":{"type":"constrained"}} --></p> <div class="wp-block-group"><!-- wp:columns --> <div class="wp-block-columns"><!-- wp:column --> <div class="wp-block-column"><img src="/link/6634cd02c00f417bbb4d7bba93c64fb8.aspx" alt="" width="1024" height="768" /></div> <!-- /wp:column --> <!-- wp:column --> <div class="wp-block-column"> <figure class="image"><img src="/link/1f43bcfe94a8486c99b6e25cac88cf39.aspx" alt="" width="1024" height="768" /> <figcaption>Influent water quality at the sugar mill</figcaption> </figure> </div> <!-- /wp:column --></div> <!-- /wp:columns --></div> <p><!-- /wp:group --><!-- wp:paragraph --></p> <p><em>CS</em>4-008</p> <p><!-- /wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:acf/two-cols-text-ctas {"name":"acf/two-cols-text-ctas","data":{"option_change_padding_block":"1","_option_change_padding_block":"field_6629e1de35327","padding_options":"py-none","_padding_options":"field_6629e0d2860af","background_colour":"white","_background_colour":"field_6629e20935328","block_options_clone":"","_block_options_clone":"field_662a2539a7d03","block_text_list_0_block_title":"","_block_text_list_0_block_title":"field_662a2573bc047_field_6629f36ac5d6b","block_text_list_0_block_excerpt":"","_block_text_list_0_block_excerpt":"field_662a2573bc047_field_6629f37dc5d6c","block_text_list_0_show_cta_button":"1","_block_text_list_0_show_cta_button":"field_662a2573bc047_field_662b4b6278ee7_field_6629f386c5d6d","block_text_list_0_block_cta_button":{"title":"Download PDF","url":"https://www.chemaqua.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/03/CS4-008.pdf","target":""},"_block_text_list_0_block_cta_button":"field_662a2573bc047_field_662b4b6278ee7_field_6629f39cc5d6e","block_text_list_0_use_special_button":"0","_block_text_list_0_use_special_button":"field_662a2573bc047_field_663af6cb5a467","block_text_list":1,"_block_text_list":"field_662a2550bc046"},"mode":"edit"} /--><!-- wp:paragraph --><!-- /wp:paragraph --></p>