GE has developed a new membrane to purify tough-to-treat water such as wastewater from industrial processes that can reduce time between cleanings by as much as 50 percent.
The AG LF series is a low-fouling reverse osmosis (RO) membrane that resists degradation from water-containing bacteria, colloids and other materials that foul and shorten membrane element life. The company says the membrane went through a successful pilot test in Asia, where customer experience showed the membranes require fewer cleaning cycles compared to conventional brackish membranes in tough-to-treat applications, such as steel production, power plants and plating processes.
“Our new low-fouling RO membrane offers higher efficiency with less frequent cleaning cycles, leading to extended life, lower operating pressure and reduced environmental impact,” said Yuvbir Singh, general manager, engineered systems — water and process technologies for GE Power & Water. “Now offered to our industrial and municipal customers around the world, this new membrane technology specifically addresses tough-to-treat water.”
With water scarcity and lack of fresh water in many regions, there is an increasing need to purify difficult-to-treat water for reuse in industrial applications, such as power plants and metals processing.
The AG LF membrane can reduce the amount of harmful effluent wastewater that is sent to municipal sewage or to fresh water sources. It features a unique coating technology that improves cleaning cycles, reduces pressure and reduces friction on the surface of the membrane, making it resistant to organic fouling.
In 2012, GE was ranked among top climate innovators by risk analysis company Maplecroft in its Climate Innovation Indexes, which studied the 360 largest U.S. multinational companies and how they manage and adapt to climate change, with a special focus on innovation.
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Founder, Hower Impact
Mike Hower is the founder of Hower Impact — a boutique consultancy delivering strategic communication advisory and support for corporate sustainability, ESG and climate tech.
Published May 15, 2013 1am EDT / 10pm PDT / 6am BST / 7am CEST