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  1. #1
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Davej's Avatar
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    RO Membrane cleaning

    Anyone played with chemical cleaning of a fouled/scaled membrane?

    Dave



  2. #2
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Rokusai Gavin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Davej View Post
    Anyone played with chemical cleaning of a fouled/scaled membrane?

    Dave
    Not carried out any experiments yet , but have been thinking the same thing.

  3. #3
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Davej's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gavin View Post
    Not carried out any experiments yet , but have been thinking the same thing.
    Something to keep me off the streets Gav

    Seems pretty straightforward..

    What could go wrong?

    Watch this space...

    Dave

  4. #4
    When I bought my housings from a chap, they had some membranes inside them. I'd bought new ones anyway to replace them.

    So I soaked the old ones in a bucket of acid............





    Then I forgot about them, the acid evaporated and I was left with crystals covering the bucket and membranes. Oops.
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  5. #5
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Davej's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by CheekyTancho View Post
    When I bought my housings from a chap, they had some membranes inside them. I'd bought new ones anyway to replace them.

    So I soaked the old ones in a bucket of acid............




    Then I forgot about them, the acid evaporated and I was left with crystals covering the bucket and membranes. Oops.
    Humm.. These things happen Mike..

    I have been pointed in the right direction chemicals wise ( I think)...

    Looks like we go for a soak in 14pH alkaline solution to remove biofilm etc and then with a citric acid based 4pH acid solution to deal with the calcium build up.

    Well that's the plan...

    Dave

  6. #6
    I have some old membranes kicking around if you want I can send them up to you with a pre-paid self-addressed jiffy bag

  7. #7
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Davej's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by keithatrax View Post
    I have some old membranes kicking around if you want I can send them up to you with a pre-paid self-addressed jiffy bag
    Lol, need to see if it works first but nothing ventured....

    Ordered the "stuff" can only get it in bulk so there may be some spare kicking around..

    Dave

  8. #8
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Rokusai Gavin's Avatar
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    Dave, I started my experiment today, I used lactic acid, slightly diluted.

  9. #9
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Davej's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gavin View Post
    Dave, I started my experiment today, I used lactic acid, slightly diluted.
    Lactic acid Gav?

    Thought that was associated with hard physical activity?


    Dave

  10. #10

  11. #11
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Davej's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gavin View Post
    As I understand it best clean the Biofilm off first with alkaline solution Gav

    Dave

  12. #12
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Rokusai Gavin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Davej View Post
    As I understand it best clean the Biofilm off first with alkaline solution Gav

    Dave
    Thanks Dave, will give it a go.

  13. #13
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Sansai finkoi's Avatar
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    Hi Dave

    Sorry I missed your post. I have cleaned membranes before as has Dave Collins.
    I built up a rig for cleaning and used Acid and Alkaline cleaners. I had to fit a heater to the rig as the alkaline solution worked better at a temp around 28c I think as it is a while since I used the solutions.
    Think you will have some success with 4040 membranes better than I did with 400 membranes. I shall be cleaning membranes in the future when I install the 4040 membranes when my pond revamp goes ahead and I upgrade my pond recycling. Also be careful using the chemicals mentioned.

    Andy

  14. #14
    Quote Originally Posted by Davej View Post
    Something to keep me off the streets Gav

    Seems pretty straightforward..

    What could go wrong?

    Watch this space...

    Dave
    Hi Dave,

    Very pleased to see you're still here

    As Andy has said I've cleaned 4040 membranes before but with limited results. Of course if I'd done as per the instructions it might of worked better but I think I left things too late so the membranes didn't recover so well.

    The membranes should be cleaned as soon as you get a drop off in performance of 15%. I found it difficult to handle the chemicals with the membrane in-place and flushing in between chemicals. I think Andy’s idea is best, build a rig with valves, tubing and a separate pump.

    Please keep us up to date Dave, I for one am very interested in your results.

  15. #15
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Davej's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dave Collins View Post
    Hi Dave,

    Very pleased to see you're still here

    As Andy has said I've cleaned 4040 membranes before but with limited results. Of course if I'd done as per the instructions it might of worked better but I think I left things too late so the membranes didn't recover so well.

    The membranes should be cleaned as soon as you get a drop off in performance of 15%. I found it difficult to handle the chemicals with the membrane in-place and flushing in between chemicals. I think Andy’s idea is best, build a rig with valves, tubing and a separate pump.

    Please keep us up to date Dave, I for one am very interested in your results.
    We have a lifetimes supply of Accepta 2069 and 2068 solutions, a 4040 holds under a litre so it doesn't take much..

    Followed similar to Andy's set up, small pump fed from a bucket with the outputs returning to the bucket - which is similar technique to the way Mike has done things expect his bucket is the permanent RO feed tank.

    I took things easy on a real trashed membrane on the basis that I can repeat if necessary. Results are encouraging after one short clean nye on double the output..

    Andy is so right about great xare being needed when handling the chemicals. Gloves, mask and protection for skin and eyes.

    Dave

 

 

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