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Membrane Autopsy Services

With over two decades of expertise in water analysis, HOLLOWBRANE MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGIES offers specialized Membrane Autopsy Services to help customers identify the exact root cause of membrane failures and define precise troubleshooting strategies.

UF and MBR membranes gradually lose performance over time, depending largely on the efficiency of pretreatment. While fouling-related declines can often be partially restored through chemical cleaning, performance loss caused by irreversible polymer damage cannot. Membrane autopsy, alongside a thorough operational history investigation, is therefore essential to pinpoint the underlying causes of irreversible performance degradation.

Why Membrane Autopsy is Essential

Ultrafiltration-based membranes, including UF and MBR technologies, may experience reduced flow due to organic, inorganic, or microbiological deposition. Standard cleaning protocols may fail in cases of abnormal deposition. Our experience shows that

• Membranes can foul due to minerals and metals.
• EPS (Extracellular Polymeric Substances) can act as a foundation for further organic and inorganic deposition.

What is a Membrane Autopsy?

A membrane autopsy is a detailed diagnostic analysis of used or failed membrane elements. Similar to a post-mortem in medicine, it identifies the causes of deterioration in membrane performance.

• Objectives:
• Identify fouling, scaling, chemical degradation, or physical damage.
• Determine corrective measures for operational optimization.
• Extend membrane life and support predictive maintenance

• Methodology:
• Visual Inspection – Detects color changes, physical damage, and surface deposits.
• Sample Preparation – Membrane sectioning and cleaning for detailed analysis.
• Microscopic Analysis – SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) reveals fouling and structural issues.
• Chemical Analysis – Techniques like EDX and FTIR determine the chemical composition of deposits.
• Microbiological Assessment – Detects bacterial biofilms using culture and molecular techniques.
• Reporting & Recommendations – Provides actionable insights on pretreatment, cleaning protocols, and operational parameters.

• Identify Root Cause of Failure
  • Fouling: Organic matter, biofilms, or particulates
  • Scaling: Calcium, magnesium, silica
  • Chemical Degradation: Exposure to harsh chemical agents
  • Physical Damage: High pressure, mechanical stress
• Optimize System Performance
  • Adjust pretreatment, chemical dosing, or operational parameters based on autopsy findings.
• Extend Membrane Life
  • Implement corrective actions to prevent minor issues from becoming catastrophic failures.
• Enable Predictive Maintenance
  • Track membrane health over time to anticipate and prevent failures.

• Desalination & Municipal Water Plants
• Power Generation (Boiler Feedwater)
• Pharmaceuticals (Ultrapure Water Production)
• Food & Beverage Processing
• Industrial Wastewater Treatment & Reuse

• Biofouling in a Seawater RO Plant
  • Issue: Frequent chemical cleaning and doubled differential pressure.
  • Findings: Slimy greenish-brown biofilm with Pseudomonas and Bacillus colonies.
  • Root Cause: Inconsistent chlorine dosing and contaminated feedwater tanks.
  • Recommendations: Automated chlorine dosing, UV disinfection, and biocide treatment.
  • Outcome: Biofouling reduced by 60%; membrane life extended from 8 to 24 months.
• Silica Scaling in an Industrial RO System
  • Issue: Frequent but ineffective CIP cycles.
  • Findings: White deposits of amorphous silica and aluminum silicate.
  • Root Cause: High silica concentration and ineffective antiscalant selection.
  • Recommendations: Reduce recovery rate, use silica-specific antiscalant, and implement inline feedwater cooling.
  • Outcome: Scaling significantly reduced and CIP frequency halved.
• Iron Bacterial Fouling in Borewell-Fed RO
  • Issue: Reddish fouling and unstable system operation.
  • Findings: Rust-colored slime caused by iron-oxidizing bacteria.
  • Root Cause: Oxidation of ferrous iron promoting bacterial growth.
  • Recommendations: Anaerobic feed storage, iron chelants, and pH adjustment.
  • Outcome: Fouling eliminated within two quarters; membranes operated efficiently for 18+ months.
• Oxidative Damage Due to Chlorine
  • Issue: Yellowing membranes and sharp performance decline.
  • Findings: Brittle polyamide layer; FTIR confirmed chlorination damage.
  • Root Cause: Faulty sodium metabisulfite dosing and lack of ORP monitoring.
  • Recommendations: Automated dechlorination, dual pump redundancy, and continuous ORP monitoring.
  • Outcome: Chlorine damage eliminated; membranes achieved a lifespan of 2.5+ years.

How HOLLOWBRANE MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGIES Labs Makes a Difference

Our labs provide end-to-end membrane autopsy services, combining visual inspection, advanced diagnostics, and actionable recommendations

• SEM, EDX, FTIR, and XRD analysis
• DNA-based microbial profiling
• Surface damage mapping
• Clean-in-place (CIP) protocol review
• Water chemistry optimization
• Pretreatment audits and system reengineering

By leveraging these insights, industries, municipalities, and EPC contractors can transform membrane failures into performance-enhancing opportunities.

Takeaway

Membrane autopsy is not just a diagnostic tool—it is a strategic solution for sustainable water treatment. With expert analysis, operators can prevent recurring failures, optimize system performance, reduce costs, and extend membrane life.

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