Netherlands-based PWN Technologies, in partnership with Indian water treatment firm VA Tech Wabag and Japanese membrane maker, Metawater, has launched a trial to demonstrate the effectiveness of ceramic membranes as pre-treatment for seawater reverse osmosis.
The trial plant will have a capacity of 200 m3/d deploying a single ceramic membrane with a 25 m2 filtration area.The four-month trial will be carried out at Singapore water firm, PUB’s research and development facility in Tuas, Singapore for a period of 4 months.
This trial will be conducted in technical collaboration with PUB in all aspects. Other objectives of the trial are:
to produce enough data to determine initial optimal flux for stable conditions, and show stable and reliable operation, with minimal down-time and consistent treated water quality; and
to determine the filtered water quality with a mix of indicators including turbidity, metals, and organics, to ensure its suitability for downstream RO treatment.
Singapore was among the first nations to trial ceramics with a S$ 5 million (US$ 3.7 million), 1,200 m³/day demonstration plant at PUB’s Choa Chu Kang waterworks with Metawater and PWN as partners. PUB ran the plant for 18 months.