An H2O Innovation Company
We can provide five levels of autopsy, depending on the nature of the problem and the level of detail you require. Our teams can also carry out plant audits and provide on-site cleaning and troubleshooting assistance.
To get pricing for each Tier from our Spanish or US labs, please fill this form.
"*" indicates required fields
Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Full Module Characterization* *Full module characterization only available in Vista, California. | ||||
Internal/External Inspection | ||||
Pressure Decay | ||||
Tensile Testing | ||||
Loss on Ignition | ||||
SEM/EDS | ||||
FTIR | ||||
Contact Angle | ||||
Soak Study | ||||
Mini Module Testing |
Following tests and analyses are carried out during these different levels of RO membranes autopsy:
External housing integrity, ATD conditions, presence of particles/deposits, damage, etc.
Presence of fouling, particles or failures on membrane surface, spacer material, carrier material, glue lines, etc.
Microorganisms count on membrane surface, loss of ignition, SEM-EDX analysis, ATR/FTIR analyses. Additional analytical techniques are available (please, ask for the price of these additional techniques).
Flow rate and salt rejection values of different coupons measured at flat test rig.
Methylene Blue test (integrity of polyamide membrane layer), Fujiwara test (contact with halogens), ATR/FTIR analyses, XPS/ESCA.
Study of the most suitable cleaning procedure for fouling removal. As complement to autopsies, a study of plant pretreatment could be carried out (extra fees apply) : feed water analysis, analysis of particle size distribution and cartridge filter/ SDI filter by SEM-EDX. Learn more about our Feed Water & Pre-treatment tests >
Conducting a membrane autopsy is essential to diagnose the causes of membrane failure and optimizing system performance.
Membrane autopsies allow plant operators to identify the specific causes of membrane fouling, membrane scaling, or degradation. Common issues like biofouling, organic fouling, inorganic scaling (e.g., calcium carbonate, silica), or chemical damage (e.g., from improper cleaning chemicals) are identified through detailed analysis.
Understanding the root cause of membrane failure enables corrective actions that can improve overall plant performance. For example, if fouling from certain contaminants is identified, pre-treatment processes can be adjusted to mitigate these fouling agents, leading to longer membrane life and better system efficiency.
Replacing membranes is costly. A membrane autopsy helps determine whether the membrane can be restored through cleaning or if replacement is necessary. It can also reveal if operational practices or water chemistry need to be adjusted to prevent future damage, ultimately saving on future repair or replacement costs.
A detailed membrane autopsy provides insights into whether current cleaning protocols are effective or if they are causing membrane damage. By identifying the exact type of foulant or scale, plant operators can optimize the cleaning chemicals and methods used to ensure proper maintenance without harming the membranes.
We specialize in producing specialty chemicals and offering membrane testing services that allow reverse osmosis (RO) plants to operate efficiently in areas where feed waters are challenging.
Registered to ISO 9001:2000 standards
