Case Study: Demonstrating Reliable Performance and Cleaning Cost Reduction with ZwitterCo Elevation RO Membranes for Landfill Leachate
Serpol is a leading environmental services company in France with over four decades of expertise in contaminated site remediation, effluent treatment, and sustainable waste management. With advanced in-house process development capabilities and a strong record of full-scale implementation, Serpol delivers technically robust solutions across a wide range of industrial and environmental applications. Among its most complex and demanding operations is the treatment of landfill leachate, a highly variable wastewater stream containing elevated levels of organic compounds, nitrogen species, heavy metals, and inorganic salts. To meet strict discharge and reuse standards, Serpol applies membrane based separation processes alongside biological and chemical treatment methods.
The Challenge
The landfill leachate treated at the Sytraival site presents a complex and variable wastewater profile, containing elevated levels of organic compounds, nitrogen species, heavy metals, and inorganic salts. These constituents contribute to a combination of fouling mechanisms in reverse osmosis membranes, including organic adsorption, biofouling, colloidal deposition, and scaling. The result is a gradual decline in membrane performance, typically indicated by increased transmembrane pressure and reduced permeate production. Following the installation of a brackish water (BW) RO system, Serpol encountered significant operational challenges. Membranes required daily clean-in-place procedures using alternating alkaline and acidic formulations.
Despite this routine, cleaning effectiveness declined over time, and membrane elements had to be replaced every two to three months. A membrane autopsy confirmed that organic fouling was the dominant issue. To address the situation, Serpol trialed various solutions, including specialized cleaning agents and alternative membranes from different suppliers. None were able to provide sustained improvement in membrane performance or system stability. These issues led to elevated chemical consumption, increased operating costs, and frequent downtime. Serpol set out to identify a membrane solution that could maintain stable flux, resist fouling, extend membrane service life, and reduce the frequency and complexity of cleaning under real-world landfill leachate conditions – this is where ZwitterCo comes in.
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