Save time and money by using Evolution RO for permeate polishing.
Dairy processing produces many liquid streams that can be treated for reuse, including evaporator condensate, RO permeate from lactose concentration, and NF permeate. Processors often utilize RO systems to treat this water and produce a clean permeate that can be reused. While conventional RO membranes have worked in permeate polishing, there is now a significant improvement to membrane chemistry available: the anti-fouling zwitterionic chemistry used in Evolution RO membranes. By using Evolution RO membranes, users can experience a higher average sustainable flux and a simplified cleaning program that saves an hour or more each day.
Application Details
Given that milk is comprised of almost 90% water, dairy processing streams create a great opportunity for water reuse. RO permeate from applications like lactose concentration, nanofiltration (NF) permeate from applications like final concentration, and condensate of whey (COW) water from the evaporation of whey or milk are all examples of water commonly sent to permeate polishing systems.
The process begins by capturing and combining these streams. The combined stream is then sent to an RO system utilizing sanitary RO membranes. Permeate from the polishing RO is soft and clean as it was once milk, so it is ideal for reuse. Common reuse applications in the dairy plant include cleaning make-up water and diafiltration water. The RO concentrate, which is now much smaller in volume than the RO feed, can be sent to drain for wastewater treatment.
Membranes Used in Permeate Polishing
Conventional RO membranes used in permeate polishing are based on a thin-film composite polyamide chemistry that has remained largely unchanged for decades. While these membranes work, there is now an anti-fouling option that provides even more value to dairy processors: Evolution RO membranes.
Evolution RO membranes are built with ZwitterShield™ technology, which bonds zwitterionic chemistry to proven membrane chemistries to equip them with a permanent barrier to irreversible organic fouling. With this technology, Evolution RO allows users to simplify their cleaning programs by eliminating the costly enzyme step completely. In addition, the anti-fouling zwitterionic chemistry decreases gel layer formation in applications like permeate polishing, increasing overall productivity through the membrane.
Long-term RO Flux in Permeate Polishing
- Whey processor in Midwest US
- Concentrating UF and NF permeate effluent streams
- 18 months (550 days) of operation
- Reduced chemical costs by 65%
- Proved the ability to remove enzyme cleaning step
Increase productivity
Evolution RO membranes use an anti-fouling zwitterionic chemistry that decreases gel layer formation, increasing overall productivity through the membrane.
More sustainable operations
By reducing chemical usage, water consumption, wastewater generation, and energy demands, Evolution RO membranes support more sustainable operations and help lower carbon intensity scores.
Save time & money on cleaning
Evolution RO eliminates the need for enzyme washes and creates cleaning programs that save over 50% in costs and more than an hour per day of time.
Simple integration
Evolution membranes are one-for-one substitutions for industry-standard products—no system modifications or new CAPEX required.
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Eliminate the costly enzyme cleaning step.
Integrating Evolution RO membranes is proven to eliminate the use of enzymes, which is the most expensive step in a cleaning program. This cuts chemical costs by over 50% and saves about an hour of cleaning time.
Decrease freshwater consumption.
By eliminating cleaning steps and associated flushing steps, Evolution RO membranes reduce freshwater demand for dairy processors. Users can reduce freshwater consumption for cleaning by 40% or more by switching to Evolution RO.
A Midwestern US whey processor saved over 1,000,000 gallons (3785 m3) over 10.5 months of operation by switching to Evolution RO.
Save time and money.
Evolution RO membranes increase productivity in effluent polishing systems by creating a higher sustainable average flux and simplifying cleaning programs.
Dairy processors can reduce overall cleaning costs by more than 50% and give valuable time back to operators to focus on production with these revolutionary anti-fouling membranes.
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Industrial Wastewater Reuse
ZwitterCo has only polymeric membranes that can filter high strength organic streams without rapid and irreversible fouling. More description here to describe the kind of solutions we offer for NMP.
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Challenging Surface Water Treatment
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High Value Protein & Co-Product Separation
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Remove Bulk Organics
Remove tough to fight organics, such as fats, oils, grease, and protein.
Fully Chlorine-Intolerant
Can endure aggressive cleaning without wear and tear
Runs at Low Pressure
Runs at low pressure by not removing salt, sugar, alcohol’s or other small molecules.
Replaces Biological Systems
Replace biological systems or coagulation/flocculation processes commonly used to treat organics.