Ultra Filtration Plant

Ultra filtration is a method of removing very small particles from liquid. A membrane used with this method usually has pores that are 0.01 to 0.001 microns in size. This is small enough to remove most bacteria, viruses, high molecular weight substances, and polymer-type molecules. During ultra filtration the flow of liquid gets split into two streams, which is known as cross-flow separation. One stream goes through the porous membrane and is then called permeate, and the other is concentrated in the particles and other matter that have been unable to penetrate the membrane.
The process is commonly used for treating drinking water in compliance with strict standards. Many organisms have become resistant to other methods of disinfecting water, but an ultra filtration system removes pathogens by moving water through a membrane, physically removing each organism. The membranes themselves are often formed into small, hollow fibers that are less than a millimeter (about 0.04 inches) in diameter, which are bundled by the thousands in a filter housing. Modules that contain the membranes come in a variety of configurations, including spiral-wound, plate-and-frame, and tubular. The type and concentration of material that needs to be removed helps determine what kind of configuration is used.