How to Use MBR Membranes Correctly

To operate MBR membranes safely and properly, strict inspection procedures must be implemented without any negligence. Without reliable after-sales service and quality assurance, long-term operation will pose severe risks and even trigger operational accidents.

MBR membranes are mainly adopted for water filtration, so filtration performance is a critical evaluation indicator. The membrane loses its practical value if the purification effect fails to meet standards. More importantly, regular cleaning is mandatory after a period of operation. Two mainstream cleaning methods are available: physical cleaning and chemical cleaning.

Physical Cleaning

Physical cleaning relies on manual work, mechanical equipment or clean water tanks, with online backwashing as the most common practice.

Conduct water backwashing on MBR membranes every day with backwash pressure higher than 0.1 MPa. The backwash duration shall follow the manufacturer’s specifications, and membrane permeate shall be used as backwash water.

Chemical Cleaning

Chemical cleaning soaks and rinses membranes with chemical agents.

To extend the cleaning cycle of MBR membranes, perform online chemically enhanced backwashing by adding a fixed dosage of sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) alternately during backwashing at an interval of 3–6 days. Each chemical backwash lasts 3 to 5 minutes. After chemical reagents fully permeate the membrane sheets, keep them soaked for another 20–30 minutes before resuming normal water production. Continuous aeration shall be maintained throughout the entire cleaning process.