Engineering of ultrafiltration equipment in alkaline cleaner applications

Using ultrafiltration (UF) technologies to extend alkaline cleaner bath life is a proven technology finding a home in more and more metal-finishing operations. The ability to selectively remove oil-based contaminants from the wastewater process stream is a well-received solution to an old problem. However, susceptibility of membranes to fouling, and concerns about stripping out active agents, such as surfactants, from the process, do present some uncertainties in UF implementations. The surest way to satisfy these concerns is through pilot testing. Real-life installations allow the collection of real-time data letting plant managers see how, and how well a UF system will work on their particular problem. The downside? Pilot testing can be very expensive - often as high as 10-15% of the cost of the equipment itself.