Membrane basics
RO, NF, UF and MF
What each process separates.
What each process separates
| Process | Typical pressure | Retains | Passes | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MF | 0.5 bar | Suspended solids, fats | Proteins, sugars, small organics, ions, water | Defatting |
| UF | 2 bar | Also proteins | Sugars, small organics, ions, water | Protein concentration |
| NF | 20 bar | Also sugars, small organics, multivalent ions | Monovalent ions, water | Desalting, fractionating small organic molecules |
| RO | 40 bar | Everything except water | Water | Concentrating, dewatering |
Which process do you need?
The choice depends on your application and the result you want. It takes knowledge of the application, not a table. Tell us your stream and your goal, and we advise from hands-on process experience.
A common misunderstanding
More pressure gives more flux, but that is short-term thinking. In steady state, the performance of a membrane system usually comes from the process regime: good turbulence, the lowest possible pressure and effective CIP.
High pressure or low flux?
Tell us what you run into. We like to think along with you, no strings attached.