Zwitterionic Membranes: A Novel Material Chemistry Platform for Fouling Immune Membranes

The Zwitterionic Difference Zwitterionic Membranes Full recovery after cleaning Immune to Irreversible Organic Fouling Unprecedented ability to handle organic compounds Manure (fats, oils, proteins) Digestate Mild cleanings fully restore performance A New Material Chemistry Patented, self-assembling zwitterionic co-polymer chemistry Zwitterio n Zwitterionic pores attract water and repel organics to prevent fouling Our membranes recover upon Cocleaning, even after filtering fluids polymer that ruin standard membranes in days Zwitterionic Membrane Zwitterionic Layer Contact Angle Hydrophilicity Measurement Zwitterionic Ceramic Polyamide NF Polyethersulfone Polyacrylonitrile Zwitterionic pores are intensely hydrophilic, Cellulose Acetate attracting water and repelling organics Polyamide RO PVDF Lower contact angle indicates hydrophilicity; Polypropylene PTEE correlated with fouling resistance 0 20 40 60 80 100 Zwitterionic membrane contact angle is 85% clean water recovery >95% Clean water recovery Reduces evaporator size and allows NPDES Excellent oil rejection for discharge downstream desalination Manure Digestate Dairy Wastewater Bulk solids removal + Zwitterionic SF + RO Zwitterionic SF + RO achieves: achieves: >80% clean water Clean water recovery recovery Sellable organic liquid Reduces hauling by 80% fertilizer Users with “Distressed” Target Industrial Types of Foulants RO Systems Feedwaters / Users Organic and/or biofouling Surface water High TOC (“general organics”) Frequent alkaline cleanings Wastewater Biofouling / biogrowth (≥ 1 /month) MBR effluent Color bodies / NOM / Short membrane life humic acid Process streams (< 2 years) Proteins Early Access Installation Application Power Plant – Surface Water treatment Head-to-head Demonstration Train A – Zwitterionic BWRO membranes Train B – “Gold Standard” Fouling Resistant BWRO Feedwater Challenges Feed water has high SDI during upsets Causes significant pressure drop increase in 1st stage of SDI filter papers of system feedwater legacy RO No effect on Zwitterionic RO performance.