Breaking Ground with Ceramics: Lessons from U.S. Pilots and Full-Scale Plants

Ceramic membrane filtration is seeing increased adoption in the United States as utilities and industrial users evaluate alternatives to polymeric ultrafiltration systems, particularly for applications requiring higher durability and chemical tolerance. While widely applied in other regions, implementation in North America has been driven primarily through piloting and gradual scale-up to full-scale facilities. Acuriant has supported this progression through the application of Nanostone ceramic ultrafiltration membranes in both pilot and full-scale systems.
This presentation summarizes performance data from three pilot studies conducted in Tennessee and Georgia, along with three full-scale installations in North Dakota, Texas, and South Dakota. The pilot studies evaluate membrane performance across different source waters, with emphasis on flux stability, transmembrane pressure development, and chemical cleaning effectiveness. Observations from piloting are compared with full-scale operation, including startup, process control, and longer-term operation under varying feed conditions.
The presentation focuses on practical design and operational considerations when implementing ceramic membranes, including flux selection, cleaning strategies, and system robustness. Lessons learned from both pilot and full-scale systems are used to highlight where Nanostone ceramic membranes provide advantages in terms of operational stability and risk reduction.