Dechlorination and membrane
protection by UV
Avihay Druckmann
PDA Israel
VP Business Development
New Developments in Water Systems
Atlantium Technologies Ltd.
Tel Aviv, May 2019 avihayd@atlantium.com
Dechlorination + High Level Disinfection in One system
Efficient, Clean Dechlorination
No carbon filters
No chemicals
High-Level Disinfection
Complies with PW, WFI, USP, EP, JP
and WHO Standards
2
Conventional UV Systems
Medium Pressure vs Low Pressure UV Lamps
High resolution spectrum of a medium pressure lamp
8000
5kW
7000 1kW
6000 LP
CCD normalized counts
5000 MPL
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
200 220 240 260 280 300 320 340 360 380 400 420
Wavelength [nm]
Low Pressure (LP UV) Medium Pressure (MP UV)
Mercury vapor Mercury vapor - Polychromatic
Monochromatic (253.7 nm) Inactivates pathogens by damaging DNA and additional
Inactivates pathogens by damaging their DNA/RNA macromolecules (proteins) via polychromatic
4
Medium Pressure Lamps are Better
Uses entire germicidal spectrum for much better efficiency (200 -
320nm)
Totally inactivates cells by damaging their repair mechanism
Creates Thymine Dimers to inhibit DNA replication
Adenoviruses are 2-3 times more sensitive to Medium Pressure UV
Sun’s light spectrum
200 320
55
Medium Pressure UV Broad Spectrum
Action
6
Atlantium Hydro-Optic Operation Principles
Over 60 protected patents
7
Atlantium Hydro-Optic Operation Principles
Over 60 protected patents
Stainless Air Block
Quartz Tube
HOD
Conventional
8
The Dose Function and monitoring
UV DOSE FLOW
[mJ/cm2] UVT [%] LAMP POWER [%]
[m3/hr]
9
Sustained Performance
Dual sensors configuration provides actual dose measurement
Direct measurement of
UV lamp efficiency
Built-in monitor for water
Transmittance (UVT)
10
Recommended UV In a Pharmaceutical Plant
HOD De-Chlorination and Membrane
Protection
Alternatives (Not recommended):
Active Carbon Filter
Sodium bisulfite
Conventional UV
HOD- Hydro Optic Dechlorination and
Disinfection
Competition
Applications:
· DeChlorination – RO and EDI protection
HOD PW Loop Disinfection · Disinfection: Feed Water, Process Water,
(Hot sanitization) Product Water, Waste Water
Conventional UV · Ozone Reduction
Ozone Disinfection
Hot Sanitation
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Dechlorination :
Protects RO Membranes and EDI
Chlorine Reduction Unit
Reverse Osmosis
Hydro-Optic UV Dual Effect:
1. DeChlorination – RO Protection
2. Powerful Disinfection – Reducing Biofouling
Activated carbon Sodium bisulfite
Maintenance intensive Chemical injection
Microbe-nursery Chemicals removal Hydro-Optic UV
Very clean
Low-maintenance
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All 3 Methods: Free Chlorine to Chloride ions
ACF
SBS / SMBS Chloride ions (Cl-)
UV Photons
13
Activated carbon
Active Carbon filter is replaced between 1 – 3 years
High Risk of Microorganism Contamination
Gracious host for bacterial growth
Organics it filters from the water provide food
Has negative effect on RO Membranes (bio-fouling)
1
Activated carbon
Operating Costs (OPEX) and Maintenance Burden
ACF has no flexibility to flow rate changes
Steam sterilization or hot water sanitation ( once/twice a week )
Backwash (several times a week) – can’t treat water, downtime
Disposal of Carbon can be expensive
1
Sodium Bi-Sulfite
SBS is a source of food to microbes, and creates anaerobic
conditions on the membrane
Difficult to control, therefore the injection level is higher
than needed, this will create a rapid bio-fouling buildup
As consequence, increase in the cost of energy needed
for producing the RO water, more CIP, shorter membrane
lifetime, downtime.
1
Sodium Bi-Sulfite
Highly corrosive
May crystallize at room temperatures (on dosing pump)
Necessity of storage space
In general – industry is leaving chemical solution
1
Medium Pressure UV
UV converts Free Chlorine to chloride by use of photon radicals:
OCl- + UV = O2 + Cl-
No residual effects (pH, chemicals, conductivity, etc.)
RO Membrane and EDI unit protection
User friendly software and reliable real-time monitoring
Measured and validated UV dose for guaranteed results, using exact
minimal dosage required (saving power)
1
Medium Pressure UV
No bacterial escape routes (5-log min reduction in bacteria, 4-log min
reduction in virus)
Energy and space are utilized with Total Internal Reflection concept
Can be positioned Vertically or horizontally to save space
Easy maintenance, Lamp replacement takes 5 mins, No need to empty
unit to replace lamp
1
How It Works!
High resolution spectrum of a medium pressure lamp
8000 OCl-
5kW
7000 1kW
MPL
6000
CCD normalized counts
LP
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
200 220 240 260 280 300 320 340 360 380 400 420
Wavelength [nm]
Chlorine (FAC) Photodecomposition by MPLs’
Free-Available-Chlorine: Mass Concentration vs. Microbe RED
1.0
Measured - monitor set #1
0.9
Measured - monitor set #2
0.8
Fitted theoretical curve
0.7
0.6
0.5
C-out/C-in
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
M-RED [mJ/cm^2]
21
Conductivity vs. Time
Average “Salt Passage” (100*Cp/Cf ) is maintained at below 2%
22
Installation Attributes
In-Line configuration
NO “Dead Legs” design
Horizontal or Vertical Installation possible
Complying with cGMP
Easy and quick Validation process (IQ, OQ)
“Birth” certificates for all critical parts
2
Medium Pressure UV in Action
Membrane Biofilm Analysis – Laser Microscopy
(A) Biofouling layer without HOD UV pretreatment
(B) Biofouling layer with HOD UV pretreatment
Total biomass of EPS- Extracellular Polymeric Substances (transparent light blue) and
microorganisms (red)
A B
The EPS content in the biofilm on the membrane that received HOD UV pre-
treated water was far lower than the biofilm on the membrane that did not
Membrane Surface Analysis
Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy
With HOD UV Without HOD UV
The white patches are particles which “stuck” to the biofilm – due to the
increased amount of EPS
Biofilm Reduction - Results
Based on analysis of Robbins Devices at a pilot site
Membrane Protection – Value Proposition
Extend the period between consecutive CIPs
Reduction of chemical use
Maintain flux rate at lower Net Driving Pressure
Less energy & more product water
Enable less aggressive CIP regimes and improve membrane
recovery properties post CIP
Less chemicals, shorter downtime, less energy & more product water
Extend membrane life-time
Less membrane replacement costs
Visual Differences
Results from HOD UV installation using municipal tap water
Pre - RO membranes
Hydro-Optic Installation for Dechlorination
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Thermal Power Plant ,USA
Dechlorination in boiler feed water pre RO
• Surface water
• pretreatment including chlorine
injection
• Flow rate – 154 m3/h
• Inlet free chlorine level – up to
0.7ppm
• Required outlet free chlorine
(≤0.02ppm)
• Previous treatment – SBS
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Thermal Power Plant ,USA
Dechlorination in boiler feed water pre RO
“…the HOD UV technology effectively removed
free and total chlorine from boiler feed water to
undetectable levels from levels above 0.7 mg/L
at the inlet. Bacteria levels were also reduced to
an average of 3.8 organisms per 100/mL”
3
Thermal Power Plant ,USA
Dechlorination in boiler feed water pre RO
The TOC reduction while De-Chlorinating
the water
EPRI study concluded in 2014. Membrane
performance was further monitored from
August 2014 – August 2017.
The membranes are performing as new,
even after three years of operation.
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Membrane Performance- ROI
Differential pressure
oNew membrane - 28 psi
oMembrane 4 years old WO HOD UV - 50psi
oMembrane 4 years old with HOD UV - 34psi
Annual saving on electricity – 5K-USD
Annual Saving on chemicals – 5K USD
Since 2014 saving on micron filtration replacement – 240K USD
Increased life time of membrane – 100K USD
Total ROI recognized by the plant – 2 years [WO extended membrane life time]
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Dechlorination Methods: Comparison, Summary
Carbon Filter Sodium Bisulfite Medium Pressure UV HOD
Bacteria Proliferation & Yes. Intensive Yes No
Contamination Anaerobic, including sulfur- The very high UV-Dose “kills” ALL
reducing bacteria micro-organisms
Effect on RO Membranes Negative Negative Positive (high)
Bio-fouling Bio-fouling and Scaling Greatly reduces Biofouling and
Scaling
Effect on pH and Conductivity No Yes No
Water On Demand, availability Not Always Yes Yes
Intensive maintenance, risk Occasional chemicals contact time
of filter breakthrough
Chemicals in the Water No Yes No
Must be removed
Maintenance Cost Yes Yes No
Ongoing routine Ongoing routine
Footprint &Space Large Small Small
Can also be mounted vertically
Price (CAPEX) Relatively Expensive Inexpensive Relatively Expensive (low)
(high)
OPEX Expensive (high) Expensive (average) Moderate
TCO High (excellent) High (fair) Medium
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HOD DeChlorination - Summary
Clean, field proven and reliable superior solution
Best protection for RO membranes and other costly chlorine-sensitive
equipment
Safe and sustainable
Appealing Low Total Cost of Ownership
True in-line system with very small footprint
No chemicals
On-demand availability
Reduced maintenance burden
Reduced operating costs
Full control with real time monitoring
3
Thank you for your attention
Avihay Druckmann
VP Business Development
Atlantium Technologies
avihayd@atlantium.com
+972-50-6202242
