U

ltrafiltration
or UF is a
pressure-driven
membrane
separation process
that removes
particulate matter
from aqueous
solutions such
as water. UF
membranes
typically have pore sizes in the range of 0.01 to 0.10 m
and efficiently remove bacteria and most viruses, colloids
and silt. The smaller the nominal pore size, the higher
the removal efficiency. Most materials that are used in
UF are polymeric and are naturally hydrophobic, such as
polysulfone (PS), polyethersulfone (PES), polypropylene
(PP), or polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF).

OMEXELL™ UF membrane is made from high-grade

polymeric PVDF material to form a double-walled fiber
membrane that is very durable and less prone to breakage.
In addition, its fouling resistance is improved by making the
membrane surface more hydrophilic than the underlying
PVDF polymer. With uniform pore size and outside-in
flow, the OMEXELL UF membrane creates a perfect barrier
without sacrificing performance.
How OMEXELL™ Ultrafiltration Works

OMEXELL™ UF modules utilize a double-walled hollow fiber or capillary PVDF membrane with
a very small pore diameter for excellent removal of all particulate matter and bacteria, and most
viruses and colloids. Despite the small pore diameter, the membrane has a very high porosity,
resulting in a flux similar to that of micro-filtration (MF). In most cases, OMEXELL UF technology
can effectively replace MF.

Typically, OMEXELL UF is operated at a constant permeate flow. The transmembrane pressure (TMP)
will naturally increase over time, and the module can be cleaned by back-flushing or air-scrubbing
to remove the fouling layer for longer service life.

2
 Advantages of OMEXELL™ UF Technology

Low fouling: OMEXELL™ UF modules are made from PVDF material, which has excellent chemical
resistance to strong levels of disinfectants such as peroxide or hypochlorite, allowing sufficient
removal of bacterial growth.

Very fine pore diameter: With pore diameter of 0.03 m, OMEXELL UF technology effectively
removes pathogens, viruses and bacteria. In addition, the membrane’s high porosity allows high flux
operation at a given transmembrane pressure.

Durable double-walled fiber structure: The unique structure provides excellent durability and
resistance against breakage, even with periodic cleaning procedures to remove fouling.

Outside-in flow configuration: Systems designed with OMEXELL UF use outside-in

configuration, which allows for less clogging and higher solids loading, higher flow area and easier
cleaning.

Dead-end or cross-flow capabilities: Although the primary flow design is dead-end filtration,
modules can be easily adapted to a cross-flow mode.

Simple, modular design: OMEXELL UF uses a simple, modular design that can be easily stacked
and expanded for compact systems with a small footprint.

OMEXELL UF technology uses double-walled

hollow fibers, which are more durable and less
prone to breakage than single-wall hollow fibers.

3
 OMEXELL™ UF Operating Specifications

Fiber Physical Properties Typical Process Conditions

Configuration (fluid Hollow Fiber Maximum Operating 30 psi (2.1 bar)

flow) (outside/in) Transmembrane
Pressure (TMP)
Base Polymer PVDF
Maximum Sustained 100 ppm
Nominal Pore 0.03 microns Total Suspended
Diameter Solids (TSS)
Typical TSS 50 ppm
Nominal MWCO 80 K Daltons
Maximum Sized 250 m
Hollow Fiber ID 0.026” (0.65mm) Particles

Hollow Fiber OD 0.049” (1.25mm) Maximum Total 50 ppm

Fibrous Material
Typical Total Fibrous 5 ppm
Material

Maximum Backwash 44 psi (3.0 bar)

Pressure

Backwash Flux 59-118 gfd

(100-200 l/m2/h)
Operating Ranges
Backwash Frequency Once every 15 to
Typical Filtrate Flux 32–98 gfd 60 minutes
Range (54–166 lmh)
Backwash Duration 30-60 seconds
Ph 2–11
Chemically Enhanced As needed with
Temperature (limited 34-104°F Backwash Frequency 10-100 ppm NaOCl or
by UPVC) (1-40°C) 100-500 ppm H2O2

Feed Pressure, 87 psi (6.0 bar) Typical Cleaning 4–12 times per year
Maximum Frequency

Pure Water 15.1 gfd/psi Cleaning Chemicals NaOH/NaOCl,

Permeability (371 l/m2h/bar) NaOH/ H2O2
1-2% Citric Acid
NaOCl, Cleaning 2,000 ppm
Maximum Air Scrubbing 1-2 times per day
Frequency

4
See installation/operation guide for more detail.
 Typical OMEXELL™ UF Module Properties

SFP26XX Series (6-inch diameter series)

Module Properties SFP-2640 SFP-2660 SFP-2680

Housing UPVC UPVC UPVC

Length – L 47.64” (1210 mm) 67.32” (1710 mm) 87.01” (2210 mm)

Length – L1 43.70” (1110 mm) 63.39” (1610 mm) 83.07” (2110 mm)

Diameter – D 6.50” (165 mm) 6.50” (165 mm) 6.50” (165 mm)

Width – W 9.84”(250 mm) 9.84” (250 mm) 9.84”(250 mm)

Fibers per Module 6,000 6,000 6,000

Module Surface Area 254 ft2 (23.6 m2) 380 ft2 (35.3 m2) 507 ft2 (47.1 m2)

SFP-28XX Series (8-inch diameter series)

Module Properties SFP-2860 SFP-2880

Housing UPVC UPVC

Length – L 73.2” (1860 mm) 92.9” (2360 mm)

Length – L1 59.1” (1500 mm) 78.7” (2000 mm)

Length – L2 64.2” (1630 mm) 83.5” (2120 mm)

Length – L3 71.7” (1820 mm) 90.9” (2310 mm)

Diameter – D 8.9” (225 mm) 8.9” (225 mm)

Width – W 11.5” (293 mm) 11.5” (293 mm)

Fibers per Module 9,000 9,000

Module Surface Area 560 ft2 (52 m2) 753 ft2 (70 m2)

5
 Membrane Filtration Spectrum

Ionic Range Molecular Range Macro Molecular Range Micro Particle Range Macro Particle Range

Relative Size of Common Materials

Metal Ions Latex/Emulsions

Endotoxins/Pyrogens Bacteria

Insecticides Colloids

Soluble Salts Viruses Algae

Dissolved Organics Human Hair

Giardia
Antibiotics
Crypto

Micrometers (Log Scale)

0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1.0 10 100
Approximate Molecular Weight (Daltons)
100 200 1,000 10.000 20,000 100,000 500,000

Angs from Units (Log Scale)

1 10 100 1000 104 105 106

20

30

50

80
2 3 5 8 2 3 5 8 2 3 5 8
20

30

50

80
20

30

50

80

00

00

00

00
0

Separation Processes
Reverse Osmosis Microfiltration

Nanofiltration

OMEXELL™ EDI OMEXELL™ Ultrafiltration

The design of OMEXELL™ UF modules

allows system designers to build systems
that meet their exact needs, from small
modular skids to large plants, resulting in a
compact, small system footprint that can be
easily expanded in the future.

6
 For more information, contact us:

North America 1-800-447-4369

Latin America 55-11-5188 9222

Europe +800 3 694 6367

Asia/Pacific 800 7776 7776

www.dowwatersolutions.com/uf

NOTICE: No freedom from any patent owned by Seller or others is to be inferred. Because use conditions and applicable
laws may differ from one location to another and may change with time, Customer is responsible by determining whether
products and information this document are appropriate for Customer’s use and for ensuring that Customer’s workplace
and disposal practices are in compliance with applicable laws and other government enactments. Seller assumes no
obligation or liability for the information in this document. NO WARRANTIES ARE GIVEN; ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES
OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED.

March 2007 ®™Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company

Published in U.S.A. (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow Form No. 795-00005-0307BBI