Neosol Chemicals

Newer chemicals & solutions for eco friendly industrial processes

ECOFRIENDLY CIP & SANITATION

OF REVERSE OSMOSIS MEMBRANE
Eco Friendly CIP of RO Membrane
Cleaning‐In‐Place or CIP
Membranes are susceptible to fouling. Feed water
impurities and over concentration of salts in the brine
stream promote the accumulation of scale and
foulants on the membrane surface. This causes
reduced flux and higher operating pressures. Cleaning-
in-Place (CIP) is now a very common and essential
practice in many process industries using water
purification systems like dairy, processed food,
beverage and brewery plant replacing manual strip
down, cleaning and rebuilding of process systems. A
well-designed RO system will include provisions for a
cleaning skid. The skid should include a chemical tank,
solution heater, recirculating pumps, drains, hoses and
all other connections and fittings required to
accomplish a complete chemical cleaning.
CHOICE OF CHEMICALS
Fouling impurities fall into one of two categories:
inorganic deposits and organic foulants. Inorganic
deposits include calcium salts, metal oxides, colloids
and silica. Organic foulants include biofilms and
organic molecules. The chemical nature of the foulant
determines the best cleaning chemicals for the job.
Acid cleaners are used to remove inorganic deposits
and alkaline cleaners are required for organic deposits.
Caustic soda and mineral acid like hydrochloric acid
and sulphuric acids are previously used for the
purpose but they have serious disadvantages and
damages have been noticed to costly membrane and
equipment and corrosion to the process plant.
Introduction to Neosol Chemicals
eco friendly membrane cleaning
technology
Reverse osmosis is a useful technology for producing
high purity water for many industrial, commercial and
residential applications. Proper design, operation and
maintenance of the RO system is required to insure
minimal problems with membrane fouling, shortened
membrane life, and increased operating and
maintenance costs. Proper pretreatment is required to
prolong the useful life of the membranes. Eventually,
however, cleaning is necessary to restore the design
flow rates and pressures. If this is done properly, a
reverse osmosis system will provide a continuous
source of high purity water for 5 to 7 years or more
between membrane replacements.
Neosol Chemicals has done efforts in the development
of eco friendly cleaning technology, which use special
products produced from plant origin chemicals and are
biodegradable in nature. Since they are readily
biodegradable, which means it break down into
naturally occurring elements when released into the
environment, without leaving any toxins behind.
These new products are more efficient in lower dosing
than caustic soda and mineral acid so lesser TDS.
Successful efforts are also made in development of
one single eco friendly product, which serve purpose
of treating inorganic and organic foulants.
These new products are suitable for all membrane
types like Cellulose acetate membranes, Polyamide
membranes and Aromatic polyamide membranes.
 Eco Friendly CIP of RO Membrane
FOULING OF RO MEMBRANE Innovative new eco friendly
ASSESSMENT & PREVENTION RO membrane cleaning solutions

The latest development in cleaning technology is the

As a membrane system continues to operate, the
use of products, which are free from caustic soda or
dissolved and suspended solids in the feed water
any hazardous chemicals. These effective in lower
accumulate along the membrane surface or in the
concentration and require low cleaning temperature.
feed water flow channels. As these solids build up,
Neosol Chemicals manufacturing such product with
they restrict the passage of water through the
brand name RO ALKOLIN, an alkaline cleaner.
membrane. This causes an increase in driving pressure
or a loss of flux.
RO ALKALIN acts on organic foulants as well as has
some action on cleaning of inorganic foulants. It is eco
Continuous monitoring of the RO operating
friendly product free from caustic soda, phosphate,
parameters is required to pinpoint when clean is
slurry compound and any mineral acids. This product is
required. The following guidelines are useful in
suitable for all types of polymeric membranes.
determining the best time to clean
 When the pressure differential increases by 15%
Incase membrane is highly scaled, Neosol Chemicals is
 When normalized permeate flow decreases by
manufacturing low molecular weight organic acid
15%
polymer Descalant RO CLEARFLO
 When the salt rejection rate decreases by 15%

Pretreatment of the RO feed water is required to Few membranes are pH sensitive and variation of pH
maintain the operating efficiency of the system and outside the permitted acceptable range, if not
prolong the useful life of the membranes. The controlled, may result in hydrolysis of membrane film.
following pretreatment methods are commonly used This results in irreversible damage to the membrane.
in RO systems: Neosol Chemicals has developed neutral membrane
 Carbon filtration cleaners RO SCOURALL for organic foulants
 Multimedia filtration All these products are eco friendly, biodegradable and
 Softening the RO feed water by ion exchange are very user friendly. No fumes and non toxicity ensure
 Cartridge filters ease of handling and complete safety of the user.
 Dechlorination
 Use of antiscalant
Eco Friendly CIP of RO Membrane
Caustic Soda Free
Cleaning of Membrane
RO ALKOLIN
RO ALKOLIN is alkaline pH cleaner effective in low
dosing of 0.5%. Process temperature of 30-40°C is
good for adequate cleaning. Though for highly fouled
membrane, two CIP cycles with RO ALKOLIN may be
done.
Begin the cleaning by filling the CIP (clean in place)
tank with water. Circulate water through the RO reject
line and back to the tank at low pressure (40 to 60
psig). Heat the water to approximately 30-40°C and
slowly mix the RO ALKOLIN cleaner to the desired
strength. Alternate circulating and “soak” cycles at 15
to 30 minute intervals for up to 4 hours is required for
adequate cleaning. Repeat with a fresh solution of
cleaner if the membranes are severely fouled.
After the alkaline cleaning is done, flush the system
with water and neutralize any residual RO ALKOLIN
cleaner with mild acid, if necessary. The pH should be
neutral (pH 6 to 8). For highly scaled membranes, low
pH cleaning will be required and Neosol Chemicals is
manufacturing special organic acid polymer Descalant
RO CLEARFLO
Mineral acid free Scale removing
technology by Neosol Chemicals
RO CLEARFLO
An excellent organic DESCALANT, a corrosion inhibitor,
and antiscalant are few chief characteristic of RO
CLEARFLO. It is by all means better and highly
advantageous choice than mineral acid as it is much
effective remover of calcium scale and inorganic soils
and minerals. It is effective at lower concentration of
0.25%. For highly scaled membrane dosing up to 0.5%
may be applied.
RO CLEARFLO is non corrosive to skin though washing of
exposed area is done to prevent any irritation to skin
due to prolonged contact. Also it is non-fuming,
completely safe to handle unlike mineral acids which
are highly corrosive and have corrosion effect on
process plant and damage to membrane.
CLEANING OF MEMBRANE SCLAE
Refill the CIP tank with fresh water and heat to
temperature. Mix the RO CLEARFLO to the required
concentration and alternate circulating and “soak”
cycles at 15 to 30 minutes intervals as described for the
alkaline cleaner. Monitor the pH and add more RO
CLEARFLO to the solution if the pH drops by 0.5 pH unit.
Once the scale cleaning is complete, flush the system
with fresh water and neutralize to pH 6 to 8.
 Eco Friendly CIP of RO Membrane
Neutral Cleaning of pH Buffer Acid Descalant for
Sensitive Membrane pH Sensitive Membrane

Two basic types of membranes are in commercial use To remove hard scales and mineral deposits on pH
– asymmetric and thin-film composite. Cellulose sensitive membrane, Neosol Chemicals is
acetate, cellulose triacetate, and polyamide are manufacturing Neutral Descalant/Antiscalant namely
common polymers used in asymmetric membrane
RO CLEARFLO BUFFER
manufacture. Cellulose acetate membranes are lower
in cost and resistant to chlorine attack. However, the
membrane tends to chemically degrade (hydrolyze)
RO CLEARFLO BUFFER
outside a pH range of 5 to 8.
RO CLEARFLO BUFFER is biodegradable low molecular
In thin-film composite membranes, aromatic weight organic acid polymer compound. Typically 0.5%
polyamide is used which offer hydrolytic stability, dosing of RO CLEARFLO BUFFER is sufficient to treat
better salt and organic rejection. But they are higher in inorganic scale deposition on cellulose acetate and
cost than cellulose acetate membranes and have no other pH sensitive membrane.
tolerance for chlorine and are not biodegradable.
CIP CYCLE is as usual as with other acidic cleaners. In
To assist cleaning of pH sensitive membranes, Neosol
case of highly scaled membrane, higher dosing of RO
Chemicals is manufacturing neutral cleaner RO
CLEARFLO BUFFER can be applied up to 1.0% or better
SCOURALL comprised of plant derived compound for
two cleaning cycles may be performed at 0.5% dosing.
emulsification of organic foulants and any oil and
Once the cleaning is complete, flush the system with
greasy debris.
fresh water.

RO SCOURALL
RO SCOURALL is effective in low doing of 0.1% only. It
is non corrosive to any type of membrane and is
completely biodegradable compound. CIP CYCLE is
same as with RO ALKOLIN.
Eco Friendly CIP of RO Membrane
Calculation of cost involved in
treatment with Neosol Chemicals
eco friendly CIP solution
Cleaning Solutions
COST of Treatment with RO ALKOLIN & Typical dosing of 1.0% is required to facilitate removal
RO CLEARFLO ACID of scale deposition
Typically RO ALKOKLIN dosing of 0.5% of the weight of
Cost of RO CLEARFLO BUFFER = (0.5kg X 140) = 70.00 in
water will be required at temperatures of up to 40°C.
INR
For highly fouled surfaces, quantity up to 1.0% can be
applied. Total cost = 30 + 70 = 100.00 in INR

For 100kg of CIP solution,

Cost of RO ALKOKLIN= (0.5kg X 210) = 105.00 in INR
For highly scaled membrane, treatment with Descalant
RO CLEARFLO is required. Typical dosing of 0.5% is
required to facilitate removal of scale deposition.
Cost of RO CLEARFLO = (0.25kg X 180) = 45.00 INR
Total cost = 105 + 45 = 150.00 in INR
COST of treatment with RO SCOURALL &
RO CLEARFLO
This combination is also applied for economical CIP
For 100kg of CIP solution,
Cost of RO SCOURALL = (0.1kg X 300) = 30.00 in INR
Cost of RO CLEARFLO = (0.25kg X 180) = 45.00 in INR
Total cost = 30 + 45 = 75.00 in INR

COST of treatment with RO SCOURALL &

Choice between RO ALKOLIN and RO SCOUALL may be
RO CLEARFLO BUFFER
done by testing both individually and better suitability
Typically 0.1% RO SCOURALL will be required at
with respect to nature of membrane and foulants may
temperatures of up to 40°C. For highly fouled surfaces,
be determined. Floulants are not same every place and
quantity up to 0.2% can be applied.
governed by many geological and industrial factors.
For 100kg of CIP solution,

Cost of RO SCOURALL = (0.1kg X 300) = 30.00 in INR


Information on
RO CIP CYCLES
When planning a membrane cleaning, it is important
to consider the order in which the required cleaners
should be used. When possible, conduct a foulant
analysis to determine which foulants exist, what
cleaners should be used and in which order cleaners
should be applied. Foulant layers differ from one RO to
the next, depending on feedwater characteristics and
the hydration level of the foulants (absorbed water
associated with the chemical form of the foulant).
In general, remove biological growth and colloidal silt
first using RO ALKOLIN or RO SCOURALL. During the
cleaner recirculation and rinsing procedures, pressures
should be reduced so permeation is avoided. By
reducing pressures, the membrane foulants are no
longer being forced toward the membrane by the
water flowing through it. Instead, foulants may move
away from the membrane surface, into solution and
out of the membrane element.
A second stage of descalant treatment with RO
CLEARFLO or RO CLEARFLO BUFFER is done to remove
the metals and scale from the membrane layers.
Eco Friendly CIP of RO Membrane
Frequency of Membrane
Cleaning
Under ideal conditions, assuming the RO pretreatment
system is properly designed and operated, the
frequency between membrane cleanings should be 6
months or longer. Cleaning every 1 to 3 months is
considered a fair performance and suggests that some
improvements in the pretreatment systems are
required. Cleaning frequencies every month or more
indicate a change in raw water quality, a problem with
the pretreatment system or in the operation of the RO
unit.
DISPOSAL OPTIONS FOR CONCENTRATED
BRINE
Reverse osmosis produces a high purity water stream
and a concentrated brine or reject stream.
Approximately 75 to 80% of the RO feed water is
recovered as useful permeate, but 20 to 25% of the
feed water ends up as waste. Typical designs for
recovering RO reject include capturing the brine stream
in a storage tank for use in washing and rinsing floors
and equipment or as backwash water for filters. Reuse
is the best option as it conserves water resources and
improves the overall efficiency of RO operation.
For most installations, however, the reject is still of
sufficient quality to permit discharge directly to the
environment by one of the following options.
 Surface water discharge
 Spray irrigation
 Municipal waste water treatment plant
 Evaporation
Sanitation of RO membrane
SANITATION
CIP is a methodology to remove product residues from
a process plant. It is not a means of eliminating micro-
organisms from the system. This is the role of the post
CIP sanitisation or sterilisation process using either
chemical sanitisers or the application of heat to
destroy micro-organisms.
CHOICE OF STERILANTS
Sanitation is achieved by the use of hot water,
hypochlorite or the peroxide based sterilants. Sodium
hypochlorite cannot be applied for sanitising as
membrane materials are susceptible to free chlorine.
Neosol Chemicals is manufacturing organic sterilisers
as a substitute for the sodium based chlorine
sterilizers under the brand name GERMINIL. It is based
on peroxyacetic acid.
Organic Sterliser from
Neosol Chemicals
GERMINIL
GERMINIL works by penetrating the cell wall and cell
membrane and oxidizing the H‐S and S‐S bonds in the
cell’s enzymes. The microbes are then unable to function
and die. Because the cells are destroyed from the
inside‐out via oxidation, they cannot develop immunity
or mutate to counteract this product. GERMINIL dosing of
0.3% to 0.5% is adequate for complete sterilization of the
process plant. Sufficient contact time is important for
sterilization of process equipment.
Other advantages of GERMINIL are:
• Broad spectrum efficacy (gram+ and gram– organisms
and spores)
• Wide temperature range of efficacy
• Effective for pH up to 8
• Acidic solution
• Low corrosivity to stainless steel
• Environmentally friendly decomposition products
• Cost effective in comparison to other readily available
sanitisers
COST of treatment with GERMINIL
GERMINIL 15/20 (15% peroxyacetic acid & 20% hydrogen
peroxide) formulation dosing of 0.3% is require
For 100kg of CIP solution,
Cost of GERMINIL 15/20 = (0.3kg X 120) = 36.00 in INR
Newer chemicals & solutions for eco friendly industrial processes
About
NEOSOL CHEMICALS

Neosol Chemicals is a premier manufacturing organization in the field of eco friendly

products and solutions for industrial cleaning solutions, textile wet processing, metal
protection, industrial water treatment, boiler & cooling tower, steel melting and foundry.
The company has incurred its knowledge from actual shop floor experiences and with the
guidance and efforts of many technical and shop floor personals. For more details and any
query

Contact us at following:

Neosol Chemicals
Office : 118-20, Kumar Tower, Community Centre, Wazirpur Indl. Area, Delhi-110052
Works : D-152, Shabad Indl. Area, Fact. On Badli_Bawana Road, Near Friends Dharam
Kanta, Shabad Dairy, Delhi-110042
Billing address: LU-31, Vishakha Enclave, Pitampura, Delhi-110034
(GSTN No. 07AGVPG6548C1Z5, IEC No.0513083375)
Tel: 27376450, 27374914, 9811212292 Emergency no. 9811234578
E_mail : neosolchemicals@hotmail.com, neosolchemicals@gmail.com