HPMA in reverse osmosis systems
Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are widely used in water treatment for drinking water purification, industrial water purification and seawater desalination. RO membranes are susceptible to scale, organics and microorganisms during operation, leading to a decline in membrane performance and a reduction in system efficiency.The application of HPMA in reverse osmosis systems can effectively solve these problems.
Specific applications
- Scale inhibition
- Function: prevent calcium, magnesium and other hardness ions in water from forming scale on the surface of reverse osmosis membrane.
- Principle:
- Complexation: The carboxyl group in HPMA molecule can form stable complexes with calcium, magnesium and other divalent metal ions in water, and these complexes remain dissolved in water and will not be deposited on the membrane surface.
- Crystal lattice distortion: HPMA molecules can be adsorbed on the active point of crystal growth, interfering with the normal growth of crystals, leading to changes in crystal morphology and the formation of irregular crystals, which are not easy to be deposited on the membrane surface.
- Effect: Significantly improve the permeability of the reverse osmosis membrane, extend the service life of the membrane, reduce the cleaning frequency.
- Dispersing effect
- Role: disperses suspended matter and tiny particles in the water, preventing them from being deposited on the membrane surface.
- Principle:
- Electrostatic repulsion: HPMA molecules have a negative charge, which can be adsorbed on the surface of suspended particles, making the particles take the same charge, generating electrostatic repulsion, preventing particles from gathering with each other and keeping the suspended state.
- Spatial resistance effect: HPMA molecules are long, can form a protective layer on the surface of the particles, increase the physical distance between the particles, prevent the particles from aggregating with each other, to maintain the suspension state.
- Effect: Reduce the fouling blockage on the membrane surface, improve the operation efficiency of the system and reduce the maintenance cost.
- Corrosion inhibition
- Effect: Forms a protective film on the surface of metal pipes and equipment, slowing down the corrosion rate of metal.
- Principle:
- Adsorption: The carboxyl group in HPMA molecule can chemically adsorb with the active point on the metal surface to form a dense protective film, isolate the corrosive medium and slow down the corrosion rate of metal.
- Complexation: HPMA molecules can form stable complexes with metal ions, reducing the dissolution of metal ions, thus slowing down the corrosion process.
- Effect: Extend the service life of pipeline and equipment, reduce the maintenance and replacement costs caused by corrosion.
- Biological inhibition
- Effect: Inhibit the growth of microorganisms to a certain extent, reduce biological pollution.
- Principle:
- Adsorption: HPMA molecules can be adsorbed on the surface of microorganisms, interfering with the metabolic process of microorganisms and reducing their reproduction.
- Toxicity: Some functional groups in HPMA molecules have certain toxicity to microorganisms, which can kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms.
- Effect: Reduce the formation of biofilm, improve the hygiene level of the system and prolong the service life of the membrane.
