FILMTEC ElementsAn Overview of Products,Applications, and TechnicalResources

Dow Liquid Separations

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The Industry’s Leader

FILMTEC® reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofil-tration (NF) elements are products availablefrom Dow Liquid Separations, the globallyrecognized leader in separations technologiesand solutions for industrial, municipal, com-mercial and consumer water applications.FILMTEC elements are fabricated by FilmTecCorporation in an ISO 9002 certified manu-facturing facility using the industry’s mostadvanced precision manufacturing processesto ensure the highest product quality andperformance. These elements offer highrejection of dissolved solids and organics andoperate very efficiently at lower pressures.FILMTEC elements also provide excellentstructural stability and are more productivethan other elements. As the industry’s leadingRO and NF elements, FILMTEC elementshave an unsurpassed track record of consis-tent, reliable and long-lasting performance.

Advanced ElementDesignsFILMTEC elements include highly innovativeproducts that set new standards for perfor-mance and economy. FILMTEC RO elementsoffer higher active membrane surface areathat increase permeate flow by 20 to 40percent over conventional elements. Aninnovative full-fit design has been developedfor semiconductor grade elements thateliminates sources of total organic carbon(TOC) contamination.

High performance FILMTEC commercialsystem elements increase productivity up to50 percent. FILMTEC low energy elementsoperate at economical low system pressureswithout sacrificing salt rejection performanceor system productivity. And, FILMTEC nano-filtration (NF) elements provide selectiverejection of calcium, magnesium and othersalts, including a new NF element that allowsfor high calcium passage while giving highpesticide rejection.

FILMTEC elements offer outstanding structuralstability, low-pressure operation, and productivity.

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Thin-Film CompositeMembrane StructureAll spiral wound FILMTEC elements are basedon the FT30 thin-film composite membranewhich has long set the industry standardfor RO performance. The FILMTEC FT30membrane consists of three layers: an ultra-thin polyamide barrier layer, a microporouspolysulfone interlayer and a high-strengthpolyester support web. Underlying structuralsupport is provided by the non-woven web.The polyamide barrier layer provides highwater flux, unsurpassed salt and silicarejection and excellent chemical resistance.The thick, microporous polysulfone supportlayer offers necessary porosity and strengthproperties and resists compaction under ROpressure conditions.

The FILMTEC FT30 thin-film compositemembrane resists compaction, abrasion, andchemical degradation.

FILMTECElements Offer

• Spiral wound design• Proven FT30 thin-film composite• Excellent membrane flux• Excellent salt rejection• Precision fabrication• Revolutionary high active membrane

surface area• Durability for long-term performance• Resistance to bacterial growth• Tolerance to a wide range of operat-

ing conditions• Easier cleaning• NSF certified• FDA clearance for food processing• Elements shipped wet or dry• Unsurpassed three-year warranty

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Precision Fabrication

FILMTEC elements are produced by precisionproduction methods that reduce the chanceof element failure. Beginning with the highestquality raw materials, FILMTEC elements arebuilt to optimum physical tolerances usingadvanced automated manufacturing equip-ment and a highly controlled manufacturingprocess that features sonic-welding of criticalfastening points. This ensures higher elementconsistency.

After fabrication, FILMTEC elements aresubjected to extensive quality testing to makesure that our fabrication standards are met.The quality control process includes visual andvacuum glue line testing, and wet testing toconfirm rejection and flow performance. Asa result, FILMTEC elements exhibit minimumelement-to-element variation and provide con-sistent, predictable and reliable performance.

FILMTEC elements are built using advanced,precision production methods that reduceelement failure. (left)

FILMTEC elements are put through extensivequality testing to ensure predictable, reliableperformance. (below)

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Process WaterTreatmentUnlike other suppliers, Dow offers bothFILMTEC elements and DOWEX* ionexchange resins. This, along with ourexperience with thousands of industrialwater treatment systems qualifies us to helpyou meet your specific needs for high qualityprocess water.

FILMTEC eight-inch brackish water ele-ments are the most commonly used productsfor process water purification. Featuring99.5 percent or greater typical salt rejectionperformance and an exclusive higher activemembrane surface area technology, theseelements are more productive than conven-tional RO elements. This could mean lowercapital investment, reduced operating costsand greater flexibility for future systemcapacity expansions.

FILMTEC “LE” grade low energy brackishwater elements are designed to meet emerg-ing demand for lower pressure RO systemoperation. These elements operate at lowerpressure levels than standard RO elements,reducing operating expense without sacrific-ing salt rejection or high productivity.

In many industrial systems, RO elementsserve as pretreatment for ion exchange resinbeds. When installed before ion exchangebeds, FILMTEC RO elements reduce demineral-izer operating costs dramatically. For example,pretreating water for boiler makeup withFILMTEC RO elements removes silica, dis-solved solids and total organic carbon (TOC).This extends the life of ion exchange resinsand lowers chemical regeneration usage,waste handling and maintenance costs.

FILMTEC RO elements are also frequentlyused in double-pass RO systems to producehigh purity water in a simpler continuousprocess. For applications with less stringentwater purity requirements, FILMTEC elementscan be used cost-effectively in single-passRO systems.

Water Purification Applications

FILMTEC RO elements can serve as pretreatment forion exchange resins in many industrial systems.

*Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company

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Ultra Pure WaterThe semiconductor manufacturing industryhas extremely demanding water purificationrequirements. Water used to rinse integratedcircuits typically must have a resistivity of18.2 megohm/cm. To achieve this highlevel of purity, water treatment solutionsincorporating special, highly pure gradesof ion exchange resins and specialized ROelements are required.

As a supplier of both DOWEX ionexchange resins and FILMTEC elements,Dow can provide integrated, optimizedsolutions taking advantage of the full per-formance capabilities of both technologies.Our years of experience meeting the needsof integrated circuit manufacturers around theworld has led to the development of ultrapure water grade ion exchange resins andsemiconductor grade RO membrane productsthat are unsurpassed in separation perfor-mance, cleanliness and economical service.

Some FILMTEC semiconductor grade ROelements feature an innovative full-fit designthat eliminates sources of TOC contaminationand bacterial growth in ultra pure waterprocessing systems. These elements have notape or fiberglass outer wrapping, so TOCis reduced significantly. The full-fit design alsoensures that fluid flow takes place across theentire cross-sectional area of the element,eliminating the bacteria-breeding dead spacefound in conventional elements.

Other recent advancements include anRO element with TOC rinse down of lessthan 20 ppb in one hour and excellent IPAand silica rejection.

FILMTEC elements have also been testedand accepted for application in a processwhere higher feed pH allows higher rejectionof weak acid anions like Boron and Silica.

Among the elements we offer for ultrapure water production is also an elementwhich can be sanitized every two days at65°C to eliminate flux-reducing surfacebiofoulants. This element’s heat sanitationcapability minimizes the need for, and theexpense of, chemical cleaning.

FILMTEC elements offer unique separation perfor-mance, cleanliness, and economical service to meetthe needs of integrated circuit manufacturers.

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Municipal PotableWater SupplySeawater desalination using FILMTEC ROelements has spread globally because of theirconsistent reliability, long life, high salt rejec-tion capability and resistance to bacterialattack. Water purification facilities from theCaribbean to Spain to the Middle East aretaking advantage of FILMTEC elements to meettoday’s growing drinking water supply needs.

FILMTEC LE (low energy) brackish waterelements are designed to meet the demandof treating large volumes of water for potablewater supplies at low pressures allowing forlow operating costs, and higher resistance tofouling, while maintaining high productivity.

FILMTEC nanofiltration (NF) elementsare also used to purify public drinking watersupplies. These elements are used to treatmunicipal water supplies in areas where thehigh level of sodium rejection possible withRO membranes is not needed, but whereother salts such as calcium and magnesiummust be removed. Compared to lime softeningand sodium chloride (NaCl) zeolite soften-ing technologies, membrane softening is ahighly attractive treatment alternative.

The FILMTEC NF200B nanofiltrationmembrane offers high rejection of pesticidesand other dissolved organics, low salt rejec-tion, low energy consumption, and stableperformance after repetitive cleaning. Thesefeatures make the FILMTEC NF200B a primechoice for contaminated surface waters andother potable water supplies.

The combination of consistent reliability, high saltrejection, and resistance to bacterial attack makeFILMTEC elements an excellent choice for potablewater purification facilities around the globe.

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Commercial andInstitutional WaterTreatmentWith highly predictable performance and highsalt rejection and flow rates, FILMTEC ROelements are used in a variety of commercialwater purification applications. They can befound in systems serving restaurants, carwashes, bottled water plants, hotel/moteldrinking water installations, personal careproduct manufacturing, greenhouses, icemanufacturing plants and medical andscientific laboratories.

FILMTEC elements are available for sys-tems of all sizes. Drinking water elements fortreating feed water with salt concentrationsbetween 50 and 1,000 mg/1 are availablewith diameters of 2”, 2.5”, 4” and 4.6”. Wealso offer brackish water RO elements for sys-tems using 2.5” or 4” elements to treat groundor surface water supplies with salt concentra-tions between 50 and 10,000 mg/1.

A new generation of high performanceFILMTEC 4” brackish water elements is avail-able, offering up to 50 percent greaterproductivity than conventional elementswhile maintaining excellent salt rejectionand unmatched reliability.

Most FILMTEC commercial system ele-ments are available shipped either dry or intraditional wet form. Dry elements are easierto store because they have a longer shelflife than wet elements. Dry elements alsoweigh less, making shipping costs lower.Because there are no preservative solutionswhich must be flushed from the elements, dryelements can be installed faster and easierthan wet elements.

Home Drinking WaterFILMTEC products for residential applicationsinclude low pressure drinking water elementscapable of supplying whole-house watertreatment systems as well as low pressuretapwater elements for point-of-use systems.

Like all FILMTEC RO elements, thesehome drinking water elements are precisionfabricated and thoroughly tested to ensurethat they provide predictable, trouble-freeoperation and consistent high performance.FILMTEC elements are offered to meet a widerange of pure water volume requirements,from 10 gallons per day to 75 gallons perday. FILMTEC home drinking water elementsare available shipped either wet or dry.

FILMTEC elements are suitable for many differentcommercial water purification applications includingsystems serving restaurants, car washes, bottledwater plants and medical laboratories.

9*Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company

Dow Also Offers IonExchange ResinsThe best water treatment solutions often musttake advantage of the strengths of both ROand ion exchange technologies. Since Dowoffers both, we are able to provide the mosthighly integrated and cost-effective solutions foran entire range of water purification needs.

DOWEX ion exchange resins are knownglobally for outstanding performance inindustrial demineralization applications.DOWEX MARATHON* uniform particle size(UPS) resins are designed to offer greateroperating capacity for longer runs in multi-beddemineralization. DOWEX MONOSPHERE*UPS resins feature the fast kinetics and highseparability required to meet demandingwater purity requirements in boiler condensatepolishing and other regenerable mixed beds.

DOWEX MONOSPHERE ultra pure water(UPW) grade ion exchange resins includeanion, cation and mixed resins with UPSdistribution that facilitates a sharp columnwave front, faster kinetics and higher operat-ing capacity without premature ion leakage.

The UPCORE* countercurrent regenera-tion system is extremely efficient in industrialdemineralization systems, offering significantproductivity and economic advantages overfluidized beds and air and water hold-downsystems.

Dow also offers softening resins forcommercial and residential use as well as spe-cialized resin grades for nuclear power plantservice and other demanding applications.

For more information about DOWEXion exchange resins or the UPCORE system,contact the Dow office serving your area,listed on the back of this brochure.

DOWEX UPS resins feature greater operating capacityand the high separability to meet stringent waterpurity requirements. (top)

DOWEX ion exchange resins are available for multi-bed and mixed-bed ion exchange systems. (bottom)

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To help you realize the full potential ofFILMTEC elements, extensive service andsupport capabilities are offered. Theseinclude unbiased applications assistancebased on expertise in ion exchange andmembrane separations technologies.

ROSAThe ROSA reverse osmosis system analysisprogram lets system designers and specifiersquickly and easily predict the performanceand operating economics of FILMTEC elementsin specific systems. To ensure that designersand specifiers have the most complete andaccurate information possible, ROSAincludes an interactive library of technicaldata. Also included is an Internet access tolink users to the Dow Liquid Separationshome page on the World Wide Web wherethey can obtain updated information aboutFILMTEC elements.

Comprehensive Service and Support

Three-Year WarrantyWe’re so confident of the quality and perfor-mance of FILMTEC elements that we backthem with an unprecedented three-year limitedwarranty. Most other RO and NF elementsuppliers warrant their products for oneyear or less.

To Learn MoreProduct data sheets are available containingdetailed information on specific FILMTECelements. To receive sheets for the productsof interest to you, download sheets from ourhome page at www.dow.com/liquidseps,or contact the Dow Liquid Separations officeserving your area (listed on the back of thisbrochure). We look forward to workingwith you to provide the best water treatmentsolution for your application.

With our improved ROSA program, you can quicklyand easily predict the performance of FILMTECelements in specific systems.

Available service and support capabilities includeunbiased applications assistance, plant trials,operator training programs, and system optimizationassistance.

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Form No. 609-00002-1297AMS*Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company CH 172-020-E-1297

NOTICE: No freedom from any patent owned by Seller or others is to be inferred. Becauseuse conditions and applicable laws may differ from one location to another and may changewith time, Customer is responsible for determining whether products and the informationin this document are appropriate for Customer’s use and for ensuring that Customer’sworkplace and disposal practices are in compliance with applicable laws and other gov-ernmental enactments. Seller assumes no obligation or liability for the information in thisdocument. NO WARRANTIES ARE GIVEN; ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MER-CHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLYEXCLUDED.

Published December 1997.

FilmTec Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company.

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The Dow Chemical CompanyLiquid SeparationsP.O. Box 1206Customer Information CenterMidland, MI 48641-1206Tel. 1-800 -447-4369Fax 517-832-1465

Internet

http://www.dow.com/liquidseps

Dow Liquid Separations Offices

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