Is a cheaper memberane available ?

[ribbony]

We have a Pur/Katadyn Powersurvivor 40E and will needa new membrane. Is there a Dow membrane that would fit ? Any other options or discount suppliers, a membrane here in Oz is $1100 AUD.

[senormechanico]

Old watermaker guy here. Please describe why you think you need a new membrane.

Steve B.

[Evan]

Try google. 2nd or 3rd link found this:

Excel Water Technologies

$550 CDN.

I think PUR membranes are rather a non standard size and that probably accounts for the high price.

[ribbony]

That supplier certainly are a lot cheaper than the distributor in Oz.

The reason for the renewal is that the unit has had a lot of use, then left pickled for several years, then we bought it.

[GordMay]

Some R/O Membrane manufacturers:

FilmTec (Dow): FILMTEC Products

Hydranautics (Nitto Denko): Hydranautics a Nitto Denko Corporation

Toray TORAY MEMBRANE

Desal (GE Osmotics): DESAL® Pure Water

Katadyn International (PUR* PowerSurvivor): Homepage - KATADYN International - the global Number One in individualized water purification systems and water purification products
* Formerly Recovery Engineering Inc

Watermaker discussion: http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...kers-2533.html

[beau]

try Pacific RO Products Reverse Osmosis and Water Filters and Membranes in Southern California

I have contacted them and they will supply to Australia. They are one hell of a lot cheaper than any Australian suppliers.

[ribbony]

Thanks for the links !

PacificRO sem to be for dealers, but there is a link to a retail company. I have emailed them.

There are so many manufactures of RO filters, surely one has a filter that will fit the Katadyn without having to buy genuine. We will also nee a kit of spares and chemicals, the original kits are as dear as poison

[beau]

pacific Ro sell to anyone.
I was also fooled by there website so I emailed them, they WILL sell you one or two items if you ask. They are a bloody lot cheaper than anyone in AUS.

[soul searcher]

Pickling agent is sodium metabisulfite. can be found at home brewing or wine making stores. again much cheaper than manufacturer.

[NoTies]

Don't bother renewing it until you have had it flushed & tested. If it has been stored correctly it should be fine.
(Young watermaker guy here)

[ribbony]

The reply from the US: I am sorry but we can't offer replacements for this system. As far as I know, the 40E uses a proprietary membrane.

If cleaning and testing does not yield results then it looks like a katadyn membrane.

I found this cleaning suggestion on the PacificRO site, what do you think of it's suitability for the katadyn ?

WHEN TO CLEAN MEMBRANES

In normal operation, the membrane in reverse osmosis elements can become fouled by suspended solids, microorganisms and mineral scale. These deposits build up during operation and cause loss in water output or salt rejection, or both. Elements should be cleaned whenever the normalized water output rate drops by 15% from its initial flow rate (the flow rate established during the first 24 to 48 hours of operation) or when salt content in in the product water rises noticeably.
It should be noted that the water output rate will drop if feedwater temperature decreases. This is normal and does not indicate membrane fouling.

For calcium carbonate fouling, here is a quick cleaning procedure:
Buy a 30% concentration of muriatic acid. (This is sold at home improvement stores for cleaning concrete.)
Take your membrane and pressure vessel off-line, plug up the bottom holes of the pressure vessel, and stand it up vertically.
Put on goggles and gloves.
Pour the muriatic acid into the waste or the feed water port.
Let the membrane soak in the solution for 10 minutes.
Drain the solution and then flush the membrane and pressure vessel thoroughly.
Return the membrane and the vessel to the system and see if the membrane's performance has improved.