Membrane Autopsy
Membrane autopsy can be used as a routine operating tool for membrane plant

operators to help assess the performance of their membranes. The objective of a membrane autopsy is to identify if there is any damage at the surface of the membrane, to identify foreign compounds on the membrane surface, and to assess how these compounds affect the membrane operation. The autopsy results can be used to make an informed decision about how best to:
- Rehabilitate membranes
- Improve pre-treatment
- Optimise anti-scale or biocide chemistry
- Improve the cleaning regimes used by the plant
- Adjust plant operating conditions
Why perform a membrane autopsy?
Membrane processes all experience performance degradation throughout the life
of the membranes. Operating parameters provide an indication of membrane damage, scale or fouling which is causing the performance degredation. Operating parameters, which may change, include feed pressure, normalised pressure drops, normalised permeate flows and permeate quality. There are many mechanisms which cause declined membrane performance including membrane surface and structural damage, ineffective pre-treatment, changes in feedwater quality, inadequate plant design or unsuitable cleaning of the membrane surface. Membrane autopsy is used to determine the specific mechanism causing the change in membrane performance.
Analytical Methods