Sampling of fouled RO membranes from “Granot” plants
The first and seventh membrane modules were taken from the
first stage pressure vessel of “Granot” commercial brackish water
desalination plant (Fig. 2A – each pressure vessel accommodates
seven modules). Sheets of fouled membranes were cut from the
middle of each module, close to the permeate collecting tube.
Membrane sheets were kept at 4 1C for further analysis of the
fouling layer no more than 3 days after cutting the samples. From
“Granot” pilot plant (Fig. 2 B), the first and the seventh modules in
the pressure vessel at the first desalination stage were taken for
sampling. Membrane sheets from the first module of the pilot
plant were cut from the feed entrance and from the middle
locations of the module. From the 7th module of the pilot plant,
membrane sheets were cut from the middle and from the end
location of the module