To ensure maximum feasibility, economic pressures are being applied to reduce the costs of purifying seawater. At the same time, regulatory pressures continue to heighten the stipulations for water quality in all areas. In response, the water treatment industry has empowered itself to heighten productivity of new and existing plants by refining existing techniques, combining methods and exploring new water purification technologies.

Specifically designed for seawater pretreatment, Seasoft utilizes a proprietary 3-layer nanofiltration membrane to operate at low pressure and remove impurities. Seasoft membranes facilitate subsequent operations by removing virtually all the substances that tend to foul an RO membrane or scale an evaporator.

Seasoft has proven success in boosting the performance of existing RO systems. Seasoft membranes have enabled permeate recoveries of approximately 50%-80%, which is favorable when compared to the 35%-40% produced by a standard RO process. This accomplishment is a direct consequence of Seasoft’s provision of improved feed water quality.

Seasoft protects the more sensitive RO membranes by removing hardness, sulfates, turbidity and bacteria. Simultaneously, less pumping pressure and power consumption is required due to the reduced TDS of the seawater feed. Thus, Seasoft helps RO systems last longer, which also results in lower operating costs.

Financial and production benefits make Seasoft particularly attractive to companies wanting to expand their existing plants. Achievements of operation and maintenance cost reductions by as much as 25% offset capital costs of additional NF equipment. Plants will also experience higher conversion and higher output.

Seasoft Applications

Seasoft nanofiltration elements have the unique ability to selectively reject ions from seawater feed streams:

• Rejection of anions with more than one negative charge
• Rejection of cations depending on shape and size
• Rejection of organic if molecular weight is >200-300 Daltons

Science has found that no two water treatment problems are exactly alike. There will always be more than one technically acceptable and scientifically sound solution to any given water treatment problem. Because applications and user demands vary, Seasoft has responded with two membrane types.

Seasoft HF elements are best for high-temperature operation requiring moderate hardness, sodium chloride rejection, high sulfate rejection and high flux. Seasoft HR elements are best for applications requiring high hardness and sulfate rejection.

Seasoft HF membrane elements are engineered for applications requiring:

• High Flux at Low Pressure
• High Hardness Rejection 95%+
• High Sulfate Rejection 99%+
• High Sodium Chloride Passage

Seasoft HR membrane elements are engineered for applications requiring:

• High Hardness Rejection 95%+
• High Sulfate Rejection 99%+
• Sodium Chloride Rejection 20-30%

Seasoft Advantages

• Seasoft removes at least 80% of water hardness with low operating pressure and high flux.
• Seasoft increases recovery by reducing TDS by more than 35%.
• Seasoft diminishes pretreatment dependencies upon media filtration, clarifiers, and chemicals.
• Seasoft offers Duratherm® construction for temperature operation higher than 50°C.
• Seasoft’s low fouling characteristics increase plant productivity, life cycle of major components and overall reliability.
• Seasoft’s low pressure operation ability reduces energy requirements.