Experience with plate-and-frame ultrafiltration and hyperfiltration systems for desalination of water and purification of waste water

Abstract

The first hyperfiltration systems developed in the U.S.A. at the end of the 1960's were plate-and-frame systems. The systems were not very successful, but at the same time research in Europe resulted in plate-and-frame systems with excellent performance. Since 1969, DDS (De Danske Sukkerfabrikker) has marketed the DDS-RO system for industrial use, mainly in food, dairy, and pharmaceutical industries, but recently also in the pulp and paper industry. Desalination of water has been made successfully since 1969 with DDS-RO plate-and-frame systems. The paper gives a review of the development of plate-and-frame systems and especially three different approaches used by DDS. Examples are given for the following applications of the system: 1. Desalination of brackish water on small islands in Denmark for production of drinking water. 2. Desalination of sea water in Greenland for production of drinking water. 3. Desalination of high salt-content ground water for market gardens with a special demand on water quality. 4. Purification and decolorization of bleaching effluents from the sulphate process.