RO, Nano, & UF Membranes

Filtershop supplies a wide range of Reverse Osmosis, Nanofiltration, and Ultrafiltration membranes. 

There are typically 3 types of Membrane Filtration Processes: 

• Ultrafiltration (UF): UF membranes are made up of Hollow Fibres that typically filter down to between 0.1 to 0.002 microns, depending on the grade of the UF Membrane. This is small enough to capture/remove fine sediment, particles, proteins,  bacteria, and larger organic molecules. UF membranes will allow dissolved salts, minerals, and smaller organic molecules to pass through the membrane. So the UF Membranes will not change the mineral, salt, or hardness content of the source water in any way. 

• Nanofiltration (NF):  The Nanofiltration membranes operate in the realm between Ultrafiltration, and Reverse Osmosis filtering water down to 1 nanometer (0.001 microns), hence the term "Nanofiltration".  Nanofiltration has a removal rating of up to 98% for minerals such as magnesium and calcium (hardness/lime), while only having a removal rating of up to 80% for minerals such as sodium and chloride (salts). What this translates into is that the NF membrane will remove a large amount of hardness (kalk / lime), and reduce the total mineral content of source water, however, it will still retain some of the minerals and salts from the source water. 

• Reverse Osmosis (RO): Reverse Osmosis is the finest level of "physical" barrier filtration available, filtering down to 0.0001 microns. The RO membrane acts as a barrier to all dissolved salts, minerals, inorganic molecules, and organic molecules. While water molecules are allowed to pass through the membrane, leaving just purified product water after the membrane. The rejection (removal) rate is between 95 to 99% depending on the grade/type of RO membrane, which means that the RO membrane will remove between 95% to 99% of minerals, contaminants, viruses, and bacteria that may be present in the water. Keep in mind that the effectiveness of the RO membranes depends on other elements such as incoming water pressure and total salt levels within the incoming source water.