RO Membrane Cleaners (Acid and Alkaline)
Acid and alkaline cleaning chemicals that bring fouled reverse osmosis membranes back towards their rated flow and salt rejection. The alkaline cleaner removes organic fouling, biofilm and silt; the acid cleaner removes carbonate scale, iron and other metal oxides.
- Supplied by Zyax Chem, Mumbai
- Send your water or process details for a recommendation
- Bulk packs, delivered across India
- What it does
- Removes scale, metal oxides, organic fouling and biofilm from RO membranes
- Used in
- Industrial RO, packaged drinking water, pharma, food and beverage, ZLD and effluent RO
- Forms
- Liquid and powder cleaners
- How it is applied
- Clean-in-place (CIP): circulate, soak and flush, one stage at a time
What is RO Membrane Cleaners (Acid and Alkaline)?
Every RO plant fouls over time, even with good pre-treatment. Scale, iron, silt, organics and bacteria build up on the membrane surface, so output falls, feed pressure rises and more salt passes into the permeate.
Membrane cleaning is done in place with a cleaning tank, a low-pressure pump and a cartridge filter. Two cleaners are normally kept on hand: an alkaline cleaner, used first, to strip organic matter, biofilm, silt and colloids, and an acid cleaner to dissolve calcium carbonate scale, iron and other metal oxides.
Where RO membrane cleaners is used
- Restoring permeate flow after output has dropped
- Lowering a rising pressure drop across a stage
- Removing iron and carbonate scale after a pre-treatment upset
- Routine cleaning on a planned schedule
- Cleaning before a long shutdown or membrane storage
How to use RO membrane cleaners
- Check the trend. Clean when normalised permeate flow falls by about 10 to 15%, salt passage rises by about 5 to 10%, or pressure drop rises by about 10 to 15% from the baseline.
- Alkaline clean first for organic and biological fouling: circulate, soak and recirculate as your cleaning procedure says.
- Rinse thoroughly with RO permeate or good-quality water.
- Acid clean for scale and metal oxides, then rinse again.
- Return to service and record the new baseline. Always stay within the membrane maker’s pH and temperature limits.
Choosing the right grade
To recommend a product and starting dose, send us:
- Membrane make and model, and number of vessels per stage
- Recent operating data: flow, pressures, conductivity, temperature
- Feed water analysis, especially iron, silica and hardness
- What you see: brown deposits, white scale, slime or a smell
Handling and safety
Acid and alkaline cleaners are corrosive. Wear gloves, goggles and protective clothing, add chemical to water when diluting, and never mix acid and alkaline cleaners.
Safety data sheet and technical data sheet available on request.
Grades and specifications
Typical values for each grade we supply. Technical data sheet and safety data sheet available on request.
Low pH membrane cleaner
Removes carbonate, sulphate and silica scale, iron and other metal oxides, and colloidal clay from RO, NF and UF membranes. Low foaming.
| pH (as such) | 4.0 to 5.0 |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Transparent liquid |
| Specific gravity | 1.02 to 1.05 |
| Contents | Organic acid and polymer |
| HS code | 38249022 |
High pH membrane cleaner
Removes biofilm, slime, oil, organic matter and silica deposits. Low foaming for recirculation cleaning; helps biocides penetrate biofilm.
| pH (as such) | 8.5 to 9.5 |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Transparent liquid |
| Specific gravity | 1.02 to 1.05 |
| Contents | Organic alkali and polymer |
| HS code | 38249022 |
Related products
- RO biocide
- SMBS
- pH booster
- Remineralisation minerals
- Antiscalant balls
- RO antiscalant
- All RO Antiscalants & Membrane Cleaners
Frequently asked questions
How often should RO membranes be cleaned?
Clean when the performance trend says so rather than on a fixed calendar: typically when normalised flow drops by about 10 to 15%, salt passage rises by about 5 to 10%, or pressure drop rises by about 10 to 15%.
Should I use the acid or the alkaline cleaner first?
In most cases the alkaline cleaner goes first to remove organic and biological fouling, followed by the acid cleaner for scale and metal oxides. If the fouling is mainly scale, an acid clean may be enough. Follow your membrane maker’s guidance.
Can I use hydrochloric acid or bleach to clean RO membranes?
Do not use bleach or any free chlorine on polyamide RO membranes; it damages them permanently. Use cleaners made for RO membranes and stay within the pH limits for your membrane.
Do you publish prices for RO Membrane Cleaners (Acid and Alkaline)?
Prices depend on the grade, pack size and quantity, so we quote on request. Send your requirement on WhatsApp at +91 98333 22685 or through the form on this page.
Get a quote for RO Membrane Cleaners (Acid and Alkaline)
Tell us the application, quantity and your water or process details. We do not publish prices; our team replies with a recommendation and quote.
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