Compliance & Document Hub
- Regulatory Note: Product subject to drinking water application restrictions in some countries; verification required prior to use.
- FDA Letter available for confirming suitability in targeted food/beverage or human consumption applications.
Executive Product Summary
The DuPont FilmTec™ BW30XFRLE-400/34 is an advanced anti-fouling and low-energy brackish water reverse osmosis (RO) membrane element explicitly engineered to optimize the treatment of challenging waters and industrial wastewaters. Fabricated from proprietary polyamide thin-film composite chemistry, this 8-inch membrane element bridges the operational gap between stringent permeate quality requirements and the necessity to minimize operational expenditure (OPEX) in municipal and industrial environments.
By yielding an impressive permeate flow rate of 11,500 gallons per day (43.5 m³/d) combined with a stabilized salt rejection of 99.3%, this element maintains rigorous water purity profiles even when processing complex feed streams. A defining technological advantage of the BW30XFRLE-400/34 is its capacity to operate effectively at test conditions of 150 psi (10.3 bar)—a specification that translates to energy consumption up to 30% lower than standard pressure RO elements. This lower-pressure requirement reduces the electrical load on high-pressure feed pumps, significantly lowering the total cost of ownership (TCO) over the operational lifespan of the plant.
Fouling mitigation is addressed physically via the integration of a 34-mil low differential pressure (34-LDP) feed spacer and an active membrane area of 400 ft² (37 m²). This optimized internal geometry reduces the pressure drop across the element (capped at 15 psi per element) and enhances the crossflow fluid dynamics, thereby resisting the accumulation of colloidal and particulate foulants. Furthermore, this robust element exhibits exceptional rejection characteristics for critical contaminants, including silica, nitrate, ammonium, and complex per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Operational durability is reinforced by the membrane's superior chemical tolerance and exceptionally wide cleaning pH range of 1 to 13 during short-term (30 minute) clean-in-place (CIP) protocols. This broad pH tolerance allows plant operators to employ aggressive chemical cleaning regimens to remove stubborn biological, organic, and mineral scaling, thereby restoring flux performance and prolonging the element's functional life. The unit operates within a continuous pH range of 2 to 11 and can withstand maximum operating temperatures up to 113°F (45°C), although temperatures above 95°F (35°C) require continuous operation to remain below pH 10. Operators are cautioned to maintain free chlorine exposure strictly below 0.1 ppm, as oxidation damage to the polyamide structure is non-reversible and not covered by the manufacturer's warranty.
Applications & Industry Use-Cases
- Municipal Drinking Water Treatment: Utilizes exceptional filtration capabilities to effectively reduce dissolved solids and critical target contaminants such as nitrates and PFAS, delivering permeate that meets strict civic regulatory guidelines.
- Municipal Wastewater Reuse: Leverages the 34-mil LDP spacer and anti-fouling properties to maintain stable flux rates when processing challenging secondary or tertiary treated effluents that frequently contain organic foulants.
- Industrial Wastewater Reclamation: Serves as a critical barrier in closed-loop systems, rejecting complex salts and dissolved organic compounds, allowing facilities to recycle wastewater and reduce total discharge volumes.
- Industrial Utility Water Preparation: Provides consistent, high-purity feed water to industrial utilities like cooling towers and boilers, preventing scaling by utilizing its high stabilized salt rejection rate of 99.3%.
- Industrial Demineralization: Delivers high-volume desalinated water necessary for petrochemical, pharmaceutical, or heavy manufacturing processes, achieving required water purity with up to 30% less energy consumption.
- High-Silica Ground Water Processing: Delivers excellent rejection of specific problematic dissolved minerals like silica and ammonium, mitigating the risk of downstream precipitation and scale formation in complex pipeline infrastructure.
Cross-Compatibility & System Integration
The DuPont FilmTec™ BW30XFRLE-400/34 is manufactured to industry-standard dimensions for 8-inch spiral-wound membrane elements, rendering it a direct, drop-in replacement for existing systems. The element measures exactly 40.0 inches (1,016 mm) in length with an outer diameter of 7.9 inches (201 mm). Because of these standardized dimensions, it seamlessly integrates into standard 8-inch inner diameter (ID) pressure vessels commonly used in municipal and large-scale industrial plants. The internal permeate tube features a 1.125-inch (29 mm) inner diameter, making it fully compatible with existing central core manifolds.
To facilitate immediate and secure installation, FilmTec™ supplies each element with a high-quality coupler (part number 313198). This included accessory guarantees secure inter-element connections within multi-element pressure vessels. Additionally, each coupler comes pre-packaged with two 3-912 EPR O-rings (part number 151705) to ensure a watertight hydraulic seal against internal bypass leakage. The exterior of the membrane is protected by a durable fiberglass outer wrap and is equipped with a standard U-cup brine seal and engineered end caps to dictate proper feed flow direction.
When configuring pressure vessels for this low-pressure, high-efficiency element, engineers must account for the maximum permitted pressure drop. The BW30XFRLE-400/34 is rated for a maximum pressure drop of 15 psi (1.0 bar) per individual element, or a maximum of 50 psi (3.5 bar) per multi-element pressure vessel (calculated at a minimum of 4 elements per vessel). Ensure that high-pressure pumps and pressure vessel arrays are calibrated to remain within these operational mechanical limits while maintaining a maximum feed flow of 75 gpm (17 m³/h) per vessel to prevent structural telescoping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the permeate flow rate of the DuPont FilmTec BW30XFRLE-400/34?
Under standard test conditions of 2,000 ppm NaCl at 150 psi, this element produces a permeate flow rate of 11,500 gallons per day (43.5 m³/d) with a stabilized salt rejection of 99.3%.
Q: What is the maximum operating pressure and temperature for this RO membrane?
The maximum operating pressure is 600 psi (41 bar). The continuous maximum operating temperature is 113°F (45°C), provided the pH is at or below 10; for continuous operation above pH 10, the maximum temperature must be limited to 95°F (35°C).
Q: Is the FilmTec BW30XFRLE-400/34 effective at removing PFAS and silica?
Yes, this element is specifically engineered to provide excellent rejection profiles for silica, nitrate, ammonium, and complex per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) commonly found in industrial and municipal feed streams.
Q: What are the cleaning pH limits for this element?
Thanks to its robust construction, this element tolerates a very wide pH range of 1 to 13 during short-term clean-in-place (CIP) procedures (up to 30 minutes), allowing for aggressive cleaning of stubborn scale and biological foulants.
Q: Can this membrane tolerate free chlorine in the feed water?
No. Polyamide thin-film composite membranes are highly susceptible to oxidation. The free chlorine tolerance is strictly < 0.1 ppm. DuPont requires removing all residual free chlorine via pretreatment before the water reaches the membrane.
Q: Where can I buy the DuPont FilmTec BW30XFRLE-400/34 in bulk?
You can procure the BW30XFRLE-400/34 and corresponding accessories in bulk through Growthbet LTD. Contact sales@growthbet.net for DDP landed-cost pricing and project-level quotations.
Source This Product From Growthbet LTD
Growthbet LTD is a UK-registered global industrial procurement company specializing in sourcing and delivering technical components under a full-liability DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) model. When you source through Growthbet, the company assumes complete responsibility for supplier verification, quality control, international freight, customs clearance, and last-mile delivery to your facility — with a single, transparent invoice and no hidden costs.
- Bulk & Project Pricing: Competitive DDP landed-cost quotations for any volume, from single units to full-container orders.
- 48-Hour Quotation Response: Submit your specifications and quantity, and receive a formal sourcing brief within 48 hours.
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📧 Request a Quote: Email sales@growthbet.net with the product name, quantity, and delivery destination. 📞 Call: +44 7897470885.