Compliance & Document Hub
- Complies with U.S. Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act under Food Additive Regulation 21 CFR § 177.2550 for liquid food processing and water purification in food manufacturing.
- Element parts and materials in contact with potable water comply with 21 CFR § 170 to 199.
Executive Product Summary
The DuPont FilmTec XLE-440i Extra-Low-Energy Reverse Osmosis Brackish Water Membrane Element represents a premier engineering solution for large-scale industrial and municipal water treatment facilities aiming to optimize operational expenditure while maximizing permeate water quality. At the core of this advanced filtration component is a high-performance polyamide thin-film composite membrane material, meticulously engineered to separate dissolved salts, silica, nitrates, and ammonium from brackish feed streams. Delivering a robust stabilized salt rejection rate of 99.0% and a minimum rejection of 97.0%, this eight-inch diameter element ensures uncompromising high-purity water yield under rigorous operating conditions.
A critical differentiator of the FilmTec XLE-440i model is its exceptionally large active membrane area of 440 square feet (41 square meters). By incorporating an optimized 28-mil feed spacer, this high active area design significantly minimizes equipment capital expenditure (CAPEX). System designers and procurement engineers can achieve required volumetric targets using fewer total elements, leading to fewer pressure vessels, reduced footprint requirements, and simplified piping manifolds. Capable of generating an impressive permeate flow rate of 14,000 gallons per day (53 cubic meters per day) at exceptionally low operating pressures (tested at just 125 psi or 8.6 bar), this element drastically cuts pumping energy requirements, making it particularly advantageous in cold-water operating environments where reverse osmosis arrays typically face elevated energy demands.
Operational robustness and long-term durability are further enhanced by the element's broad chemical tolerance. Capable of sustaining short-term clean-in-place (CIP) procedures across an extreme pH range of 1 to 13, the XLE-440i allows plant operators to deploy aggressive cleaning regimens against stubborn biological, organic, and mineral foulants, thereby extending the overall membrane lifespan and maintaining baseline permeability. Furthermore, the unit features proprietary FilmTec iLEC (interlocking end caps) technology. This specialized structural design securely couples adjacent elements within a multi-element pressure vessel housing, virtually eliminating the risk of inter-element O-ring leaks that frequently cause permeate degradation and poor water quality in standard configurations. From an environmental limitation standpoint, the polyamide element withstands maximum feed flow rates up to 75 gpm, pressure drops of up to 15 psi per element, and continuous operating temperatures up to 113°F (45°C), cementing its role as a versatile workhorse in rigorous water treatment and industrial manufacturing applications.
Applications & Industry Use-Cases
- Municipal Drinking Water Production: Utilized in municipal desalination arrays to purify high-volume brackish water sources, relying on its 99.0% rejection rate to ensure local public health and safety standards are met efficiently.
- Cold-Water Reverse Osmosis Arrays: Because the ultra-low pressure design maintains a 14,000 gpd output at just 125 psi, this element mitigates the heavy electrical loads traditionally required to push dense, cold water through tight RO membranes.
- Food and Beverage Liquid Processing: Fully compliant with FDA 21 CFR § 177.2550, this unit is safely deployed in bottling plants, juice concentration, and brewery water make-up systems without regulatory risk.
- Industrial Utility Water Generation: Generates critical high-purity boiler feed and cooling tower make-up water, heavily reducing scaling components like silica and nitrate from entering sensitive thermal infrastructure.
- Plant Capacity Upgrades & CAPEX Reduction: Integrated into older RO skids to expand output without expanding the physical plant footprint, leveraging its massive 440 square foot active area to minimize required vessels.
- Heavy Manufacturing Demineralization: Provides essential primary-stage demineralization for petrochemical and semiconductor facilities, significantly lowering the ionic load before secondary mixed-bed polishing operations.
Cross-Compatibility & System Integration
The DuPont FilmTec XLE-440i is engineered to fit into any standard 8-inch industrial pressure vessel. When utilized in series, the element takes advantage of its proprietary FilmTec iLEC (interlocking end caps), which physically lock adjacent units together. This direct mechanical coupling inherently eliminates the traditional use of sliding inter-connectors and vulnerable O-rings, drastically reducing the potential for bypass leaks that contaminate the high-purity permeate stream.
For spatial planning and housing configurations, buyers must note that while the individual element measures 40.5 inches (1,029 mm) in length due to the extended iLEC end caps, the net length is exactly 40.0 inches (1,016 mm) when coupled inside the vessel. It features an outer fiberglass wrap with a 7.9-inch (201 mm) diameter and connects via a 1.125-inch (29 mm) inner diameter permeate tube.
Proper integration requires adherence to precise hydraulic parameters. To prevent membrane telescoping and structural fatigue, the maximum allowable pressure drop across a single element must not exceed 15 psi (1.0 bar). When staging multiple elements in a standard pressure vessel, operators must ensure a minimum configuration of four elements and keep the total vessel pressure drop below 50 psi (3.5 bar). Feed streams must be pre-treated to maintain a Silt Density Index (SDI) below 5 and strictly ensure free chlorine exposure remains below 0.1 ppm to avoid permanent oxidation damage to the polyamide thin-film structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the permeate flow rate of the DuPont FilmTec XLE-440i?
This membrane produces a permeate flow rate of 14,000 gallons per day (53 cubic meters per day), tested under standard conditions of 2,000 ppm NaCl at 125 psi (8.6 bar) and 77°F (25°C).
Q: Is the DuPont FilmTec XLE-440i FDA compliant?
Yes, when used unmodified and in accordance with good manufacturing practices, this product complies with the U.S. Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act under Food Additive Regulation 21 CFR § 177.2550 for liquid food processing and purifying water for food manufacturing.
Q: What is the maximum operating pressure and temperature for the XLE-440i?
The element can withstand a maximum operating pressure of 600 psi (41 bar). The maximum operating temperature is 113°F (45°C), though continuous operation above a pH of 10 is restricted to 95°F (35°C).
Q: What are the dimensions of the DuPont FilmTec XLE-440i?
The element features an outer diameter of 7.9 inches (201 mm) and a net connected length of 40.0 inches (1,016 mm). Individual elements with the iLEC interlocking endcaps measure 40.5 inches (1,029 mm) prior to coupling.
Q: Can the FilmTec XLE-440i handle chlorine exposure?
No. Oxidation damage from chlorine is not covered under warranty. The free chlorine tolerance is strictly < 0.1 ppm. DuPont explicitly recommends removing all residual free chlorine through pretreatment prior to membrane exposure.
Q: Where can I buy the DuPont FilmTec XLE-440i in bulk?
You can purchase the DuPont FilmTec XLE-440i in bulk directly through Growthbet LTD. We provide verified DDP landed-cost quotations for any volume. Email your request to sales@growthbet.net for pricing and global freight options.
Source This Product From Growthbet LTD
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