Integrated Membrane Activated Sludge (IMAS)

Controlling membrane fouling rates

The IMAS process maintains separate biological and membrane unit processes, allowing for maximum total system performance to be achieved. Each process is individually controlled and optimized, without the many compromises dictated by conventional MBR direct membrane immersion designs.

The IMAS MLSS particles both settle well and characteristically exhibit a low membrane fouling rate.

The settling characteristics enable pre-membrane particle management to efficiently and effectively remove membrane foulants and reduce the level of MLSS to the membrane by 97+%. This significant reduction in the concentration of foulants directly increases the membrane flux, lowering the membrane area required and minimizing capital and operating costs. IMAS Particle Management- The Key to Optimizing Membrane Performance Particle management reduces both the concentration of foulants and their chemical and physical ability to foul the membrane.

Particle size (surface area / mass) management

Larger particles inherently have a lower surface area / mass ratio. This minimizes the particle / membrane surface area contact rate, effectively reducing the membrane fouling rate.

Particle composition management

Membrane foulants commonly found in a biological process such as colloidal and inert materials and organics are bound within the larger particles. These bound foulants are shielded from the membrane and reduce the fouling rate.

Particle concentration management

A high rate gravity settling process efficiently reduces the MLSS by 95+%, removing foulants such as colloidal material, extracellular polysaccharides and organics from the process prior to the membrane. While substantially reducing the membrane fouling rate, the particle reduction step occupies much less space than a conventional activated sludge secondary clarifier.

IMAS Result-

High flux rates Minimizing overall membrane fouling rates by individually optimizing the biological and membrane processes results in an operating flux rate which is much higher than a conventional MBR design. Less membrane equals lower costs.

Minimal Energy Requirements

A combination of ultra low transmembrane pressure operation and particle management minimizes membrane fouling, resulting in IMAS being the most energy efficient combination of biological and membrane processes available.

Ultra low operating pressure

The immersed, pump suction driven design operates at a maximum of -10 psi.

Please contacct ForeverPure for detailed information.