Are Carbon Fines Fouling Your
Membrane?
Now that you have them, how do you
get rid of them?
Safety First! Wear gloves,
goggles and if possible, an apron to
protect your clothes. You will be using
acid, either citric or muratic. In addition
to these items, you will need a pH test
kit and a new prefilter.
1. Close feed water supply line to RO.
Close the RO recycle valve if
equipped.
2. Release pressure from prefilter
housing by pressing down on the
red button on top of the housing.
3. Disconnect the Permeate line from
any holding tank or point-of-use
(POU).
Note: During this cleaning process,
Permeate is diverted to the drain.
4. Open Concentrate control valve
about half way (50% or more).
5. Remove the prefilter sediment bowl,
discard the used prefilter and clean
the inside of the bowl.
6. Install a new prefilter element into
the bowl and add approx.1/3 clean
water.
7. Fill the remaining 2/3 of the housing
bowl with acid without overflowing
and then attach the housing bowl
back on to the inlet/outlet head.
8. Open feed water supply line to the
RO slowly and push the red button
on top of the prefilter head down to
vent any air out of the housing bowl.
9. Start the RO unit and allow it to run
(15 to 30 seconds depending on
size of RO,) adjust the Concentrate
valve to maintain the RO pressure at
100 psig or lower without tripping
the Low Pressure Cut-Out Switch.
Sample the Concentrate until the pH
indicates between 3-4 pH, and then
shut down the RO.
10. Close the Concentrate control valve
completely and trap the acidic water
inside the membrane housing(s).
11. Tag the RO unit. “DO NOT START-
CONCENTRATE VALVE CLOSED.”
12. Allow the RO membrane(s) to soak
in acidic water for 45 minutes to an
hour.
NOTE: FOR RESTART OF RO:
13. Open Concentrate control valve to
50% and remove the “DO NOT
START” tag.
14. Start the RO unit and adjust
pressure to approx. 100 psig. Flush
for 5-10 min. Check the pH of the
Concentrate until the acid is
completely rinsed out.
EPRO 150-8000 O&M MANUAL Rev.04/03 Page 31 of 55
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