Description
RO Membrane Cleaner (Alkaline – High pH) – 25 kg Drum | UV Water Systems Oman
Organic fouling and biofilm are the most damaging and hardest-to-remove foulants on RO membranes. In Oman’s warm climate, bacteria multiply rapidly in feed water storage tanks and pre-treatment systems, forming biofilm colonies on membrane surfaces that steadily reduce permeate output. Colloidal silica, humic acids, proteins, and oils from industrial feed water add to this organic layer. The alkaline high-pH membrane cleaner supplied by UV Water Systems in Muscat is a sodium hydroxide and surfactant-based CIP formulation that disrupts and disperses these organic foulants, restoring membrane flux to near-original performance without damaging polyamide chemistry.
How Alkaline CIP Cleaning Works
High-pH cleaning operates through saponification and surfactant action. The alkaline solution hydrolyses fatty acids and proteins attached to the membrane surface, converting them into water-soluble soaps that flush away during rinsing. Surfactants in the blend lower interfacial tension, lifting colloidal particles and biofilm fragments off the membrane and feed spacer surfaces. The solution is recirculated at 30–40°C for 60 minutes, allowed to soak for 30 minutes, then fully flushed before service resumption. UV Water Systems recommends alkaline cleaning as the first step in any sequential CIP programme.
Key Features and Benefits
- Biofilm removal: High-pH saponification breaks down the polysaccharide matrix of biofilm colonies, dispersing bacteria and organic matter from feed channels and membrane surfaces.
- Colloidal dispersal: Anionic surfactants in the formulation stabilise colloidal silica, humic acids, and silt particles in suspension so they flush out cleanly during the rinse cycle.
- Gentle on membranes: pH is controlled to the upper safe limit for polyamide membranes (pH 11–12), preventing cellulose hydrolysis or polyamide hydrolysis that would cause irreversible membrane damage.
- Effective at warm temperatures: Cleaning efficiency increases with temperature — effective from 30°C to 45°C, well suited to Oman’s ambient feed water temperatures in summer.
- Paired with acidic cleaner: Used as the first step in a two-stage CIP programme (alkaline then acidic), alkaline cleaning removes the organic matrix to allow the acidic cleaner to access and dissolve inorganic scale underneath.
Technical Specifications
- Pack size: 25 kg drum
- pH of use solution: 11.0–12.0
- Targets: Biofilm, organic matter, colloidal silica, humic acids, oils
- Cleaning temperature: 30–45°C
- Compatibility: All polyamide TFC RO membranes
- Quality: ISO 9001:2015 certified supply chain
Applications Across Oman
Alkaline CIP cleaning is used wherever RO systems treat surface water, treated sewage effluent, or water with biological loading — common in Oman’s agriculture, food processing, hotel, and hospital sectors. UV Water Systems carries out on-site CIP services for commercial and industrial clients across Muscat and delivers alkaline CIP chemicals in drum quantities to clients who clean in-house.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use alkaline cleaner on cellulose acetate membranes? No — alkaline cleaners at pH above 8 will hydrolyse and destroy cellulose acetate (CA) membranes. The alkaline cleaner from UV Water Systems is formulated for polyamide TFC membranes only. Confirm your membrane chemistry before ordering.
How long does a CIP cleaning cycle take? A full two-stage CIP (alkaline + acidic) typically takes 4–6 hours including recirculation, soak, flushing, and integrity testing. UV Water Systems technicians carry out CIP on-site in Muscat with minimal system downtime.
UV Water Systems is an ISO 9001:2015 certified water treatment company based in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, with 14+ years of experience. We supply, install, and service water treatment solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial clients across Oman. Call +968 9763 7786 or visit www.uvwater.biz.
