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1 September 2003
Interpretation of Results
SDI Value
1. Value higher than 6: Indicative of very high potential for fouling. Do not attempt to continue
passing the feed through the membranes till the pretreatment is set right and a value lower
than 4 is obtained.
2. SDI Profile: SDI reduction across various equipment like multigrade (MGF), activated (ACF)
and cartridge (CF) filter should be checked regularly. The following conclusions can be drawn
from the results:
i) MGF: SDI reduction across the MGF should be maximum. If no significant SDI reduction is
seen across the MGF, this indicates that the size of the particles in the raw water is less than
25 µm. Hence, coagulants/flocculants should be added to increase the size of the particles
and improve the removal efficiency of the MGF.
ii) CF: SDI reduction across the CF should be minimum. If a significant reduction in SDI is
seen across the CF, it will foul very frequently. The remedy is to improve the particle removal
efficiency of the MGF.
3. Colour of filter paper used for SDI test:
i Slightly yellow The possible problem could be presence of iron and/or
organics in feed water. Check the source for presence of iron
and organics in the water source. Also check for possible
corrosion in the lines.
ii Reddish brown Positive indication of presence of iron in feed water. Take
corrective steps for removal of iron.
iii Gray Indicates presence of carbon fines. Check the carbon filter,
remove carbon fines.
iv Particles present on Check the cartridge filter and the filter elements.
the filter paper
v Dark Black If the colour dissolves in the acid, it indicates the presence of
manganese in the water.
SDI15
3-
clarification and filtration.
2-
Experience has shown that conventional
1-
pretreatment plants using clarification and
filtration through granular media are often 0-
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0 100.0
inadequate in reducing the turbidity and SDI of Percentage of SDI measurements 90.1% 98.4%
feed water streams. Industries now rely more
on the use of membrane processes like Figure 2
ultrafiltration especially when dealing with
industrial effluents or secondary treated • SDI reduction of less than 3.0 is achieved in
municipal sewage as feed water to RO systems 98.4% of the cases.
for water recovery. Ultrafiltration systems have • SDI reduction of less than 2.0 is achieved in
already replaced the conventional pretreatment 90% of the cases.
plants at several industrial installations like
Madras Fertilisers Ltd., Chennai and Sundaram
Fasteners, Madurai.
ilt Density Index has come to stay as one of the most important feed water limiting
S parameters that must be considered both during design and commissioning of water
treatment/ recycle plants based on either RO or NF membranes to minimise operational
problems that can occur due to fouling of membranes by finely divided particles present in
feed water. A carefully designed pretreatment plant aimed at reducing the SDI to as low a
value as possible will go a long way in troublefree operation of the plant.
09033K
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