Why is acid cleaning followed by alkali cleaning in reverse osmosis cleaning?
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Every reverse osmosis system becomes contaminated and requires cleaning. Since there is usually more than one type of contaminant present when contamination occurs, a typical cleaning process includes two steps as required: cleaning at low pH and cleaning at high pH. Different pollutants require different cleaning agents; alkaline cleaning is mainly used to remove microorganisms or organic pollutants, while acidic cleaning is primarily used to remove scale. The cleaning agent should be selected based on the type of pollutant and the type of membrane to avoid damaging the membrane. The sequence of using cleaning agents should be determined based on the specific issues at hand; the typical cleaning order is to carry out acid cleaning first, followed by alkali cleaning. In some cases, if the contamination is mainly organic matter or microorganisms, alkali washing can be performed first, followed by acid washing, and then another alkali washing step. The main reason for using alkali washing as the final step is that it allows the pores in the membrane to open fully after acid washing, thereby restoring the water production rate. If the conventional cleaning procedure of acid washing first followed by alkali washing is not used, it is necessary to consult membrane experts to help make the right choice.
Cleaning a reverse osmosis system usually involves acid cleaning first followed by alkali cleaning, as acid cleaning is primarily used to remove inorganic deposits (such as scale), while alkali cleaning is used to eliminate organic pollutants and microorganisms. Acid washing can first remove scale, followed by alkali washing to eliminate other contaminants; moreover, alkali washing, as the final step, can open the membrane pores, helping to restore the water production flow rate. The cleaning sequence needs to be chosen based on the actual level of contamination; sometimes, alkali cleaning is performed first, depending on the type of contamination on the membrane. .
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