Does the absence of vacuum packaging affect the performance of reverse osmosis membranes?
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A few of the Hydranautics reverse osmosis membranes that the company just purchased were not packaged under vacuum; will this affect the performance of the membranes?
Theoretically, it will have an impact. Hydron’s membranes are generally packaged in a wet state, meaning they are filled with a protective liquid that serves to maintain moisture and prevent the growth of microorganisms; typically, 1% sodium bisulfite is used (which has certain antibacterial properties). If it is not vacuum-packed, oxygen will enter the membrane, which will inevitably oxidize sodium bisulfite and thus cause it to lose its bactericidal properties ； It’s not vacuum packaging that causes the moisture inside the film to evaporate, thereby leading to cracking of the film. However, these are all theoretical; whether there will actually be an impact depends on factors such as how long the membrane has been in a non-vacuum environment and to what extent the vacuum packaging has been damaged. And if there is indeed an impact, it will be minimal.
Under normal circumstances, it is vacuum-packed; if air gets in, the outer packaging may be damaged. However, as long as the membrane element remains wet, its performance is hardly affected, so it can be used with confidence