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Silt Density Index - SDI Membrane Fouling Control

The Silt Density Index (SDI) is a measurement used to estimate how quickly particulate matter will clog reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes. The SDI test measures the time required to filter a fixed volume of water through a 0.45 micrometer membrane at a constant pressure of 30 psi initially and after 15 minutes. A higher SDI value indicates more severe membrane fouling. Most RO systems require an SDI below 5, while some hollow fiber modules require an SDI below 3. The SDI test helps determine appropriate pre-treatment needed to control fouling.

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154 views

Silt Density Index - SDI Membrane Fouling Control

The Silt Density Index (SDI) is a measurement used to estimate how quickly particulate matter will clog reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes. The SDI test measures the time required to filter a fixed volume of water through a 0.45 micrometer membrane at a constant pressure of 30 psi initially and after 15 minutes. A higher SDI value indicates more severe membrane fouling. Most RO systems require an SDI below 5, while some hollow fiber modules require an SDI below 3. The SDI test helps determine appropriate pre-treatment needed to control fouling.

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iyappan i.p.s
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Silt Density Index - SDI

Membrane Fouling Control


Membrane fouling is the main cause of permeate flux decline and loss of product quality in reverse osmosis
(RO) Systems, so fouling control dominates RO system design and operation. Sources of fouling can be divided
into four principal categories: scale, silt (particular), bacteria (bio fouling, growth of bacteria) and organic fouling
(oil, grease).
Fouling control involves pre-treatment of the feed water to minimize fouling as well as regular cleaning to handle
fouling that still occurs. Fouling by particulates (silt), bacteria and organics generally affects the first modules in
the plant the most. Scaling is worse with more concentrated feed solutions, therefore the last modules in the
plant are most affected, because they are exposed to the most concentrated feed water.

Silt density Index


Silt is composed by suspended particulates of all types that accumulate on the membrane surface. Sources of
silt are organic colloids, iron corrosion products, precipitated iron hydroxide, algae, and fine particular matter.
Silt Density Index testing is a widely accepted method for estimating the rate at which colloidal and particle
fouling will occur in water purification systems, especially using reverse osmosis (RO) or Nanofiltration
membranes.
SDI is a measurement of the fouling potential of suspended solids. It’s not measuring the quantity of particular
matter, since the size, shape vary. Turbidity is a measurement of the amount of suspended solids. They are not
the same and there is no direct correlation between them. In practical terms however, the membranes show
very little fouling when the feed water has a turbidity of < 1 NTU. Correspondingly the membranes show very
low fouling at a feed SDI of less than 5.
The SDI test is used to predict and then prevent the particulate fouling on the membrane surface. Other names
for it are the Kolloid-Index (KI) or the Fouling-Index (FI). The test is defined in ASTM Standard D4189, the
American Standard for Testing Material.
It measures the time required to filter a fixed volume of water through a standard 0.45µm pore size
microfiltration membrane with a constant given pressure of 30 psi (2,07 bar). The difference between the initial
time and the time of a second measurement after normally 15 minutes (after silt-built up) represents the SDI
value.
Equipment:

1. ¼ “ Ball valve

2. Pressure regulator (e.g.


needle valve)

3. Pressure gauge 0-5 bar

4. Filter holder Æ 47mm

5. 0,45 µm filter Æ 47mm

6. 500 ml graduated cylinder

7. Thermometer

8. Tweezers

9. Stopwatch

Figure 1: the Silt Density Index (SDI)

The feed water has to be supplied with a pressure of 2 bars, which will be regulated with the pressure regulator
and reading off the value on the pressure gauge.
With the ball valve you turn the flow on and off.
The filter holder contains the 0,45 µm filter with a diameter of 47mm, which is more likely to clog from colloidal
matter than from hard particles such as sand or scale.
With this equipment you can measure the amount of time required for 500 ml of feed water to flow through the
filter.
The water continues flowing with a pressure of 2 bars through the filter.
After 5, 10 and 15 minutes you can measure again the time required for 500 ml to pass the filter. The 15-minute
index will generally be the lowest of the three, and should be used for filter sizing purpose.
The 15-minute SDI (SDI 15) is defined by ASTM as the interval required for accurate and standardized testing.
The 5- and 10-minute SDI values are only estimates of the 15-minute value, although the most people advice to
measure all three measurements.
Notes:
ð There is no correction factor or correlation for running the SDI test at pressures other than 30 psi. However,
the SDI value at 20 psi, should still be useful. %P30 is a term used for plugging factor at 30 psi. It equals SDI
multiplied by the duration of the test [standard 15 minutes]. [4]
ð The SDI may vary as a function of water temperature and values obtained at different temperatures may not
necessarily be comparable! The water temperature must remain constant (± 1ºC) throughout the test. This is
necessary as flow rate changes by about 3% per ºC. [4]
ð The SDI will vary with the membrane filter manufacturer. This, SDI values obtained with filters from different
membrane manufacturers, cannot be comparable.[4]

How to Calculate Silt Density Index and Plugging


Factor?
After completion the test, calculate the SDI by using the equation below.

ti = Initial time in seconds required to collect the 500 ml sample


tf = Final time in seconds required to collect the second sample after test time
tt = total elapsed test time (either 5, 10 or 15 min)
The maximum 5-minute SDI equals 100% divided by 5 minutes, which gives you 20 SDI units (percent decay
per minute). The same with 10 and 15 minutes.

Sample SDI Range

5 Minute 0 - 20

10 Minute 0 - 10

15 Minute 0 - 6.67

The SDI values give the following indications for reverse osmosis:

SDI < 1 Several years without colloidal fouling

SDI < 3 Several months between cleaning

SDI 3 – 5 Particular fouling likely a problem, frequent cleaning

SDI > 5 Unacceptable, additional pre-treatment is needed


Also varies with the module design:
Spiral-wound modules as used in the Nanofiltration test generally require an SDI<5, whereas hollow fine fibre
modules are more susceptible to fouling and require an SDI<3.
The target SDI after filtration is normally an SDI of 3 – 5 or less. Surface or seawater may have an SDI up to
200, requiring flocculation, coagulation, and deep-bed multimedia filtration before RO treatment.
In addition the decay in flow rate is also converted from an SDI value to a plugging factor (PF) value, which
express the plugging with a percentage, where 100% means the filter is completely plugged.
Example: SDI15 = 1.4 SDI units, then PF = 1.4 / 6.7 * 100, or 21% plugged.

Read more: https://www.lenntech.com/sdi.htm#ixzz6ctVS0M8C

Reference sheet for calculated SDI


The sheet shows common measurements for quick reference. For reliable
results, at least two measurements must have similar SDI values (+/- 0,5).

Example:

SDI1 = 3, SDI2 = 3,5: The measurement is acceptable


SDI1 = 3, SDI2 = 3,7: The measurement is NOT acceptable

SDI = 0-3: Standard conditions apply.


SDI = 3-5: Special operating data for recovery and permeate flow apply as stated
in plant instructions.
SDI = 5-6: The water is not suitable for feeding an NF or RO plant unless the
colloidal content is reduced by supplementary pre-treatment, i.e. flocculation.
Insert the values measured for ti and tf:

ti = the time it takes to tap100 ml.


tf = the time it takes to tap100 ml after having filtered for 15 minutes.
T = the total test time (always 15 minutes)

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