Smuttynose Brewing Company
Brewery digestate
75% less energyVersus tubular UF, for the same volume of water over a six-month comparison.
UltraFlux™
UltraFlux™ for high-solids streams.
Separate clarified water and concentrate solids. Crossflow ultrafiltration for digestate, industrial wastewater and thickening ahead of dewatering.
Outside-in0.04 µmDigestateAlgae thickening
Separation principle
Permeate inside. Solids in recirculation.
Water flows outside the membrane. Permeate passes through its pores to the inside; retained solids concentrate in the recirculation loop.
Crossflow carries deposits away and backwashing helps restore permeability. The design matches production, concentration and cleaning to your wastewater.
Modules and operating conditions
Specifications for selection.
| Parameter | V8 | V10 |
|---|---|---|
| Active area | 10.7 m² | 35.8 m² |
| Module dimensions | Ø 8 inches × 1.5 m | Ø 10 inches × 3 m |
| Membrane material | PVDF / PESU | PVDF / PESU |
| Nominal pore size | 0.04 µm | 0.04 µm |
| Crossflow velocity | 0.5–2.0 m/s | 0.5–2.0 m/s |
| Stated maximum TMP | 207 kPa (2.07 bar) | 207 kPa (2.07 bar) |
| Operating pH | 5–12 | 5–12 |
| Operating temperature | 5–60 °C | 5–60 °C |
The limits in the table do not define a simultaneous operating point. Permeate flow, recovery and sustainable concentration are determined with the actual feed.
Solids and oils: interpreting the published maxima
The range accommodates up to 150,000 mg/L TSS or up to 50,000 mg/L emulsified oil, depending on the application. These are selection references, not a guarantee of simultaneous operation or permeate flux. Viscosity, fibres, particle size, chemistry and fouling govern feasibility and are assessed for each application.
Specific energy
Compare systems at the same duty.
Lower recirculation velocity reduces pumping demand.
The open geometry and recirculation circuit aim to reduce pressure losses. Specific energy consumption depends on concentration, viscosity, sustainable flux and hydraulic configuration.
The anaerobic digestate comparison used 15,000–18,000 mg/L TSS and the same permeate flux per unit area. It is a test reference, not a guaranteed saving for every feed.
UltraFlux™ in operation
Success stories
Brignano
Chicken-manure digestate
More than 4.5% TSSSludge concentration before dewatering, with separation of clarified permeate.
National Research Council Canada
Algae thickening
More than 90% less timeReduction in centrifugation time through an upstream concentration stage.
NLB H2O
Saline water after softening
120,000–130,000 ppm NaClPrecipitate separation in oil and gas wastewater, within a transportable platform.
Process fit
Clarify, concentrate and prepare the next stage.
Digestate
Retain biomass and concentrate solids before return or dewatering.
Agri-food industry
Separate solids and colloids from production streams.
Industrial wastewater
Clarify streams containing solids, colloids or pretreatment precipitates.
Preconcentration
Concentrate the retained fraction before downstream treatment; define the permeate destination as well.
Dewatering
Increase feed concentration ahead of centrifuges or other equipment.
Retrofit
Check footprint, manifolds, pumping and controls before replacing existing modules.
Selection engineering
Design flow starts with your wastewater.
View design inputs and sizing method
Membrane area is calculated from permeate flow and sustainable flux: A = Qp/J. J must represent the actual water, design concentration, temperature and cleaning regime.
| Input | Required information |
|---|---|
| Hydraulics | Average/peak flow, operating hours and load variability. |
| Feed | TSS, total solids, total/soluble COD, oils, fibres, viscosity, pH and temperature. |
| Separation target | Permeate quality, retentate concentration and destinations for both streams. |
| Installation | Footprint, utilities, cleaning, automation and process interfaces. |
Illustrative balance
Two streams. One solids balance.
Mass-balance example with complete solids retention and equivalent densities: 5 m³/h at 2% solids → 2.5 m³/h at 4% + 2.5 m³/h permeate. This illustrates mass conservation; it does not predict flux or recovery for your wastewater.
See digestate integration guidanceEngineering questions
What it separates and how it is sized.
Does it remove salts, ammonium or all COD?
UF retains solids and colloids according to their characteristics; salts, ammonium and much of the soluble organic matter can pass into the permeate. Final quality and any downstream polishing are defined from analysis.
Does it need polymers?
The membrane provides the separation barrier and does not need polymer as its retention mechanism. Pretreatment, cleaning or downstream stages may require chemicals depending on the process.
How much permeate does each module produce?
There is no single flow rate for all feedwaters. Output is calculated from active area and sustainable flux validated for the wastewater. The proposal defines net production, backwashing, cleaning and availability.
Can it replace tubular UF?
A retrofit assessment checks connections, required area, pump curve, recirculation, backwashing and controls. Retrofit references do not imply universal interchangeability.
Your next step
Request a technical proposal.
Send us your flow rate, water analysis and treatment objective.
We will review equipment selection, integration and the data needed to size your project. You can attach your water analysis or P&ID to your email.
Send project detailscomercial@neptunoes.comThe button opens your email with an enquiry template.