Membrane rinse after storage

[Cider Hill Maple Farm]

Hi folks,

This is my second year with an RO, question is. After storing my membrane in the solution for the off season, how long of a rinse do you give the membrane with sap before you start saving concentrate? Was thinking of buying some deminerialized water and doing a hand rinse before placing it in my pressure vessel, what do ya think?

Thanks,:confused:

[jmayerl]

for our RO I give it a full rinse, 250 gallons. (125 gallons for each 4" membrane)

[maple flats]

Rinse with good potable water, to discharge an amount equal to what the RO processes in an hour. Then you can start concentrating.

[tuckermtn]

same hear - rinse for an hour with permeate. didn't rinse long enough 2nd year with RO and ruined first 10 gallons of syrup that year.

[Cider Hill Maple Farm]

Question... I thought you could use tap water to rinse because of the mineral content. I have a dug well and a water softener. Any difference?

[mellondome]

Just no chlorine.

[Atgreene]

So to jump in here and hijack the thread, if I understand correctly: rinse for 1 hour with well water before using the first of the season? Run at normal operating pressure?

I just bought a used ro, still learning. Thanks.

[TunbridgeDave]

Spring water is better than well water but use what you have. I took my first run from last week and made some permeate, did a wash and rinse, then a benchmark test. Sap was only .8 so I didn't save any of it. But I was a good way to test everything.

[Atgreene]

Thanks! I was loosing sugar in the permeate the other night (1%). When I bought this he said I should change the membranes, so I bought two new ones from mes. Great folks to deal with. I've run it 3 times now, starting to get it figured out.

BTW, tunbridgedave, are you from tunbridge Vt?

[TunbridgeDave]

Atgreene, our farm is in Tunbridge Vt. It's my in-laws. Work took us to NH but we plan on moving back someday.

[Atgreene]

Beautiful town, wonderful people. Used to camp behind Cilleys funeral home during the fair. My father was friends with Sid Gilman and a bunch of others at the museum. Nice area.