Can going too high in brix ruin a membrane?

[heus]

Last night I set my D&G 600 to concentrate for one more hour and left for a basketball game. I returned about 4-5 hours later and the machine was still concentrating. I left with about 1200 gallons in the tank, and returned to about 125-150 gallons of very high concentrate. My refractometer only goes to 10 brix, but I'm certain the concentration was more than double that. It is a two year old H2O membrane. I read no measurable sugar passage (with my refractometer) in the permeate. Can this have any bad effect on the membrane? I did not see what the pressure was because my dad turned the machine off before I arrived. I did a rinse, soap wash, rinse, soap wash, and rinse. Afterwards

[Urban Sugarmaker]

You could check with the manufacturer. I know there are guidelines for maximum water removal depending on membrane size and number of membranes. Recirculation is another variable with this. It's probably good you did a thorough wash cycle though.

Was the concentrate you had left over enough to fire up and boil?

[maple flats]

My RO shuts off on high pressure if I get to 16-17%, then I need to do a permeate flush and I can then return to concentrating again.

[mellondome]

1200 gallons to 150 gallons would put you in the 16% range. My only concern would be getting it boiled. If your membrane can't handle 20%, then it isn't a very good membrane.

It is harder on the membrane going to high concentration by recirculating. It is more effecient to go to high concentration using 2 passes. ( 2-8 then 8-xx).

[wiam]

As long as flow test has not dropped from first use of the season you should be good. I have done that before with no long term problem.