RO membrane storage question

I already posted this somewhere else, but realized this might be a better place for it.

During the 2023 season, I built a DIY RO system with a 4x40 membrane. It worked incredibly well and saved me hours upon hours of boiling time. Then at the end of the season I cleaned the membrane with food grade lye, flushed it with clean water, then put it in a PVC cannister with sodium metabisulfite for storage. 2024 season came around and when I opened the cannister it practically smelled like a smelling salt. I assumed I did something wrong and ruined the membrane. So I bought a new one. After the 2024 season I cleaned everything again, but purchased "RO Membrane Storage Solution" from Roth Sugarbush. I mixed up the solution and it smelled the same as the year before.

So my question is, is this common, and I just need to flush the membrane at the beginning of the season with lots of water to get the smell out? I don't want that smell to affect the final product.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

You need to do a caustic wash and rinse before using in the beginning of the season.

I don’t think a soap wash is necessary if the membrane was stored clean and in storage solution. But obviously wouldn’t hurt if you have the permeate or nice clean water to do it.