RO / Tap Water question

[BlueberryHill]

I have a MES Dolly 300 for maple. We have a sudden demand for RO water where I work to use to make hand sanitizer. The permeate flow level of my Dolly is pretty near perfect for our needs. But I don't have enough knowledge about membrane types, etc to know if this is a good idea or not.

Biggest question: It is my understanding that I don't want chlorine to touch my membranes. The water we would be treating is municipal tap water so it has chroline in it. I am thinking that if I put a carbon filter in place of the filters that I normally use, then that would protect my membranes. Can anyone confirm this?

If anyone thinks this is a terrible idea, please let me know. Appreciate the great knowledge on here!

[NH Maplemaker]

Wonder if you called MES if they could better answer that Question 603-428-3336. I have also been told that about the chlorine.

[carls47807]

You would need to find out if it is chlorine or chloramine (less volatile and harder to remove).

Also, a single pass through a carbon filter wouldn’t be enough to remove enough chlorine for long term use. You would need to run a couple in series and slow the flow rate down so you get a longer contact time. Some activated carbon filters are better than others, research the different types and make sure you get something suitable. It can certainly be done.


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[SeanD]

You are right about the carbon filter. I use filtered city water for my beginning of the the year rinse/wash. I use something like this:
https://www.isopurewater.com/Water-S...hoCRUkQAvD_BwE

You can get something a lot cheaper if you shop around.

Here's the thread with the background on it. Be sure to use food grade/safe hose for potable water. Usually RV hose is good for that. I don't remember the gph, but it's slow or at least way slower than your RO. I think it's 1 gpm. You'll want to fill a tank and then RO it into another tank. I've no idea what pressure to run water through. It's not like you are squeezing sugar out.

http://mapletrader.com/community/sho...light=flush+RO

[TapTapTap]

Would it make more sense to use untreated water to avoid chlorine?

[carls47807]

If untreated water is an option, hands down it would be the better one.


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[BlueberryHill]

Untreated water is not an option. All we have available is town water. I just looked and it has chloramines. ****.

We have a Deionized water system here but it is expensive and it is overkill for hand sanitizer. So I thought RO would be good. Maybe I'll just call the guy that does our DI system and see if we can lease an RO unit for a few months. That's probably as long as we'll need it. Might be better to do that then to potentially screw up my maple RO.

Thanks for you input everyone!!

[Russell Lampron]

Maybe research membrane types and find some that can handle the chloramine. If there is such a thing and the price is reasonable it's another option.

[Jeff E]

I agree with Red Roof. Get a specific membrane for the sanitizer use, save your maple membrane for what it is intended for. Cost of doing business.