How can one solution be better both for the environment and for business? Here are answers to questions manufacturers frequently ask about Duraflow and why Duraflow is a better choice in wastewater treatment.

What makes Duraflow different?
Four things: our filters, our chemistries, our service, and our business model. Duraflow crossflow filters pass far fewer solids than competitive filters, have longer lifetimes, and are easier to clean - while the systems that use these filters stay online longer and require less operator attention. Our business model is to sell through distributors who have everything customers need for total wastewater compliance and water recycle. That includes Duraflow filters, chemistries and service.

Why are Duraflow filters better?
The membranes in Duraflow filters will not pass solids in industrial wastewater treatment applications, even after back pulse and cleaning. They are true surface-rejecting membranes - found to be longer lasting, easier to clean, and more effective for removing solids (see photo).

What would be the impact if did filters pass solids?
Contaminants would pass into the treated water, reducing the ability to stay compliant. In an Reverse Osmosis water recycling application, those unfiltered contaminants would be re-concentrated in the RO reject stream. When membranes pass solids they typically produce high flows when freshly cleaned, and then the flows decline rapidly as the larger pores clog up with solids. These same particles that pass through the module have the potential to fowl downstream RO water recycle systems.

Water containing concentrated contaminants cannot be returned to the environment so it must be stored or else production must be shut down. Other problems caused by unfiltered solids include the fouling of downstream reverse osmosis (RO) filters used to remove salt and other ionic minerals. The flow chanels between the membranes are very tight so they easily become clogged by contaminant particles. When that happens production must be shut down while the filters are cleaned. Cleaning RO filters is typically not economical.

How do crossflow microfiltration filter compare to clarifiers?
Crossflow filters operate reliably without operator attention over extended periods (typically 3-4 hours), while clarifiers require continual supervision by a live operator. That's because clarifiers are susceptible to passing large slugs of solid from time to time. In addition, the organic polymers used in clarifiers (create large,fast settling floc) can also cause problems. An excess of polymer will foul the clarifiers' sand filters. The polymers also have the potential to foul RO membranes. Finally, because the polymers are organic they are a potential food source of bacteria.

Why should customers care that Duraflow sells through distributors?
Most customers would prefer to achieve wastewater compliance with the minimum of expense and distraction. They may not have the expertise or the time to piece together all the parts of a wastewater solution - from filters, to pumps, to plumbing, to chemicals and everything else. They want it all as one package - preferably delivered by someone who understands both their type of business and wastewater compliance - and who is also close by geographically to respond to problems. Competitive bidding on projects is another benefit manufacturers gain by working with Duraflow distributors - since there are multiple distributors to bid.

How does Duraflow support distributors?
First, we select distributors to make sure they are qualified to carry our brand - meaning that they are knowledgeable and have the best reputation for quality and service. Then we train them in how to install our products and how to operate systems that incorporate our products. In addition, our distributors all carry Duraflow's complete line of performance chemistries for the precipitation of contaminants and for conditioning of wastewater. Buying everything from a single source - the filters, the membranes, the engineering, the service, and the training - costs a customer less and involves much less work than if purchased separately. In fact, customer service is included in the price. Customers don't feel like they're being charged "extra" to get troubleshooting help or help making adjustments for new contaminants that may be introduced over the life of the system.

Why do distributors want to work with Duraflow?
Each customer represents a bigger sale than if it were just buying filters or membranes alone. Distributors are also selling a higher-value product even though the total cost to the customer of owning that product is less than with previous technologies. In addition, by providing chemicals, both the distributor and the customer benefit from a funding source to support customer service.

Why would Duraflow products cost less to own?
Duraflow products need to be replaced far less frequently than other "end of the pipe" solutions, such as ultrafilters. That's because they are less susceptible to fouling in the first place, and clean faster and better because they are more tolerant of more aggressive cleaning agents such as bleach, peroxide, and acid-peroxide.

Duraflow products also replace many of these other products - such as clarifiers, sand filters, carbon filters, and ultra filters - so customers avoid the cost of buying them for recycling water.