Rethinking Integrity: Turbidity as a Direct Integrity Test for Low Pressure MF/UF Membranes, Challenges and Future Potential

Turbidity has been a key parameter for monitoring filtered water quality due to its simplicity and reproducibility. Conventional filters integrity has historically been regulated based on the effluent turbidity unlike membranes which has been regulated based on direct integrity testing such as the pressure decay testing. These direct integrity tests, while effective, impact membrane plant productivity and introduce operational complexity. Recently, turbidmeters with alternative light sources such as laser and LED sources were introduced which can provide more reliable readings with a lower detection limit. These recent advances coupled with a new and novel approach to ?spike? feed turbidity were tested as a membrane integrity tool.