ASTM D4516-19a

Standard Practice for Standardizing Reverse Osmosis Performance Data

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 During the operation of an RO system, system conditions such as pressure, temperature, conversion, and feed concentration can vary, causing permeate flow and salt passage to change. To effectively evaluate system performance, it is necessary to compare permeate flow and salt passage data at the same conditions. Since data may not always be obtained at the same conditions, it is necessary to convert the RO data obtained at actual conditions to a set of selected constant conditions, thereby standardizing the data. This practice gives the procedure to standardize RO data.  
5.2 This practice can be used for both spiral wound and hollow fiber systems.  
5.3 This practice can be used for a single element or a multi-element system. However, if the RO system is brine staged, that is, the brine from one group of RO devices is the feed to a second group of RO devices, standardize the permeate flow and salt passage for each stage separately.  
5.4 This practice is applicable for RO systems with high rejections and with no significant leaks between the feed-brine and permeate streams.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the standardization of permeate flow, salt passage, and coefficient of performance data for reverse osmosis (RO) systems.  
1.2 This practice is applicable to waters including brackish waters and seawaters but is not necessarily applicable to waste waters.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2019
• ICS: 71.120.99 - Other equipment for the chemical industry
• Technical Committee: D19 - Water
• Drafting Committee: D19.08 - Membranes and Ion Exchange Materials

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4516-19 - Standard Practice for Standardizing Reverse Osmosis Performance Data
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2019
• Refers: ASTM D1129-13(2020)e2 - Standard Terminology Relating to Water
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Refers: ASTM D6161-19 - Standard Terminology Used for Microfiltration, Ultrafiltration, Nanofiltration, and Reverse Osmosis Membrane Processes
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2019
• Refers: ASTM D1129-10 - Standard Terminology Relating to Water
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2010
• Refers: ASTM D6161-10 - Standard Terminology Used for Microfiltration, Ultrafiltration, Nanofiltration and Reverse Osmosis Membrane Processes (Withdrawn 2019)
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2010
• Refers: ASTM D4194-03(2008) - Standard Test Methods for Operating Characteristics of Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Devices
• Effective Date: 01-May-2008
• Refers: ASTM D1129-06ae1 - Standard Terminology Relating to Water
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2006
• Refers: ASTM D1129-06a - Standard Terminology Relating to Water
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2006
• Refers: ASTM D1129-06 - Standard Terminology Relating to Water
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2006
• Refers: ASTM D6161-05 - Standard Terminology Used for Microfiltration, Ultrafiltration, Nanofiltration and Reverse Osmosis Membrane Processes
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2005
• Refers: ASTM D1129-04e1 - Standard Terminology Relating to Water
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2004
• Refers: ASTM D1129-04 - Standard Terminology Relating to Water
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2004
• Refers: ASTM D1129-03a - Standard Terminology Relating to Water
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2003
• Refers: ASTM D4194-03 - Standard Test Methods for Operating Characteristics of Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Devices
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-2003
• Refers: ASTM D1129-03 - Standard Terminology Relating to Water
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2003

Overview

ASTM D4516-19a: Standard Practice for Standardizing Reverse Osmosis Performance Data, developed by ASTM International, provides a standardized approach for comparing and reporting performance data of reverse osmosis (RO) systems. RO system performance can fluctuate due to variations in operating conditions such as pressure, temperature, feed concentration, and product recovery. This standard ensures accurate comparison by converting actual data to a uniform set of conditions, standardizing critical figures like permeate flow and salt passage. ASTM D4516-19a applies to both spiral wound and hollow fiber RO systems and is relevant for systems treating brackish water or seawater with high rejection rates.

Key Topics

• Reverse Osmosis Data Standardization
  The standard outlines procedures for converting performance data gathered under varying operational conditions to a baseline of selected constant conditions. This is essential for meaningful performance evaluation of RO systems across different installations and operating scenarios.

• Applicability and System Types
  Applicable to:

  • Spiral wound and hollow fiber RO elements
  • Both single-element and multi-element systems
  • Systems operating with high salt rejection and no significant leakage between streams

• Brine-Staged Systems
  For brine-staged systems (where output brine from one stage is input for the next), the standard prescribes independent standardization for each stage to ensure accurate representation.

• Standard Conditions
  Emphasizes the importance of selecting standard conditions similar to actual operating averages, enhancing the reliability of performance comparisons.

• Calculation Parameters
  Main parameters standardized include:

  • Permeate flow
  • Salt passage (salt leakage rate)
  • Coefficient of performance (COP)
    All values must be reported in SI units for consistency.

• Limitations This practice is not intended for waste water applications and requires careful consideration of safety, health, and environmental concerns when used.

Applications

• Performance Benchmarking
  Water treatment facilities and RO system manufacturers use this standard to reliably compare system performance regardless of varying operating conditions.

• Quality Assurance and Process Optimization
  Enables operators to monitor RO device health over time, make data-driven maintenance decisions, and identify performance trends for efficiency improvement.

• Regulatory and Contractual Compliance
  Ensures measured performance aligns with regulatory standards or contract specifications by referencing standardized, directly comparable data.

• Research and Development
  Research institutions apply this methodology to evaluate novel RO materials and configurations under standardized metrics.

• Multi-Site Comparison
  Assists multinational operators in comparing system performance across diverse geographic and environmental settings using consistent datasets.

Related Standards

• ASTM D1129 - Terminology Relating to Water: Offers definitions crucial for interpreting technical water-related terminology used in RO performance reporting.
• ASTM D4194 - Test Methods for Operating Characteristics of Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Devices: Details measurement techniques consistent with those needing data standardization.
• ASTM D6161 - Terminology Used for Microfiltration, Ultrafiltration, Nanofiltration, and Reverse Osmosis Membrane Processes: Clarifies terms associated with membrane filtration processes.

These referenced documents provide foundational methods and definitions complementing ASTM D4516-19a’s approach.

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Keywords: ASTM D4516-19a, reverse osmosis, RO performance, permeate flow standardization, salt passage, membrane systems, brackish water, seawater, performance data, water treatment standards.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D4516 − 19a
Standard Practice for
Standardizing Reverse Osmosis Performance Data
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4516; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This practice covers the standardization of permeate 3.1 Definitions:
flow, salt passage, and coefficient of performance data for 3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to
reverse osmosis (RO) systems. Terminologies D1129 and D6161.
3.1.2 For description of terms relating to RO, refer to Test
1.2 This practice is applicable to waters including brackish
Methods D4194 and Terminology D6161.
waters and seawaters but is not necessarily applicable to waste
waters.
4. Summary of Practice
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
4.1 This practice consists of calculating the permeate flow,
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
salt passage of RO systems, and coefficient of performance of
standard.
RO at a standard set of conditions using data obtained at actual
operating conditions.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
5. Significance and Use
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5.1 During the operation of an RO system, system condi-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
tions such as pressure, temperature, conversion, and feed
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
concentration can vary, causing permeate flow and salt passage
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
to change. To effectively evaluate system performance, it is
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
necessary to compare permeate flow and salt passage data at
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
the same conditions. Since data may not always be obtained at
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
the same conditions, it is necessary to convert the RO data
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
obtained at actual conditions to a set of selected constant
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
conditions, thereby standardizing the data. This practice gives
2. Referenced Documents
the procedure to standardize RO data.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
5.2 This practice can be used for both spiral wound and
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
hollow fiber systems.
D4194 Test Methods for Operating Characteristics of Re-
5.3 This practice can be used for a single element or a
verse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Devices
multi-element system. However, if the RO system is brine
D6161 Terminology Used for Microfiltration, Ultrafiltration,
staged, that is, the brine from one group of RO devices is the
Nanofiltration,andReverseOsmosisMembraneProcesses
feedtoasecondgroupofROdevices,standardizethepermeate
flow and salt passage for each stage separately.
5.4 This practice is applicable for RO systems with high
rejections and with no significant leaks between the feed-brine
and permeate streams.
6. Procedure
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and
6.1 Standardization of Permeate Flow:
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.08 on Membranes and Ion
Exchange Materials.
6.1.1 Calculate the permeate flow at standard conditions
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2019. Published November 2019. Originally
using Eq 1:
approved in 1985. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as D4516 – 19. DOI:
10.1520/D4516-19A.
∆P
fbs
P 2 2 P 2π 1π TCF
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or F G ~ !
fs ps fbs ps s
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Q 5 Q (1)
~ !
ps pa
∆P
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on fba
P 2 2 P 2π 1π TCF
F G ~ !
fa pa fba pa a
the ASTM website. 2
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D4516 − 19a
where: 6.3 In Eq 1, TCF and TCF are dependent on the type of
s a
device (spiral or hollow fiber) and on the membrane type
Q = permeate flow at standard conditions,
ps
(celluloseacetate,polyamide,composite).Obtainequationsfor
P = feed pressure at standard conditions, kPa,
fs
∆P
= one-halfdevicepressuredropatstandardconditions, TCF and TCF from the supplier of device. If unavailable, use
fbs
s a
kPa, Eq 3 and Eq 4.
P = permeate pressure at standard conditions, kPa,
T 2 25
ps ~ !
s
TCF 5 1.03 (3)
s
π = feed-brine osmotic pressure at standard conditions,
fbs
T 225
~ !
a
TCF 5 1.03 (4)
kPa, a
π = permeate osmotic pressure at standard conditions,
ps
where:
kPa,
T = temperature at standard conditions, °C, and
s
TCF = temperature correction factor at standard conditions,
s
T = temperature at actual conditions, °C.
a
Q = permeate flow at actual conditions,
pa 6.4 In Eq 1 and Eq 2, π and π are calculated from the
fba fbs
P = feed pressure at actual conditions, kPa,
fa concentration of salt (expressed as mg/LNaCl) in the feed and
∆P
= one-half device pressure drop at actual conditions,
fba
brine streams. See AnnexA1 for the procedure to calculate the
kPa,
concentrations of salt in feed stream as mg/L NaCl.
P = permeate pressure at actual conditions, kPa,
pa
6.4.1 The concentration of salt in the brine stream is
π = feed-brine osmotic pressure at actual conditions,
fba
calculated using Eq 5:
kPa,
π = permeate osmotic pressure at actual conditions, kPa,
C 5 C / 1 2 Y (5)
~ !
pa
b f
and
where:
TCF = temperature correction factor at actual conditions.
a
C = concentration of salt in the brine, mg/L NaCl,
b
6.2 Standardization of Salt Passage:
C = concentration of salt in the feed, mg/L NaCl, and
f
6.2.1 Calculate the salt passage at standard conditions using Y = conversion, expressed as a decim
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D4516 − 19 D4516 − 19a
Standard Practice for
Standardizing Reverse Osmosis Performance Data
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4516; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers the standardization of permeate flow and salt passage flow, salt passage, and coefficient of performance
data for reverse osmosis (RO) systems.
1.2 This practice is applicable to waters including brackish waters and seawaters but is not necessarily applicable to waste
waters.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
D4194 Test Methods for Operating Characteristics of Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Devices
D6161 Terminology Used for Microfiltration, Ultrafiltration, Nanofiltration, and Reverse Osmosis Membrane Processes
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.08 on Membranes and Ion Exchange
Materials.
Current edition approved July 1, 2019Nov. 1, 2019. Published July 2019November 2019. Originally approved in 1985. Last previous edition approved in 20102019 as
D4516 – 00 (2010)D4516 – 19., which was withdrawn January 2019 and reinstated in July 2019. DOI: 10.1520/D4516-19. DOI: 10.1520/D4516-19A.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D4516 − 19a
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to Terminologies D1129 and D6161.
3.1.2 For description of terms relating to RO, refer to Test Methods D4194 and Terminology D6161.
4. Summary of Practice
4.1 This practice consists of calculating the permeate flow and flow, salt passage of RO systems systems, and coefficient of
performance of RO at a standard set of conditions using data obtained at actual operating conditions.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 During the operation of an RO system, system conditions such as pressure, temperature, conversion, and feed concentration
can vary, causing permeate flow and salt passage to change. To effectively evaluate system performance, it is necessary to compare
permeate flow and salt passage data at the same conditions. Since data may not always be obtained at the same conditions, it is
necessary to convert the RO data obtained at actual conditions to a set of selected constant conditions, thereby standardizing the
data. This practice gives the procedure to standardize RO data.
5.2 This practice can be used for both spiral wound and hollow fiber systems.
5.3 This practice can be used for a single element or a multi-element system. However, if the RO system is brine staged, that
is, the brine from one group of RO devices is the feed to a second group of RO devices, standardize the permeate flow and salt
passage for each stage separately.
5.4 This practice is applicable for RO systems with high rejections and with no significant leaks between the feed-brine and
permeate streams.
6. Procedure
6.1 Standardization of Permeate Flow:
6.1.1 Calculate the permeate flow at standard conditions using Eq 1:
ΔP
fbs
P 2 2 P 2 π 1π ~TCF !
F G
fs ps fbs ps s
Q 5 Q (1)
~ !
ps pa
ΔP
fba
P 2 2 P 2 π 1π TCF
F G ~ !
fa pa fba pa a
where:
Q = permeate flow at standard conditions,
ps
P = feed pressure at standard conditions, kPa,
fs
ΔP
fbs = one half device pressure drop at standard conditions, kPa,
ΔP
fbs = one-half device pressure drop at standard conditions, kPa,
P = permeate pressure at standard conditions, kPa,
ps
π = feed-brine osmotic pressure at standard conditions, kPa,
fbs
π = permeate osmotic pressure at standard conditions, kPa,
ps
TCF = temperature correction factor at standard conditions,
s
Q = permeate flow at actual conditions,
pa
P = feed pressure at actual conditions, kPa,
fa
ΔP
= one half device pressure drop at actual conditions, kPa,
fba
ΔP
= one-half device pressure drop at actual conditions, kPa,
fba
P = permeate pressure at actual conditions, kPa,
pa
π = feed-brine osmotic pressure at actual conditions, kPa,
fba
π = permeate osmotic pressure at actual conditions, kPa, and
pa
TCF = temperature correction factor at actual conditions.
a
6.2 Standardization of Salt Passage:
6.2.1 Calculate the salt passage at standard conditions using Eq 2:
% SP 5 EPF /EPF 3 STCF /STCF 3 C /C 3 C /C 3%SP (2)
@ # @ # ~ ! ~ !
s a s a s fbs fba fa fs a
% SP 5 EPF ⁄ EPF 3 STCF ⁄ STCF 3 C ⁄ C 3 C ⁄ C 3% SP (2)
~ ! ~ ! ~ ! ~ !
s a s s a fbs fba fa fs a
where:
% SP = percent salt passage normalized to standard (reference) conditions,
s
% SP = percent salt passage at actual conditions,
a
D4516 − 19a
EPF = average element permeate flow at standard (reference) conditions,
s
EPF = average element permeate flow at actual conditions,
a
STCF = salt transport temperature correction factor at standard (reference) conditions,
s
STCF = salt transport temperature correction factor at actual conditions,
a
C = feed-brine concentration at standard (reference) conditions, mg/L sodium chloride (NaCl),
fbs
C = feed-brine concentration
...