ASTM D3923-23

Standard Practices for Detecting Leaks in Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Devices

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 These practices may be used to determine whether a RO or NF device is free of leaks if the mechanical integrity of the device is to be confirmed. They may also be used to detect leaks in RO or NF devices whose operating performance indicates a possible leak. These practices may be used for either new or used devices.
SCOPE
1.1 These practices cover detecting leaks in which there is a direct communication between the feed or concentrate, or both, and the permeate. Several types of leaks are possible with the various configurations of reverse-osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) devices.  
1.2 Types of Leaks:  
1.2.1 With hollow-fiber devices, feed or concentrate leakage, or both, into the permeate stream by leaks through the tube sheet and past the tube sheet O-ring are possible. “Leaks” caused by broken fibers are not covered by these practices.  
1.2.2 With spiral-wound devices, leaks may occur through damage of the membrane surface itself by punctures or scratches, by glue-line failure, and by O-ring leaks on product tube interconnectors.  
1.2.3 With tubular devices, leaks due to membrane damage, tube end seal leaks, and leaks from broken tubes or product headers are possible.  
1.3 Three leak test practices are given as follows:    
Sections  
Practice A—Tube Sheet and O-Ring Leak Test for Hollow
Fiber Devices  
8 to 9  
Practice B—Vacuum Test for Spiral Wound Devices  
10 to 12  
Practice C—Dye Test for Spiral Wound and Tubular Devices  
13 to 18  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.5 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.  
1.6 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-Dec-2022
• ICS: 71.120.99 - Other equipment for the chemical industry
• Technical Committee: D19 - Water
• Drafting Committee: D19.08 - Membranes and Ion Exchange Materials

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: D3923 − 23
Standard Practices for
Detecting Leaks in Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration
1
Devices
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3923; 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 mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.1 These practices cover detecting leaks in which there is a
direct communication between the feed or concentrate, or both,
2. Referenced Documents
and the permeate. Several types of leaks are possible with the
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
various configurations of reverse-osmosis (RO) and nanofiltra-
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
tion (NF) devices.
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
1.2 Types of Leaks:
D4194 Test Methods for Operating Characteristics of Re-
1.2.1 With hollow-fiber devices, feed or concentrate
verse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Devices
leakage, or both, into the permeate stream by leaks through the
D6161 Terminology Used for Microfiltration, Ultrafiltration,
tube sheet and past the tube sheet O-ring are possible. “Leaks”
Nanofiltration, and Reverse Osmosis Membrane Processes
caused by broken fibers are not covered by these practices.
D6908 Practice for Integrity Testing of Water Filtration
1.2.2 With spiral-wound devices, leaks may occur through
Membrane Systems
damage of the membrane surface itself by punctures or
E60 Practice for Analysis of Metals, Ores, and Related
scratches, by glue-line failure, and by O-ring leaks on product
Materials by Spectrophotometry
tube interconnectors.
E275 Practice for Describing and Measuring Performance of
1.2.3 With tubular devices, leaks due to membrane damage,
Ultraviolet and Visible Spectrophotometers
tube end seal leaks, and leaks from broken tubes or product
headers are possible.
3. Terminology
1.3 Three leak test practices are given as follows:
3.1 Definitions:
Sections 3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in these practices, refer
Practice A—Tube Sheet and O-Ring Leak Test for Hollow 8 to 9
to Terminology D1129 and D6161.
Fiber Devices
3.1.2 concentrate, n—stream exiting a crossflow membrane
Practice B—Vacuum Test for Spiral Wound Devices 10 to 12
Practice C—Dye Test for Spiral Wound and Tubular Devices 13 to 18
device that has increased concentration of solutes and particles
over the feed stream; portion of the feed steram that does not
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
pass through the membrane; the stream in which dissolved
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
solids or particulates, or both, are concentrated in a membrane
standard.
separation process.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.3 hollow-fiber (HF) membrane, n—self-supporting
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
membrane fibers that have a hollow bore like a cylinder; in
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
reverse osmosis, the membrane is usually on the outside with
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
the bore conveying the permeate; in ultra and micro filtration,
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
the membrane might be on the inside or outside of the fiber.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.1.4 leak, n—bypassing of the intact membrane from the
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
feed side to the permeate side.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
3.1.5 nanofiltration (NF), n—crossflow process with pore
sizes designed to remove selected salts and most organics
1
These practices are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water
and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.08 on Membranes and Ion
2
Exchange Materials. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2023. Published February 2023. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1980. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as D3923 – 08 (2014). Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
DOI: 10.1520/D3923-23. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D3923 − 2
...

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: D3923 − 08 (Reapproved 2014) D3923 − 23
Standard Practices for
Detecting Leaks in Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration
1
Devices
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3923; 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 These practices cover detecting leaks in which there is a direct communication between the feed or concentrate, or both, and
the permeate. Several types of leaks are possible with the various configurations of reverse-osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF)
devices.
1.2 Types of Leaks:
1.2.1 With hollow-fiber devices, feed or concentrate leakage, or both, into the permeate stream by leaks through the tube sheet
and past the tube sheet O-ring are possible. “Leaks” caused by broken fibers are not covered by these practices.
1.2.2 With spiral-wound devices, leaks may occur through damage of the membrane surface itself by punctures or scratches, by
glue-line failure, and by O-ring leaks on product tube interconnectors.
1.2.3 With tubular devices, leaks due to membrane damage, tube end seal leaks, and leaks from broken tubes or product headers
are possible.
1.3 Three leak test practices are given as follows:
Sections
Practice A—Tube Sheet and O-Ring Leak Test for Hollow 8 to 9
Fiber Devices
Practice B—Vacuum Test for Spiral Wound Devices 10 to 12
Practice C—Dye Test for Spiral Wound and Tubular Devices 13 to 18
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.5 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 and healthsafety, health, and environmental practices and determine
the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 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.
1
These practices are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.08 on Membranes and Ion Exchange
Materials.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2014Jan. 1, 2023. Published February 2014February 2023. Originally approved in 1980. Last previous edition approved in 20082014 as
D3923 – 08.D3923 – 08 (2014). DOI: 10.1520/D3923-08R14.10.1520/D3923-23.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D3923 − 23
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
D1193 Specification for Reagent 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
D6908 Practice for Integrity Testing of Water Filtration Membrane Systems
E60 Practice for Analysis of Metals, Ores, and Related Materials by Spectrophotometry
E275 Practice for Describing and Measuring Performance of Ultraviolet and Visible Spectrophotometers
3. Terminology
3.1 For definitions of terms used in these practices, refer to Terminology D1129 and D6161.
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in these practices, refer to Terminology D1129 and D6161.
3.1.2 concentrate, n—stream exiting a crossflow membrane device that has increased concentration of solutes and particles over
the feed stream; portion of the feed steram that does not pass through the membrane; the stream in which dissolved solids or
particulates, or both, are concentrated in a membrane separation process.
3.1.3 hollow-fiber (HF) membrane, n—self-supporting membrane fibers that have a hollow bore like a cylinder; in reverse
osmosis, the membrane is usually on the outside with the bore conveying the permeate; in ultra and micro filtration, the membrane
might be on the inside or outside of the fiber.
3.1.4 leak—leak, n—bypassing of the intact membrane from the feed side to the permeate side.
3.
...