ASTM D7601-19

Standard Practice for Pressure Driven Membrane Separation Element/Bundle Evaluation

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Water treatment membrane devices can be used to produce potable water from brackish supplies and seawater as well as to upgrade the quality of industrial water. This standard permits the evaluation of the integrity and performance of membrane elements using visual observations and standard sets of conditions and are for short-term testing (
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the inspection, performance testing, autopsy, and analytical work associated with evaluating pressure driven membrane separation elements (microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO)).  
1.2 This practice is applicable for elements when newly manufactured or at any time during their operation in a water treatment facility. The Analytical section (6.4) covers only membrane surface and foulant analyses.  
1.3 The data derived from these tests should be evaluated versus newly manufactured elements/bundles or against operating systems when they were initially brought on-stream, or both. Industry norms can also be used for comparative purposes.  
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound 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: 30-Jun-2019
• ICS: 13.060.30 - Sewage water
• Technical Committee: D19 - Water
• Drafting Committee: D19.08 - Membranes and Ion Exchange Materials

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D7601-10 - Standard Practice for Pressure Driven Membrane Separation Element/Bundle Evaluation (Withdrawn 2019)
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2019
• Refers: ASTM D4472-23 - Standard Guide for Recordkeeping for Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Systems
• Effective Date: 15-Dec-2023
• Refers: ASTM D1129-13(2020)e2 - Standard Terminology Relating to Water
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Refers: ASTM D6908-06(2017) - Standard Practice for Integrity Testing of Water Filtration Membrane Systems
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2017
• Refers: ASTM D7285-06(2017) - Standard Guide for Recordkeeping Microfiltration and Ultrafiltration Systems
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2017
• Refers: ASTM D7285-06(2010) - Standard Guide for Recordkeeping Microfiltration and Ultrafiltration Systems
• Effective Date: 01-May-2010
• Refers: ASTM D6908-06(2010) - Standard Practice for Integrity Testing of Water Filtration Membrane Systems
• Effective Date: 01-May-2010
• Refers: ASTM D1129-10 - Standard Terminology Relating to Water
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2010
• Refers: ASTM D3923-08 - Standard Practices for Detecting Leaks in Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Devices
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2008
• Refers: ASTM D4472-08 - Standard Guide for Recordkeeping for Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Systems
• Effective Date: 01-May-2008
• 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 D6908-06 - Standard Practice for Integrity Testing of Water Filtration Membrane Systems
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2006
• Refers: ASTM D7285-06 - Standard Guide for Recordkeeping Microfiltration and Ultrafiltration Systems
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2006

Overview

ASTM D7601-19 is the standard practice established by ASTM International for the evaluation of pressure-driven membrane separation elements and bundles, such as microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. This standard provides structured methodologies for inspecting, testing, and analyzing both newly manufactured and in-use membrane elements within water treatment systems. Its primary purpose is to assess the integrity, performance, and quality of these membrane devices, helping ensure efficient operation and water quality in various treatment applications.

Key Topics

• Inspection and Physical Testing

  • Visual inspection techniques to detect physical damage, discoloration, cracks, or fouling.
  • Weighing elements to compare with manufacturer-specified as-new weights.
  • Specialized tests for both spiral wound and hollow fiber membrane types.

• Performance Testing

  • On- and off-line performance testing under controlled or normalized conditions to compare current vs. baseline (as-new) performance.
  • Short-term testing (< 24 hours) enables detection of changes due to fouling, scaling, or mechanical damage.
  • Evaluation of flow, rejection, and pressure drop performance, normalized using relevant ASTM practices.

• Integrity and Leak Testing

  • Regular integrity and leak testing to ensure regulatory compliance and system reliability.
  • Use of continuous monitoring, rod tests, wet tests, and other accepted methods.

• Element Autopsy and Analytical Methods

  • Guidelines for conducting destructive autopsies if non-destructive tests are inconclusive.
  • Analytical methods to assess membrane surface and foulant characteristics, including microscopy, spectroscopy, and chemical analysis.

• Data Evaluation

  • Comparative analysis using newly manufactured data, initial system start-up conditions, or industry standards.
  • Importance of recordkeeping and data normalization for consistent, meaningful assessments.

Applications

The practice outlined in ASTM D7601-19 is widely utilized in:

• Municipal and Industrial Water Treatment
  Ensuring membrane elements used for producing potable water from brackish water, seawater desalination, or industrial process water are functioning optimally.

• Quality Assurance for Membrane Manufacturers
  Facilitating the evaluation of new membrane elements or bundles before shipment and after installation.

• Routine Maintenance in Water Treatment Plants
  Supporting plant operators in ongoing condition monitoring, preventive maintenance, and timely element replacement.

• Troubleshooting and Forensic Analysis
  Providing a structured approach to identify root causes of membrane performance decline, including fouling, damage, or manufacturing defects.

• Regulatory Compliance
  Enabling operators to meet government and industry standards for integrity and performance of filtration systems used in drinking water and industrial applications.

Related Standards

To ensure comprehensive membrane element evaluation and reliable recordkeeping, the following related ASTM standards are frequently referenced alongside ASTM D7601-19:

• ASTM D1129 - Terminology Relating to Water
• ASTM D3923 - Practices for Detecting Leaks in Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Devices
• ASTM D4194 - Test Methods for Operating Characteristics of Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Devices
• ASTM D4472 - Guide for Recordkeeping for Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Systems
• ASTM D4516 - Practice for Standardizing Reverse Osmosis Performance Data
• ASTM D6908 - Practice for Integrity Testing of Water Filtration Membrane Systems
• ASTM D6161 - Terminology Used for Microfiltration, Ultrafiltration, Nanofiltration, and Reverse Osmosis Membrane Processes

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Keywords: membrane element evaluation, pressure driven membrane, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, ASTM D7601-19, performance testing, water treatment membranes, integrity testing, analytical methods, element autopsy.

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: D7601 − 19
Standard Practice for
Pressure Driven Membrane Separation Element/Bundle
Evaluation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7601; 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 2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This practice covers the inspection, performance testing,
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
autopsy, and analytical work associated with evaluating pres-
D3923 Practices for Detecting Leaks in Reverse Osmosis
sure driven membrane separation elements (microfiltration
and Nanofiltration Devices
(MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse
D4194 Test Methods for Operating Characteristics of Re-
osmosis (RO)).
verse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Devices
1.2 This practice is applicable for elements when newly
D4472 Guide for Recordkeeping for Reverse Osmosis and
manufactured or at any time during their operation in a water
Nanofiltration Systems
treatment facility. The Analytical section (6.4) covers only D4516 Practice for Standardizing Reverse Osmosis Perfor-
membrane surface and foulant analyses. mance Data
D5090 Practice for Standardizing Ultrafiltration Permeate
1.3 The data derived from these tests should be evaluated 3
Flow Performance Data (Withdrawn 2016)
versus newly manufactured elements/bundles or against oper-
D6161 Terminology Used for Microfiltration, Ultrafiltration,
ating systems when they were initially brought on-stream, or
Nanofiltration,andReverseOsmosisMembraneProcesses
both. Industry norms can also be used for comparative pur-
D6908 Practice for Integrity Testing of Water Filtration
poses.
Membrane Systems
D7285 Guide for Recordkeeping Microfiltration and Ultra-
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
filtration Systems
as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard.
3. Terminology
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1 Definitions:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Terminologies D1129 and D6161.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4. Summary of Practice
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
4.1 This practice discusses the inspection of the pressure
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
driven membrane separation elements required for individual
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
unitstobereadiedforavisualinspectionoranautopsythatcan
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
be performed to ascertain structural integrity (Practice D6908)
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
and cleanliness. Visual inspection is non-destructive testing;
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
autopsy requires the dismantlement of the element.
4.2 Performancetestingofanelementarediscussedthatcan
be accomplished on or off line, in a single or multi-element
housing under conditions proscribed by the user or element
1 2
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.08 on Membranes and Ion contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Exchange Materials. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved July 1, 2019. Published July 2019. Originally approved the ASTM website.
in 2010. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as D7601 – 10, which was The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
withdrawn January 2019 and reinstated in July 2019. DOI: 10.1520/D7601-19. www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D7601 − 19
manufacturer or Test Methods D4194. The data collected (5) If element is to be reinserted into operating system or
(GuidesD4472andD7285)mustthenbenormalized(Practices other flow tests are to be performed at a later time, visual
D4516 and D5090) to a set of conditions that permit the testing should not be too long as to dry out the element,
element’s performance to be compared to an as-new unit. thereby, adversely affecting the membrane continuity.
6.1.2.2 Rod Test (when it is proper):
4.3 Laboratory analyses are presented that include visual,
(1) The rod test is used to detect a collapse or obstructed
usually non-destructive, as well as specialized instrumentation,
feed tube, brine tube or distributor. For this test, a simple rod
usually destructive testing.
that is at least the length of the bundle(s) and has a diameter
slightly smaller than the tube(s) to be tested is employed. The
5. Significance and Use
test can be accomplished without dismantling the bundle.
5.1 Water treatment membrane devices can be used to
(2) Remove the plugs or connections, isolating the tube to
produce potable water from brackish supplies and seawater as
be tested.
well as to upgrade the quality of industrial water.This standard
(3) Insert the rod into the tube to the maximum penetration
permits the evaluation of the integrity and performance of
possible.
membrane elements using visual observations and standard
(4) An unobstructed tube will allow full penetration. An
sets of conditions and are for short-term testing (<24 h). This
obstructed tube will not allow full penetration indicating
standard can be used to determine changes that may have
damage. Repair, if possible, will require disassembly of the
occurredintheoperatingcharacteristicsofelementsbutarenot
element/housing.
intended to be used for plant design.
6.2 Performance:
6. Tests 6.2.1 Probing of Spiral Wound Elements:
6.2.1.1 Test is performed for identifying which spiral ele-
6.1 Physical Inspection:
ment in a multi-element housing is defective. It is performed
6.1.1 Spiral Wound Elements:
on a system that is operating by assessing radical changes in
6.1.1.1 Disconnect element housing from the operating
conductivity from one end of the element to the other. The
system and remove element to be inspected from housing,
location of the flaws further back from the permeate tube can
placing it on a work table.
be obscured by the permeate mixing before the permeate
6.1.1.2 Examine the element for cracked or dislodged, or
reaches the tube.
both, end caps, telescoping, discolored scrolls, fiberglass dis-
6.2.1.2 A typical probe design is seen in Figs. 1 and 2 and
coloration and cracks, contaminants on fiberglass surface and
can also be obtained from element manufacturer.
in product tube, and any other abnormalities.
6.2.1.3 Product conductivity data collection should be ob-
6.1.1.3 Weigh element and compare to the nominal as-new
tained every 2 to 6 in.
unit weight supplied by the manufacturer.
6.2.1.4 Look for abnormal or discontinuous changes in
6.1.1.4 Record findings.
conductivity.
6.1.1.5 If element is to be reinserted into operating system
6.2.1.5 Assess integrity of membrane and glue lines from
or other flow tests are to be performed at a later time, visual
this information.
testing should not be too long as to dry out the element.
6.2.2 Wet-Test (Refer to Test Methods D4194 and Guides
6.1.2 Hollow Fiber Elements:
D4472 and D7285):
6.1.2.1 Visual Inspection:
6.2.2.1 Disconnect element housing from operating system
(1) Disconnect element from the operating system, placing
andremoveelementtobeinspectedfromhousing,placingiton
it on a work table.
a work table.
(2) Examine the element for cracked nub or tube sheet, or
6.2.2.2 Insert element into single unit housing and appro-
both, telescoping, outer wrapping discoloration and cracks,
contaminants on outer wrapping surface and in feed tube, and priately connect the u
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