Industrial Ceramic Membrane Systems

CeraMem LLC, a member of the ALSYS Group

Company Overview
For more than 30 years, CeraMem LLC
(CeraMem) has manufactured innovative, large-
diameter ceramic membrane modules with
exceptional performances. CeraMem’s offerings
include a wide range of membrane materials, as
well as pre-engineered, expandable systems
designed with a variety of standard features not
normally found in competitive systems.

CeraMem systems have a compact footprint and

are ideal for difficult industrial wastewater and
product filtration applications where a high
permeate flow or product quality is required.
CeraMem is based out of Boston, MA and serves
customers all around the world.

CeraMem is a member of the ALSYS Group.

ALSYS is a leader in specialty markets, offering a
full package of advanced materials, process
engineering, industrial equipment and custom-
made services, with strong expertise in filtration
and catalysis technologies.

CeraMem, together with its sister companies, has

more than 420 system references worldwide.

Technologies & Products

CeraMem LLC offers a wide range of Silicon
carbide-based ceramic membranes (CeraMem®)
and metal oxide-based ceramic membranes
(Kleansep®). CeraMem and Kleansep ceramic
membranes are tubular shape membranes with
inside out filtration.

CeraMem also offers flat sheet ultrafiltration

polymeric membranes (Pleiade®) which are
commonly used for Membrane Bio-Reactor
applications (MBR), as well as spiral wound
ultrafiltration polymeric membrane (Persep™)
which are commonly used in E-coat paint
filtration.

Fully automatic skidded systems are available for

a wide range of light to heavy industrial
applications. CeraMem Skidded Systems cover a
wide range of flow-rate from 1 gpm to 2500 gpm
per skid.
 Ceramic Membranes
Key features
The ALSYS group offers state of the art ceramic membranes with a range of products unrivaled in the
industry.

KEY BENEFITS
High temperature resistance

High mechanical resistance

Compatibility with harsh chemicals

pH range from 0 to 14 S.U.

Ability to withstand and reject high levels of Oil & Grease

Constant, reliable permeate quality regardless of upsets

Long lifetime

Operation
CeraMem structure consists of a large diameter ceramic membrane monolith with hundreds of tubular feed
channels. Thin layers of ceramic membrane are coated inside the feed channels.

During typical membrane operation, feed is pumped through the feed channels. Permeate flows through the
membrane layers into the porous monolith support material and arrives at a low pressure longitudinal permeate
conduit. Permeate flows down the conduit to a slot at a monolith end, where it exits into the permeate collection
zone.
 Ceramic Membranes
Properties

Parameter CeraMem Kleansep

Monolith material Silicon Carbide Metal oxides

Membrane material Silicon Carbide, Titanium Oxide, Zirconium Oxide, Titanium Oxide,
Aluminum Oxide, Silica Aluminum Oxide

Membrane dimensions 144 mm in diameter 25 mm in diameter

864 mm in length 1178 mm in length
Feed channel size 2 or 5 mm 2, 2.2, 2.9, 3.5, 4.5, 5, 6

Membrane area per From: 5 m2 (5 mm channels) From: 0.16 m2 (6 mm channels)

membrane To: 10.5 m2 (2 mm channels) To: 0.45 m2 (2 mm channels)
Membrane cut-off MF: 0.2 µm, 0.1 µm, MF: 1 µm, 0.8 µm, 0.45 µm, 0.2 µm
options UF: 50 nm, 10 nm, 5 nm UF: 300kD, 150 kD, 50kD, 15kD,
8kD NF: 5kD, 1kD
Maximum temperature 150°C, dependent upon seals and housing selection

Trans-Membrane Typically 3 bars (maximum 10 bar)

Pressure
pH range Titanium and Aluminum oxide: 2 - 13 0-14
Silica: 2 - 9
Silicon Carbide: 0 – 14
Number of membranes 1 to 48 1 to 198
per housing
Housing material Steel (316L, 316Ti, Uranus B6, Duplex 2205, Super-duplex 2507, Hastelloy
C22, Hastelloy C276 …), Fiberglass (FRP) or Plastic (CPVC, …)

Did you know?

• CeraMem and Kleansep

membranes can filter pure oil, pure
acids, pure bleach, pure solvents,
steam…
• CeraMem is a leading supplier of
Silicon Carbide membranes, which
offer outstanding performances for
O&G applications
 Ceramic Membranes
Applications
Markets Applications

Oil & Gas • Produced water filtration: Steam flood, Water

flood, Frack Flowback
• Tailing ponds
• Desalter brine treatment
• Slop oil recovery
Food & • Biomolecules based on industrial fermentation
Feed (amino acids, vitamins, enzymes, antibiotics)
• Sugar and starch (sugar syrup, glucose syrup,
fructose, enriched wheat syrup)
• Wine, Juice, Dairy products and derivatives,
Spring water
Metals • Plating & metal finishing
• Alkaline cleaner recovery
• Heavy Metals Precipitation & Removal
Industrial • Wastewater treatment & recovery
Laundries • Whites or heavy laundry
Product • Chlor-Alkali brine
Filtration & • Hot brine solutions
Recovery • Specialty chemicals
• Polymer concentration
General • High-fouling, oily wastewater
Industry • Pretreatment for reverse osmosis
• Abrasive fines removal (wafer saw/catalyst)

Produced water case study Metal Finishing

• Application: Steam flood produced water
• Location: California, US • Application: Heavy metal and O&G removal

• Flow-rate: 50,000 bpd • Location: Mid-Western USA

• Key advantages: Compact, High • Flow-rate: 1350 gpm

temperature resistant, O&G and BTEX • Key advantages: Compact, O&G resistant,
resistant, RO protection, fully automatic, constant permeate quality, COD removal
 Membrane Skids

Parameter Value
Flow-rate • 1 to 10 gpm
per skid • 10 to 250 gpm
• 250 to 2500 gpm

Features • Automatic BP
• Automatic CEB
• Automatic CIP
• Lint flushing (Laundry waste
water)
Specifications • CPVC, 316, 2205, Fiberglass
• Classified and non-classified
• Modular

Polymeric Membranes
Pleiade
Pleiade® modules consist of flat-sheet PAN or
PVDF membranes made membranes installed in
plates. Each modules includes from 20 to 252
plates (Pleiade). Each plate has 0.25 m2 of
membrane area. The membrane cut-off is from 5
kD (UF) to 0.25 µm (MF). The modules operates
in cross-flow mode with a liquid path thickness
from 1.65 mm to 4.5 mm.

Key applications include industrial and municipal

membrane bioreactors.

Key Benefits
• Compact
• Easy maintenance– all membranes are
accessible from ground level and can be
individually isolated for troubleshooting
• High durability
Persep

Persep® modules consist of spiral wound PAN or PVDF membranes installed in a CPVC housing.
Each module has 28.1 m2 of membrane area. The membrane cut-off is from 5 kD (UF) to 0.25 µm
(MF). The modules operates in cross-flow mode.
Persep’s key application includes E-coat paint filtration.
 Testing and Engineeing
Feasibility studies, Field pilots
CeraMem LLC offers feasibility and pilot-scale
testing utilizing CeraMem and Kleansep ceramic
membranes.

These tests can be conducted both in our

facilities and in the field utilizing pilot systems
designed specifically for a wide range of
applications.

Our pilot units offer many options:

• Flow-rates ranging from just a few gpm
up to 80 gpm
• Plastic, stainless steel or fiberglass
construction materials
• Class 1 Div 1 or non-classified
• Containerized or mounted on skids
• Fully automatic or manual

Engineering Capabilities
CeraMem offers a wide range of engineering
services, including proofs of concept, Front End
Engineering Design (FEED), process
engineering, HAZOP / HAZID, skid design and
3D modelling, electrical design, programming,
commissioning and start-up, performance test,
training and monitoring.

CeraMem also develops state of the art control

program that combines the latest improvement in
machine learning, data mining, system
monitoring and performance optimization.
ceramem@alsys-group.com

CeraMem LLC - ALSYS Group

12 Clematis Avenue
Waltham, MA 02453 - United States
alsys-group.com