FORM-2
THE PATENTS ACT. 1970
(39 of 1970)
AND
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10; Rule 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
"A novel process and device that enhances water recovery (reducing water wastage) and membrane life in reverse osmosis based water treatment system"
2. APPLICANT;
(a) NAME: ION EXCHAGE (INDIA) LIMITED.
(b) NATIONALITY: AN INDIAN COMPANY INCORPORATE UNDER
THE COMPANIES ACT, 1956.
(c) ADDRESS: TIECICON HOUSE,
DR. E. MOSES ROAD,
MAHALAXMI, MUMBAI-400 011, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA.
The following specifications describes thenature of invention and Che manner in which it is to be performed;-

3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a novel process and device that enhances water recovery (reducing water wastage) and membrane life in reverse osmosis based water treatment system.
Background of the Invention & the Related Art
Reverse osmosis (RO) technology is a widely used process in the water treatment systems for reducing the salinity of water so also for making pure drinking water. RO is a membrane separation process that retains contaminants and salts on one side and allows the pure water to permeate on the other side under the influence of the pressure.
In RO purification system, associated with drinking water, the RO membrane recovers good water to the extents of 20-25% remaining 80-85% constituting contaminants and excessive salts is rejected /wasted. The water being precious, this water wastage is always a matter of great concern.
In a RO process the best recoveries recommended by the manufacture is 20-25% for single membrane.
In case, the users operate this membrane at higher recovery, the membrane life is compromised consequently, due to deposition of hardness causing elements like calcium, magnesium and other salts on membrane surfaces, eventually pure water flow through membrane stops.

The general reasons for RO membrane fouling:
1. Inorganic fouling - Scaling due to inorganic salts of Ca ,Mg and other salts and metals like iron manganese.
2. Biofouling - due to bacteria in water.
3. Colloidal - due to colloidal particles and silica.
Conventionally the antiscalant chemicals are introduced in the raw water line to avoid salt depositions on membranes at increased inlet salt level. Higher recoveries up to 40-45% can also be achieved by the same process. Another method used to improve the recoveries, instead of wasting the reject, the same is passed through one or more RO modules.
The recoveries as high as 80-90% is achievable using multiple RO membranes. However the challenge is to obtain high recovery from a single RO element. Multiple RO elements being a cost factor.
Keeping in view the above difficulties & shortcomings in view the invention under consideration.
4. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention under consideration aims the following to achieve recoveries through a single membrane better than so far reported by:
a. Preventing excessive salt deposition on membrane.
b. Preventing fouling of membranes due to microorganisms in water.
The novelty of the said invention can be explained referring to two illustrations A and B of RO based water treatment system

ILLUSTRATION A:
GENERAL RO PURIFIERS (40-45% Recovery) i.e. RO with antiscaltant:
In Illustration A, in the process of reverse osmosis (RO) based system for drinking water purification, the anti scaling chemical is dosed in the raw water line or introduced through a cartridge AS, this is expected to take care of fouling due to excessive salts. To prevent microbial fouling, oxidizing biocides are introduced in raw water line at frequent intervals. The oxidizing chemicals such as chlorine, hydrogen peroxide in unmanaged higher concentration can damage the RO membranes.
The pure water recovery obtained in the above system is 40-45% using a single RO membrane and 60-65% water is wasted. If the recovery is adjusted above the limits specified, the life of RO membrane is reduced drastically i.e. it will no longer reduce the salinity of raw water. The flow of pure water also reduces.
ILLUSTRATION B:
THE NOVEL ARRANGEMENT (60% Recovery) i.e. RO with High Recovery:
In the invention shown in Illustration B, the inlet water (I) passes through Fl filter, filtering the mud and sand particles from water which are above 5 micron size, this gives high clarity to water, the pump (P) sucks the water and pushes this filtered water through F2 filter, the special silver impregnated bacteriostatic activated carbon which removes chlorine, colour & odour. It adds to crispiness to the water. The feed water passes through a, b and c to reverse osmosis membrane (RO) having pore size of 0.0001 micron retains the impurities like bacteria, viruses,

pyrogen, harmful chemicals like fluoride arsenic, heavy metals and toxic cancer causing chemicals like pesticides, VOCs, Trihalomethanes. It reduces 90-95% of the total dissolved salts; it gives pure & safe crystal clear water. RO module has got two outlet ports, d and e; through port (d), and pure water line (PW), purified water is obtained, through port (e) and the reject water line (RW), a small amount of water is rejected. AFT is Auto flush timer valve that periodically flushes the membrane completely with full flow to remove the salts deposited on the membrane. At other times the AFT is only partly open to reject water
A part of reject water line in passed through NRV (Non Return valve) and recovery booster (RB) cartridge. The recovery booster (RB) cartridge placed suitably in the recirculation loop (RL) releases elements that prevent salt deposition on the membrane, thereby enhance RO membrane life. The RB also releases infrequently small amount of disinfectant electrolytically which prevents biofouling of RO membranes and keeps the membrane sanitized. Unlike conventional reverse osmosis purification system mentioned in Illustration A, this system does not use any oxidizing chemicals for sanitization externally. RB cartridge contains in-built sanitizing system which avoids the use of oxidizing chemicals like chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid. This unique composite RB cartridge therefore not only prevents the membrane scaling but also protects , the membrane surface from biofouling due to microorganism in raw water or in the recirculation loop.
THE NOVEL PROCESS:
In the process, a part of reject water is recirculated through RB cartridge. The RB cartridge allows the system to be operated at higher recoveries i.e. 60% of water is recovered unlike conventional RO purifiers where only 40% can be recovered,

water wastage can be reduced substantially compared to conventional single membrane RO purifiers.
Unlike conventional reverse osmosis purification system mentioned in Illustration A , this system does not use any oxidizing chemicals for sanitization. RB cartridge contains an in-built sanitizing system which avoids the use of oxidizing chemicals like chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid externally as a part of regular maintenance of the system. This unique composite RB cartridge therefore not only prevents membrane scaling but also protects the membrane surface from biofouling due to microorganism in raw water or in the recirculation loop.

5. We claim:
1. A novel process and device that enhances water recovery (reducing water wastage) and membrane life in reverse osmosis based water treatment system.
2. A novel process and device that enhances water recovery (reducing water wastage) and membrane life in reverse osmosis based water treatment system as claimed in claim 1, the inlet water (I) passing through Fl filter, filtering the mud and sand particles from water being above 5 micron size, this giving the high clarity to water.
3. A novel process and device that enhances water recovery (reducing water wastage) and membrane life in reverse osmosis based water treatment system as claimed in claim 1 & 2, having the pump (P) sucking the water and pushing this filtered water (as referred in claim 2) through F2 filter, the special silver impregnated bacteriostatic activated carbon which removing chlorine, colour, odour.
4. A novel process and device that enhances water recovery (reducing water wastage) and membrane life in reverse osmosis based water treatment system as claimed in claim 1, 2 & 3, adding crispiness to the water and then the feed water passing through a, b and c to reverse osmosis membrane (RO) having pore size of 0.0001 micron retaining the impurities like bacteria, viruses, pyrogen, harmful chemicals like fluoride arsenic, heavy metals and toxic cancer causing chemicals like pesticides, VOCs, Trihalomethanes and it reducing 90-95% of the total dissolved salts; it giving pure & safe crystal clear water.

5. A novel process and device that enhances water recovery (reducing water wastage) and membrane life in reverse osmosis based water treatment system as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 & 4, having RO having two ports, d and e; through port (d), and the pure water line (PW), the purified water being obtained, through port (e) and the reject water line (RW), a small amount of water being rejected further, AFT being Auto flush timer periodically flushing the membrane to remove the salts deposited on the membrane.
6. A novel process and device that enhances water recovery (reducing water wastage) and membrane life in reverse osmosis based water treatment system as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5, having a part of reject water line being passed through NRV and recovery booster (RB) cartridge, further the recovery booster (RB) cartridge being placed suitably in the recirculation loop (RL) releasing elements that prevent the salt deposition on the membrane, thereby enhancing RO membrane life.
7. A novel process and device that enhances water recovery (reducing water wastage) and membrane life in reverse osmosis based water treatment system as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7, having the RB also releasing infrequently the small amount of disinfectant electrolytically preventing biofouling of RO membranes and keeping the membrane sanitized.
8. A novel process and device that enhances water recovery (reducing water wastage) and membrane life in reverse osmosis based water treatment system as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8, not using any oxidizing chemicals for sanitization externally, also the RB cartridge containing an in-built sanitizing system avoiding the use of oxidizing chemicals like chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid further, this unique composite RB cartridge therefore not only preventing the membrane scaling but also

protecting the membrane surface from biofouling due to microorganism in the raw water or in the recirculation loop