The present invention relates to a method for the inactivation of enzymes with a composition comprising a sulfonated peroxycarboxylic acid according to formula (I) wherein: R.sub.1 is hydrogen, or a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.m alkyl group; R.sub.2 is a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.n alkyl group; X is a hydrogen atom, a cationic group, or an ester forming moiety; Y is a hydrogen atom, a cationic group, or an ester forming moiety; n is 1 to 10; m is 1 to 10; and n+m is less than or equal to 18, wherein the composition is contacted with the enzyme. ##STR00001##

The present disclosure relates to a technique for inhibiting biofouling of the surface of a membrane caused by a biofilm, through immobilizing biofilm formation-inhibiting microorganisms to a container in a membrane water treatment process. The present disclosure provides a non-hollow/hollow columnar or sheet-like permeable carrier with flowability owing to submerged aeration and a container with biofilm formation-inhibiting microorganisms immobilized therein, comprising biofilm formation-inhibiting microorganisms immobilized in the carrier. The present disclosure also provides a membrane water treatment apparatus comprising a reactor accommodating water to be treated, a membrane module for water treatment and a container with biofilm formation-inhibiting microorganisms immobilized therein placed in the reactor.

The present invention relates to a method for processing a membrane filtration apparatus having at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet, said method comprising a first step a) of supplying and flowing a first enzyme solution comprising at least one protease through said membrane filtration apparatus for a first predetermined time period, said first step a) being followed by a first measurement, performed at said at least one fluid inlet and/or said at least one fluid outlet of said membrane filtration apparatus, of at least one first parameter value making it possible to characterize the fluid flowing within said membrane filtration apparatus, said at least one first measured parameter value being compared to a value of the same parameter measured before step a).

An in-situ repair method for the surface of polyamide (PA) membrane after the destruction of oxidizing substances is provided. Lysozyme solution is mixed with tris (2-carboxyethyl) phosphine (TCEP) buffer solution, and the PA membrane to be repaired is immersed in the mixed solution, after being taken out, the PA membrane to be repaired is rinsed, and the nano-protein coating with uniform changes in pore size, charge density and thickness is obtained on the surface of the PA membrane to be repaired. Then the amine solution modification is used, the surface of the nano-protein coating is grafted by amines, and the repaired PA membrane is obtained. The PA membrane to be repaired is immersed in a mixed solution for 1-24 h. The PA membrane repaired by nano-coating has a water permeability of 11.4 Lm.sup.2L.sup.1bar.sup.1 (LMH/bar) and a rejection rate of 98.5% to magnesium chloride for the nanofiltration (NF) membrane after strong chlorine destruction.

Disclosed herein are surfactant booster compositions for filtration membrane cleaning, multi-part detergents comprising the surfactant booster compositions, an enzyme composition, and alkalinity composition. Further disclosed are methods of cleaning filtration membranes with the aforementioned compositions and system. Beneficially, the surfactant booster compositions have low toxicity with high butterfat removal capacity. The compositions and methods are suitable for filtration membranes including microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis membranes.

A cleaning-in-place method for cleaning a membrane filter module, the membrane filter module including a membrane having a feed side and a permeate side and being configured to filter a fluid passing through the membrane from the feed side to the permeate side; wherein the method comprises performing a sequence of process cycles, the sequence comprising at least one monitored process cycle, the monitored process cycle comprising: providing a flow of a liquid through the membrane and/or across the feed side of the membrane; monitoring at least one hydraulic parameter associated with the provided flow of the liquid; and terminating the flow of the liquid, when the at least one monitored hydraulic parameter meets a predetermined cycle completion criterion.

The present invention relates to a chemical product and process for cleaning nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes, based on enzymatic action aiming to remove biofouling and inorganic scale quickly. The product mentioned in present invention also proposes elimination of the neutralization step of the chemical product used, given that the enzymatic action allows an adequate pH for disposal to be maintained, which fact increases the speed and efficiency of the process.

Cleaning-in-place (CIP) systems utilize membrane filters for purifying liquid substances in many industries, including but not limited to, the dairy industry, breweries, pharmaceutical industry, and the food industry. These membrane filters undergo a rigorous cleaning process that despite cleaning can leave foulants on the membranes which hamper filter effectiveness. In addition to the cleaning, enzymes can be applied to the membranes to remove foulants and restore filtering effectiveness. However, introduction of enzymes into these CIP systems can be problematic if enzymes remain after cleaning. This disclosure provides a system and methods to mimic the membrane modules and verify that a correct inactivation procedure occurred. The systems and methods include a separate membrane sample so that no membrane modules need be removed to verify full enzyme inactivation.