Membrane Works
About US
// About
About Membrane Works
Membrane Works is Australia’s leading provider of membrane autopsy, water treatment piloting and process engineering consultancy services. Our objectives are to solve operational problems, optimise the performance of your plant and ensure continuous plant operation. We also specialise in water treatment piloting for challenging water sources and novel technologies.
Understanding the importance of membrane cleaning and water treatment chemicals in achieving system efficiency, Membrane Works has partnered with AWC to supply a range of premium-quality water treatment chemicals including membrane cleaners and antiscalants.
Our team combines over fifty years of experience in research, water treatment, and chemical industry. Contact us today for further information about our services, and for assistance in overcoming your water or wastewater challenges.
Project Capabilities and Core competencies
Our core competencies include:
- Reverse Osmosis, Nanofiltration, Ultrafiltration systems, testing and design
- MBR operation auditing and process evaluationand testing
- On-site testing and troubleshooting
- Scale control
- Chemicals
- Mining industry and mineral processing
- Technology development
- Feasability studies
- Engineering and Process Design
Analytical and laboratory services
- Membrane testing and Autopsy Service – over 100 membranes autopsied and analysed for failure mechanisms
- Ion Exchange routine testing – we have an extensive portfolio of ion exchange resin tests that we used to look at resin condition, investigate failure and replacement planning
Example Pilot water treatment projects
- Industrial wastewater with over 10,000 mg/L alkalinity, biological fouling and heavy metal fouling. Evaluation of reverse osmosis treatment performance.
- Biotechnology process concentration for piloting using BWRO, NF
- Biotechnology process purification using adsorption
- Mining wastewater MLD treatment at 60C water and high calcium sulphate (gypsum)saturation
- Oil and gas BTEX removal and waste water processing using patented adsorption media
- Lithium mineral purification and concentration including silica, calcium and iron removal using adsorption and membrane concentration at 95% recovery for crystallisation recovery.
Inhouse equipment and testing
- 2.5 m3/d BWRO plant using single element 2.5” membrane modules for NF,RO. Pressure up to 26bar
- 500 LPM BWRO plant using single element 8” membrane modules for NF, BWRO evaluation. Pressure up to 22 bar.
- Ion Exchange testing columns and systems from benchtop scale (30ml resin and 5-15L eluant) to pilot scale (500ml resin and 200L eluent volume)
- Plate and Frame filter (60m3/d throughput 20x20cm plates, 4.6L chamber volume, 0.58 m2 filtration area
- Various laboratory equipment including UV-Vis, Turbidity, DO, pH, ORP, SDI
Pilot plant and equipment
- 2.5 m3/d BWRO plant using 2.5” membrane modules for water treatment piloting and testing
- 30 m3/d desal brine to green mineral production plant including RO, gas contacting, chemical precipitation, flocculated settling, filtration and waste disposal. Project included technology research, Technical Feasibility, Plant Design-Build-Operate, Project advisory and business advice
- 60m3/d biotechnology purification plant using PAC adsorption and bag filtration.
- Pilot ion exchange testing system for 200L batch volumes
- Graphene membrane distillation process. Conceptual design, budget, mass and energy balance, project CAPEX and OPEX for pilot and scaled up 1 MLD plant
Customers
Our customers span the industrial, mining and water industry. From drinking water to mine waste water. From food and beverage to sewage treatment. From established technologies to new startup innovations, we have it covered.
Our principle team:
Dr Nik Zwaneveld
General Manager
General Manager
Dr Nik Zwaneveld
Nik is one of the founders of Membrane Works and helped start the membrane autopsy business at UNSW that would later become Membrane Works. With a PhD in polymer chemistry as well as over 23 years experience in the global water treatment industry Nik has a deep understanding of the challenges encountered in the water treatment industry. His specializations include polymer science, speciality chemicals, flocculants and coagulants, fouling mechanisms, scale formation and control, automation and process engineering, economic modelling, mineral processing, marketing and business development.
Dr Shane Cox
Technical Director
Technical Director
Dr Shane Cox
Shane is one of the founders of Membrane Works and was the managing director for 7 years. With over 15 years’ experience and conducting more than 150 membrane autopsies, Shane is a leading expert in membrane failure, with extensive experience developing advanced water treatment systems and testing protocols. He also has an extensive background developing automation and instrumentation systems to improve water treatment. Shane has developed and produced a wide range of advanced membrane pilot skids including ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, gas filtration and capacitive deionization.
A/Prof. Pierre Le Clech
MBR Lead
Technology Leader
A/Prof. Pierre Le Clech
Pierre has been working on membrane processes since 1999, when he started his research on fouling in membrane bioreactors (MBRs). Pierre is an Associate Professor at the Centre for Membrane Science and Technology at the UNSW and has researched many aspects of the water and wastewater treatments by membrane processes. He seeks to further develop the use of membrane technologies, through the development of new operating conditions, the optimisation of the energy need for filtration and the advanced understanding of rejection and fouling mechanisms. Pierre brings a vast and extensive knowledge of water treatment and wastewater treatment.
Tia Richardson
Associate Consultant
Associate Consultant
Tia Richardson
Tia Richardson has a BSc (environmental science) and Master of Research (geochemistry). Her background has particular focus on precipitation and environmental remediation. Tia supports our business by operating our membrane autopsy practice and pilot plant production and operation. Tia is currently building and developing a 30m3/d NF-precipitation-settling pilot plant for carbon capture and sequestration and green mineral harvesting.
Xander Eijkman
Development Engineer
Development Engineer
Xander Eijkman
Xander Eijkman is completing his BSc (environmental science) and supports our business in running analytical and testing protocols as well as helping maintain the smooth operation of our laboratory business.