The Ultrastil is a membrane filtration plant intended for the removal of suspended solids from aqueous solutions. It is suitable for the initial stages in the ultrafiltration (UF) of raw water at a maximum capacity of up to 8 cubic metres per hour, and can be installed upstream of reverse osmosis (RO) and electrodeionisation (EDI) units.
Christ has been expanding its presence in the pharmaceutical sector of late, buying Ireland's Waterman Purificiation earlier this year and opening up the Indian market through a joint venture with local firm Nishotech Systems.
The Ultrastil is one of the foundations of this effort, offering processing of raw water that conforms to current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP), International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers (ISPE) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards.
The unit will ensure a salt density index (SDI) of less than three. The proprietary UF membranes possess a pore diameter of 0.01 microns, producing ultrapure water.
Raw water entering the unit goes through a rinsing system, through the membrane UF stage, followed by a cleaning and disinfection module, and then into a pure water storage tank. The plant also has a Simatic S7 control cabinet for application with fully automated processes, which Christ claims should reduce operating costs.
To ensure the most effective performance, the Ultrasil system should always be used in conjunction with RO and EDI units, according to Christ, in order to provide pre-treatment for raw water prior to demineralisation.