Active Membranes’ Smart RO Membranes Reach the 8040 Milestone

From lab to Full Scale

A major milestone has been reached. Active Membranes can now produce 8” x 40” (8040) spiral wound reverse osmosis (RO) modules for both seawater (SWRO) and brackish water (BWRO) applications.

Scaling from lab prototypes to full-size modules marks more than technical progress, it’s proof that Active RO technology is ready to stand alongside conventional RO elements while delivering higher recovery, lower chemical use, and more stable operation.

From Active to Smart RO Membranes

Conventional reverse osmosis membranes operate passively: they allow water to pass through while retaining salts and impurities but have no control over fouling and scaling. The result is high chemical demand, frequent cleanings, and elevated operational costs.

Active Membranes changes that equation.

By using Smart RO Membranes, the separation process itself becomes controllable. Applying a low electrical potential across the membrane creates anti-fouling and anti-scaling effects that prevent buildup before it occurs. The outcome: chemical-free stable operation, reduced maintenance, and extended membrane lifetime.

With the new 8040 full-size spiral wound modules, this advanced desalination membrane technology is now ready for large-scale deployment, from pilot systems to fully integrated desalination plants.

Sustainability Meets Scalability

The ability to manufacture full-size modules enables broader adoption of smart membrane technology across seawater desalination, brackish water treatment, and industrial water reuse. It allows easy retrofit integration into existing RO systems and supports the design of cost-efficient, low-energy, and low-footprint desalination plants.

This achievement addresses some of the most pressing challenges in the water industry:

• Reduced lifecycle costs through fewer chemical doses, cleaning events, and membrane replacements

• Higher RO recovery rates enabled by superior scaling resistance

• Lower CO₂ emissions through reduced energy and chemical demand

• Improved operational stability with membrane performance monitoring and real-time control

  
  

With these advantages, desalination evolves from a technology of last resort to a technology of choice.

Join the Early Adaptor Experience

The production of 8040 modules represents more than scale-up, it’s a defining step toward making smart membrane systems accessible worldwide.

Active Membranes invites operators, engineers, and innovators to join the Early Adaptor Experience and witness the transition from passive to active, from complex to smart, from chemical-intensive to sustainable.

Discover how Active Membranes is Redefining Membrane Separation and how you can be part of the next generation of desalination technology.