For what purpose is citric acid feeding used during the production run of the RO vessels?

Citric acid feeding is utilized during the production run of reverse osmosis (RO) vessels primarily as a maintenance dose. This practice helps to mitigate the potential for scale formation on the membranes and other components of the RO system. By adding citric acid, which is a chelating agent, it effectively binds to calcium, magnesium, and other scale-forming ions that would otherwise precipitate and cause fouling or scaling on the membranes.

The maintenance dose ensures that the system operates efficiently over time, maintaining the permeability of the membranes and extending their lifespan. This practice is crucial, especially in systems that handle hard water or have conditions that might lead to increased scaling. Therefore, by regularly dosing with citric acid during production runs, the system can prevent buildup that would require more intensive cleaning or descaling actions later on. This proactive approach ultimately supports better performance and reliability of the RO system.