4040 LG RO membrane Model: BW 4040 R

LG's BW R (High Rejection) series membranes deliver a combination of high rejection, reliability, and durability — purpose-built for high-salinity brackish water RO membrane applications and wastewater reuse. Built on LG Chem's proprietary NanoH2O™ Thin Film Nanocomposite (TFN) technology, this reverse osmosis membrane offers intrinsic anti-fouling properties and superior energy-efficient filtration, currently operating in major municipal and industrial utilities worldwide.

Unlike standard Thin Film Composite membranes, LG's BW R series uses NanoH2O™ Thin Film Nanocomposite (TFN) technology — embedding nanoparticles within the polyamide layer to improve both permeability and fouling resistance simultaneously, rather than trading one for the other as older membrane chemistries often do. This is what enables the BW 4040 R's combination of high salt rejection (99.6%) alongside genuinely low energy consumption — a pairing that's harder to achieve with conventional TFC membranes.

Operating Specifications

1. What is the LG BW 4040 R used for?

It's a brackish water RO membrane designed for industrial, commercial, and municipal water treatment applications with high salinity feed water, including wastewater reuse.

2. What is the flow rate and salt rejection?

2,500 GPD (9.5 m³/d) permeate flow rate, with 99.6% stabilized salt rejection and a minimum guaranteed rejection of 99.3%.

3. What makes this different from a standard TFC brackish water membrane?

It uses LG Chem's NanoH2O Thin Film Nanocomposite (TFN) technology, which embeds nanoparticles in the polyamide layer to improve both flow permeability and fouling resistance together — a combination standard TFC membranes typically trade off against each other.

4. What is the difference between the BW 4040 R and BW 4040 ES?

Both are 4040-format brackish water membranes; the ES variant is built for higher flow/surface area at a modest trade-off in rejection tier, while the R (High Rejection) variant prioritizes maximum salt rejection. See the comparison table above for full model options.

5. What operating pressure and temperature does this membrane require?

Maximum operating pressure of 600 psi (41 bar), and maximum operating temperature of 45°C (113°F).

6. What feed water quality does this membrane require?

Maximum feedwater turbidity of 1.0 NTU, maximum SDI (15 min) of 5.0, and chlorine concentration below 0.1 ppm — proper pre-treatment protects the membrane and maintains rated performance.

7. Is this membrane suitable for seawater?

No — this is a brackish water membrane. For seawater desalination, see LG's SW 400 R or SW 400 ES models instead, built for much higher-salinity feed water.