DuPont FilmTec and Dow FilmTec membranes are the same reverse osmosis membrane elements manufactured by DuPont Water Solutions. FilmTec Corporation was acquired by Dow Chemical Company in 1985 and became part of DuPont in 2019 after corporate restructuring. Both terms describe identical polyamide thin-film composite membrane elements produced with the same manufacturing processes and specifications. Industry professionals search for "Dow FilmTec membrane" and "DuPont FilmTec" because the brand transitioned ownership from Dow to DuPont between 2017 and 2019.
What Are FilmTec Membranes?
FilmTec membranes are polyamide thin-film composite reverse osmosis elements that separate dissolved salts from water. FilmTec Corporation was founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1977 to commercialize thin-film composite membrane technology. These membrane elements remove salts, dissolved solids, and organic contaminants through semi-permeable membrane filtration at pressures between 150 psi and 1000 psi. FilmTec RO membranes treat brackish water, seawater, industrial wastewater, and municipal drinking water in systems producing 10 gpm to 500,000 gpd.
FilmTec reverse osmosis membranes are Made in USA at the ISO 9002 certified Edina, Minnesota manufacturing facility. All DuPont FilmTec membrane elements operate at maximum temperature 113°F (45°C), pH range 2-11 for continuous operation, and pH range 1-13 for cleaning cycles. Operating pressure ranges from 600 psi for brackish water membranes to 1000 psi for seawater desalination elements depending on series. Automated precision fabrication produces consistent salt rejection rates between 99.0% and 99.8% with predictable flow performance across all membrane elements.
FilmTec Brand History Timeline
FilmTec Corporation was founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1977 by University of Minnesota graduates who developed interfacial polymerization technology. The company patented thin-film composite membrane technology in 1979 for commercial reverse osmosis applications. Dow Chemical Company acquired FilmTec Corporation in 1985 for $65 million and integrated it into Dow Water & Process Solutions division. Dow and DuPont merged in 2017 to create DowDuPont, a holding company combining both chemical manufacturers. DowDuPont separated into three independent companies in 2019, with FilmTec becoming part of DuPont Water Solutions. DuPont manufactures FilmTec reverse osmosis membranes at three global facilities in Edina, Minnesota (USA), Jubail (Saudi Arabia), and Zhejiang Province (China).
Why "Dow FilmTec" and "DuPont FilmTec" Refer to the Same Membranes
The Dow FilmTec brand was used from 1985 to 2019 during Dow Chemical Company's ownership of FilmTec Corporation. DuPont retained the FilmTec brand name after the corporate separation in 2019 when the water solutions division became part of DuPont. Both "Dow FilmTec membrane" and "DuPont FilmTec membrane" describe identical reverse osmosis membrane elements manufactured with the same product specifications. The official designation is "DuPont FilmTec" or "FilmTec by DuPont Water Solutions" for all current technical documentation and product catalogs.
Membrane specifications, manufacturing processes, and quality standards remained unchanged during the ownership transition from Dow to DuPont between 2017 and 2019. All FilmTec RO membranes continue using the original 1979 patented thin-film composite technology developed by FilmTec Corporation. Industry literature and technical manuals published before 2019 reference "Dow FilmTec membrane," while materials published after April 2019 use "DuPont FilmTec" branding.
DuPont FilmTec Membrane Series Available
DuPont FilmTec manufactures 8 distinct membrane series for brackish water, seawater, tap water, wastewater, and specialty water treatment applications. Each series is engineered with specific membrane chemistry and structural configurations for different feed water salinity levels ranging from 500 ppm to 45,000 ppm. Series selection depends on feed water total dissolved solids (TDS), operating pressure requirements, target permeate quality, and fouling potential.
Seawater Reverse Osmosis Membranes
DuPont FilmTec seawater membranes operate at maximum 1000 psi (69 bar) for desalination of ocean water with salinity levels between 32,000 ppm and 45,000 ppm. The product line includes 4 series configurations:
- SW30 Series: High salt rejection seawater elements with flow rates from 700 GPD to 2400 GPD depending on membrane size
- SW30HRLE Series: Low energy seawater membranes reduce operating pressure by 15% compared to standard SW30 elements
- SW30XLE Series: Extra-low energy seawater membranes for cost-efficient desalination at reduced pump requirements
- Seamaxx Series: Highest productivity seawater RO membranes with 28-mil feed spacer and iLEC interlocking endcaps for reduced O-ring leak risk
All seawater FilmTec membranes use polyamide thin-film composite construction with maximum operating temperature 113°F (45°C) and pH cleaning range 1-13.
Brackish Water RO Membranes
Brackish water DuPont FilmTec membranes treat feed water with 1,500 ppm to 10,000 ppm TDS at operating pressures between 150 psi and 600 psi. The brackish water series includes:
- BW30 Series: Standard brackish water membranes for industrial and municipal applications with 99.5% salt rejection
- BW30HR Series: High rejection brackish water elements achieve 99.7% salt rejection for ultrapure water production
- BW30HRLE Series: 33% lower operating pressure compared to standard BW30 membranes reduces energy consumption
- BW30XFRLE Series: Extra fouling resistant low energy membranes with enhanced cleaning performance for wastewater reclamation
Applications include industrial water treatment, municipal drinking water systems, boiler feedwater pretreatment, and process water production.
Low Energy Commercial Membranes
Low energy FilmTec membrane elements reduce operating pressure by 30-33% compared to standard commercial membranes, lowering pump size requirements and electricity costs:
- XLE Series: Lowest pressure FilmTec commercial elements operate at 125 psi for tap water applications
- ECO PRO Series: High salt rejection at low pressure with wide pH cleaning range 1-13 for effective fouling removal
- ECO Platinum Series: Enhanced fouling protection with 34-mil feed spacer thickness for suspended solids tolerance
- LC LE PRO Series: Low energy membranes for harsh water conditions with 2500 GPD flow rates
Energy savings from reduced operating pressure decrease capital expenditure on pumps, motors, and pressure vessels while reducing operational expenses.
Nanofiltration Membrane Elements
FilmTec nanofiltration membranes selectively remove divalent ions, organic compounds, and PFAS while allowing monovalent salts to pass through at lower operating pressures than reverse osmosis:
- NF90 Series: High rejection of total organic carbon (TOC), trihalomethane (THM) precursors, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
- NF270 Series: Selective removal of calcium, magnesium, sulfates, and large organic contaminants for water softening
Operating advantages include 150-300 psi pressure requirements and pH tolerance for continuous operation 3-10 with cleaning tolerance 1-13. Applications include water softening, TOC reduction, sulfate removal, and organic contaminant separation.
Tap Water and Residential Membranes
The TW30 Series is designed for municipal tap water purification in commercial systems with feed water TDS below 2000 ppm. Flow rates are optimized for point-of-use and light commercial applications ranging from 325 GPD to 2400 GPD. Configuration options include 2521, 4021, and 4040 element sizes for different system capacities. Performance characteristics include high flow rates at lower operating pressures suitable for tap water salinity levels.
Specialty and High Temperature Membranes
The HSRO Series features hot water sanitizable membranes for pharmaceutical and food-grade applications requiring chemical-free sanitization. Full-fit configuration minimizes stagnant areas for sanitary system designs compliant with FDA and USP regulations. Temperature tolerance withstands hot water sanitization cycles at temperatures up to 185°F (85°C) eliminating chemical sanitizer requirements. Industries include pharmaceutical water systems, food and beverage processing, and ultrapure water production.
DuPont FilmTec Membrane Specifications
| Specification | Range/Value |
|---|---|
| Membrane Type | Polyamide Thin-Film Composite |
| Maximum Operating Temperature | 113°F (45°C) |
| Maximum Operating Pressure | 600-1000 psi (41-69 bar) |
| pH Range (Continuous) | 2-11 |
| pH Range (Cleaning) | 1-13 |
| Maximum Feed SDI | 5 |
| Chlorine Tolerance | <0.1 ppm |
All DuPont FilmTec reverse osmosis membranes share core specifications with variations based on series and application requirements. The wide pH cleaning range 1-13 provides effective cleaning performance for organic, inorganic, and biological fouling with chemical tolerance for acid and caustic solutions. Automated precision fabrication ensures consistent product performance across all membrane elements with salt rejection rates between 99.0% and 99.8%. Maximum element pressure drop is 15 psig (1.0 bar) across all series configurations.
Applications for FilmTec Membrane Elements
FilmTec membrane elements treat industrial boiler feedwater, process water, cooling tower makeup, and wastewater reclamation in systems producing 10 gpm to 500,000 gpd. Municipal drinking water production, groundwater treatment, and water reuse facilities use brackish water and low-energy FilmTec RO membranes. Seawater desalination plants operate land-based and offshore systems with SW30 series membranes producing potable water from ocean water. Commercial restaurants, hotels, car wash systems, and medical laboratories install FilmTec elements for high salt rejection and predictable performance. Pharmaceutical ultrapure water systems requiring 18.2 megohm/cm resistivity, food and beverage processing, semiconductor manufacturing, and power generation facilities use specialty FilmTec membranes with hot water sanitization capability. Multi-stage RO systems, single-pass configurations, and hybrid treatment processes integrate FilmTec elements for industrial and municipal applications.
Key Features of DuPont FilmTec RO Membranes
DuPont FilmTec membrane elements incorporate 7 engineering features that improve operational efficiency, reduce maintenance requirements, and extend membrane service life in reverse osmosis systems.
- iLEC Interlocking Endcaps: Reduce system operating costs and minimize O-ring leak risks
- Automated Precision Fabrication: Ensures consistent performance specifications across all membrane elements
- 28-mil and 34-mil Feed Spacers: Enhanced fouling resistance with reduced differential pressure
- Wide pH Cleaning Tolerance: pH range 1-13 for effective cleaning of biological, organic, and inorganic fouling
- Oxidative-Free Manufacturing: High membrane robustness and stable long-term performance
- Increased Active Membrane Area: Lower operating flux or fewer membrane elements required
- Made in USA Quality: FilmTec membranes manufactured at ISO-certified Edina, Minnesota facility
Where to Purchase DuPont FilmTec Membranes
AXEON SUPPLY stocks the complete line of DuPont FilmTec membrane elements for immediate shipment to customers across the United States. Product availability includes seawater, brackish water, low energy, nanofiltration, and specialty membrane series in 2521, 2540, 4021, 4040, 400, 440, and 400/34 configurations. Expert application engineers provide technical support for membrane selection, system design, and troubleshooting assistance. Create a wholesale account at AXEONsupply.com for competitive pricing, online ordering, and access to the industry's most comprehensive membrane inventory.
DuPont FilmTec and Dow FilmTec membranes are identical products manufactured by DuPont Water Solutions with unchanged specifications. The name change reflects the 2019 corporate restructuring when DowDuPont separated into three independent companies and FilmTec transferred from Dow Chemical to DuPont. Industry professionals reference both "Dow FilmTec membrane" and "DuPont FilmTec" when searching for these reverse osmosis membrane elements due to the brand's 34-year history under Dow ownership from 1985 to 2019.