Aquaporin CLEAR Plus 4040 RO Membrane Explained
Aquaporin RO membrane 4040 explained — performance, applications, limits and what industrial buyers should check before specifying one.
Waterheart stocks the Aquaporin CLEAR Plus 4040 — a 4″ × 40″ reverse osmosis membrane element built on Aquaporin Inside® biomimetic technology. NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 certified, assembled in Korea, and available from Waterheart’s European stockpile following Aquaporin A/S’s insolvency.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Element Size | 4″ × 40″ (4040) |
| Nominal Flow | ~100 GPD (380 L/day) |
| Salt Rejection | ≥99.7% stabilised; ≥99.5% minimum |
| Max Operating Pressure | 41 bar (600 psi) |
| Max Feed Water Temp | 45°C |
| Max Feed SDI | 5 |
| pH Range | 2–11 (continuous) |
| Membrane Tech | Aquaporin Inside® TFC |
| Certification | NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 |
| Origin | Assembled in Korea |
Test conditions: 2,000 mg/L NaCl, 15.5 bar (225 psi), 25°C, pH 7, 15% recovery
CLEAR Plus 4040 vs. 8040
CLEAR Plus 4040 — 4″ × 40″, ~100 GPD nominal flow. Suitable for pilot plants, R&D, small commercial systems, and point-of-entry residential applications. Lower upfront cost.
CLEAR Plus 8040 — 8″ × 40″, 440 GPD nominal flow. Designed for municipal water plants, industrial process water, and wastewater reuse. Maximum throughput.
Why Choose the 4040
Pilot & Testing
Ideal for pilot plant studies and process development. The identical membrane chemistry ensures results transfer directly to larger 8040 production systems.
Small Commercial & Residential
Suitable for small commercial buildings, restaurants, laboratories, and high-end point-of-entry residential systems requiring superior RO performance.
Energy Efficiency
Aquaporin protein membranes pass water at lower transmembrane pressure, reducing energy consumption across all scales.
Drop-In Compatible
Fits any standard 4-inch inner diameter pressure vessel — a direct replacement for conventional 4040 RO elements with no system modifications.
Applications
Pilot Plants & R&D — Water utilities and research institutions evaluate biomimetic membrane performance on-site before full-scale 8040 deployments.
Small Commercial Systems — Hotels, restaurants, food production facilities, laboratories, and breweries requiring compact high-purity RO without extensive infrastructure.
Point-of-Entry & Residential — High-end whole-home and cottage installations where space is constrained but permeate quality must exceed standard residential RO cartridges.
4040 Element Replacement — Direct upgrade for existing 4-inch pressure vessels running conventional TFC membranes with no vessel or plumbing changes.
Installation
- Prepare the pressure vessel — Clean interior, remove end caps and existing element, inspect O-ring grooves.
- Lubricate O-rings — Apply food-grade glycerine only; never use petroleum-based lubricants on brine seals or interconnectors.
- Load the element — Insert from brine end and push fully home into vessel before securing end caps.
- Flush and commission — Flush at low pressure to remove preservatives, then gradually ramp to operating pressure for your feed water.
Purchase Terms — Sold As-Is
These elements are sold from a liquidated stockpile acquired following Aquaporin A/S’s bankruptcy. All units are new and unused but sold on an “as-is, where-is” basis.
- No manufacturer warranty — Aquaporin A/S has ceased operations. No warranty, technical support, or after-sales service from the original manufacturer is available or implied.
- No returns or refunds — All sales are final.
- Buyer responsibility — Verify product suitability for your intended application before purchase.
- Pricing — Significantly below original market value to reflect the as-is condition.
Stock is limited and sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact Waterheart at info@waterheart.eu or +45 41 29 02 27 for pricing, quantities, and lead times.