DuPont Unveils Advanced RO Membranes to Boost ZLD and MLD Efficiency

FilmTec™ Fortilife™ XC220 Element

FilmTec™ Fortilife™ XC-Max UHP Element

DuPont has introduced two advanced reverse osmosis (RO) membrane elements—FilmTec™ Fortilife™ XC220 and FilmTec™ Fortilife™ XC-Max UHP—aimed at helping industrial users improve water recovery and enhance the efficiency of Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) and Minimal Liquid Discharge (MLD) systems.
 As water scarcity becomes a more pressing global issue, compounded by stricter environmental regulations, industries are under increasing pressure to manage water more sustainably. While traditional ZLD systems remain widely used, membrane-based MLD solutions are gaining traction as operators look for cost-effective, high-performance alternatives that reduce waste and energy consumption.
According to Gary Gu, Global Technology Leader at DuPont Water Solutions, the new additions expand the company’s membrane portfolio and provide customers with greater flexibility in addressing tightening discharge standards. By enabling higher levels of brine concentration and improved water recovery, these technologies allow system designers to optimize ZLD and MLD configurations while balancing capital and operating costs.
The FilmTec™ Fortilife™ XC220 element is engineered for high-salinity, high-pressure applications. It can handle brine concentrations of up to 220 g/L NaCl at pressures approaching 80–83 bar, enabling higher recovery rates while reducing the need for downstream treatment processes. This translates into lower liquid waste volumes and reduced overall system costs. Its design also supports resource recovery within integrated MLD systems, offering an additional economic and environmental benefit. Built with an advanced polyamide membrane, the XC220 integrates easily into standard RO systems, avoiding the need for specialized infrastructure and helping to keep both CAPEX and OPEX under control.
Complementing this, the FilmTec™ Fortilife™ XC-Max UHP element pushes membrane performance into ultra-high-pressure territory. Designed to operate at pressures up to 120 bar, it can achieve brine concentrations of up to 250 g/L NaCl—levels traditionally associated with thermal treatment technologies. This capability allows operators to significantly reduce the volume of water requiring final thermal processing, and in some cases, even bypass energy-intensive evaporation steps altogether.
By extending membrane performance deeper into the concentration cycle, both XC220 and XC-Max UHP elements help simplify system design, reduce reliance on thermal processes, and lower overall system complexity. The XC-Max UHP, in particular, enables equivalent concentration levels with fewer stages and membrane elements compared to conventional high-pressure RO systems, reducing recycling requirements and improving operational efficiency.
Together, the Fortilife™ XC series provides a comprehensive membrane-based approach for industrial water treatment. These solutions not only help companies comply with evolving environmental regulations but also open new opportunities for resource recovery, brine valorization, and more sustainable system design.
DuPont Water Solutions continues to play a significant role in global water treatment, with its technologies purifying over 50 million gallons of water every minute across 112 countries. Its portfolio spans membranes, ion exchange resins, and fully integrated systems serving industries such as municipal water treatment, desalination, and advanced manufacturing, including microelectronics. The company is also developing innovations that address the growing intersection of water and energy demands, supporting applications in power generation, lithium extraction, and green hydrogen production.

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