8" x 40" Freshwater Reverse Osmosis Membrane, light green fiberglass element with perforated cream end cap and label, angled view
8" x 40" Freshwater Reverse Osmosis Membrane
Can you match this part’s SKU, size and connections to the system label or manual?
- Worth considering for
- Existing system owners who can match a part number and configuration before ordering.
From $598.25
Archived USD price · Check today’s price with Crystal Quest.
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A documentation-based review of the manufacturer’s listing and specifications. How we reviewed it
Our assessment
The most useful starting point in this listing is its published element size: 8" x 40". That gives you a concrete detail to compare, but the decision still depends on the exact configuration and your intended use.
What the listing gives you
- Element size
8" x 40" — as listed by Crystal Quest. Use this as a comparison point for the matching model.
- Service life
2 to 3 years* — as listed by Crystal Quest. Use this as a comparison point for the matching model.
- Configuration choices are documented
Quantity: Single, Pack of 2, Pack of 4
What deserves a closer look
- Fit comes first
A similar photograph or product name does not establish compatibility. Confirm the exact part and its position in your system with Crystal Quest.
- Look beyond the listed price
Keep the original model number and replacement record. Check whether the listing describes one component, a multi-part kit or a complete system.
- Compare the same configuration
The source lists 3 configurations. Use the model and part-number table below so that a size, package or optional component is not mistaken for a different specification.
These are our reading of the published information and our buying considerations. They are not measured performance results.
The specifications, in context.
Values below are published by Crystal Quest. Specifications may describe different configurations; read the model labels and compare the complete source tables in the reference section.
- Element size
- 8" x 40"
- Service life
- 2 to 3 years*
- Operating pressure
- Rated maximum: 600 psi; suggested operating range: 100 to 150 psi
- Maximum temperature
- 113°F (45°C)
Performance curvesOriginal technical table 1 of 4
| Feed temperature | 100 psi | 125 psi | 150 psi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40°F (4°C) | 3,830 | 4,870 | 5,900 |
| 50°F (10°C) | 4,740 | 6,020 | 7,310 |
| 60°F (16°C) | 5,830 | 7,400 | 8,970 |
| 70°F (21°C) | 7,100 | 9,020 | 10,900 |
| 77°F (25°C) | 8,120 | 10,300 | 12,500 |
| 85°F (29°C) | 9,250 | 11,700 | 14,200 |
| 95°F (35°C) | 10,800 | 13,700 | 16,700 |
Performance curvesOriginal technical table 2 of 4
| Feed pressure | 50°F (10°C) | 60°F (16°C) | 77°F (25°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 psi | 902 | 1,110 | 1,540 |
| 50 psi | 2,180 | 2,680 | 3,730 |
| 75 psi | 3,460 | 4,250 | 5,930 |
| 100 psi | 4,740 | 5,830 | 8,120 |
| 125 psi | 6,020 | 7,400 | 10,300 |
| 150 psi | 7,310 | 8,970 | 12,500 |
Element specificationsOriginal technical table 3 of 4
| Specification | Value |
| Membrane type | Thin-film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis element |
| Application | Freshwater (low energy), for feed water up to about 2,000 ppm TDS |
| Element size | 8" x 40" |
| Part number | CQE-RC-040862 |
| Service life | 2 to 3 years* |
Element specificationsOriginal technical table 4 of 4
| Rated production | 12,500 GPD at 150 psi, 550 ppm feed, 77°F (25°C), 15% recovery; actual output drops with colder or saltier water |
| Nominal salt rejection | 99.5% (99% minimum) |
| Test conditions | 550 ppm feed, 150 psi, 77°F (25°C), 15% recovery |
| Operating pressure | Rated maximum: 600 psi; suggested operating range: 100 to 150 psi |
| Maximum temperature | 113°F (45°C) |
| pH range | Rated 2 to 11; suggested 5 to 11 for continuous operation; cleaning 2 to 12 |
| Free chlorine tolerance | 0.1 ppm maximum. Remove chlorine and chloramine before the membrane with carbon pre-filtration (Crystal Quest whole house RO systems include this). |
| Silt density index | Less than 5 SDI |
| Maximum pressure drop | 15 psi per element |
| Pressure vessel | Not included |
All extracted specification rows 16 rows
| Published item | Manufacturer value | Source section |
|---|---|---|
| Specification | Value | Technical specifications |
| Membrane type | Thin-film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis element | Technical specifications |
| Application | Freshwater (low energy), for feed water up to about 2,000 ppm TDS | Technical specifications |
| Element size | 8" x 40" | Technical specifications |
| Part number | CQE-RC-040862 | Technical specifications |
| Service life | 2 to 3 years* | Technical specifications |
| Rated production | 12,500 GPD at 150 psi, 550 ppm feed, 77°F (25°C), 15% recovery; actual output drops with colder or saltier water | Technical specifications |
| Nominal salt rejection | 99.5% (99% minimum) | Technical specifications |
| Test conditions | 550 ppm feed, 150 psi, 77°F (25°C), 15% recovery | Technical specifications |
| Operating pressure | Rated maximum: 600 psi; suggested operating range: 100 to 150 psi | Technical specifications |
| Maximum temperature | 113°F (45°C) | Technical specifications |
| pH range | Rated 2 to 11; suggested 5 to 11 for continuous operation; cleaning 2 to 12 | Technical specifications |
| Free chlorine tolerance | 0.1 ppm maximum. Remove chlorine and chloramine before the membrane with carbon pre-filtration (Crystal Quest whole house RO systems include this). | Technical specifications |
| Silt density index | Less than 5 SDI | Technical specifications |
| Maximum pressure drop | 15 psi per element | Technical specifications |
| Pressure vessel | Not included | Technical specifications |
Multi-column comparison tables are preserved in full under Manufacturer reference.
Choose the configuration carefully.
A similar photograph or product name does not establish compatibility. Confirm the exact part and its position in your system with Crystal Quest.
Model & part-number reference 3 configurations
This is a reference table, not an ordering form. SKU and option names are reproduced from the manufacturer snapshot.
| Configuration | Part number / SKU | Listed price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Single | CQE-RC-040862 | $598.25 |
| Pack of 2 | CQE-RC-040862-2PK | $1,196.50 |
| Pack of 4 | CQE-RC-040862-4PK | $2,393.00 |
Price snapshot from November 8, 2026. This is not a current offer or a stock confirmation.
Think beyond day one.
Keep the original model number and replacement record. Check whether the listing describes one component, a multi-part kit or a complete system.
- Match the exact model or SKU before relying on an installation diagram or replacement schedule.
- Ask what the quoted package includes and what must be supplied separately.
- Keep the manufacturer’s operating instructions with your service and replacement records.
Frequently asked questions
Can you match this part’s SKU, size and connections to the system label or manual?Our reading
The most useful starting point in this listing is its published element size: 8" x 40". That gives you a concrete detail to compare, but the decision still depends on the exact configuration and your intended use.
Who is 8" x 40" Freshwater Reverse Osmosis Membrane worth considering for?Best fit
Existing system owners who can match a part number and configuration before ordering.
What are the configuration constraints and installation requirements?Fit & plumbing
A similar photograph or product name does not establish compatibility. Confirm the exact part and its position in your system with Crystal Quest.
What are the ongoing maintenance and filter replacement considerations?Ownership costs
Keep the original model number and replacement record. Check whether the listing describes one component, a multi-part kit or a complete system.
Go back to the source.
The full product information below is supplied by Crystal Quest, including its own descriptions and claims. We have reorganized the typography and tables for reading. This material is separate from Elorova’s assessment.
Product overviewManufacturer material
When a plant runs on 8" x 40" reverse osmosis elements, a membrane change is a planned event, not a guess. Production, permeate quality and operating cost all ride on those elements, so the replacement has to match the vessel, the feed water class and the system design.
The Crystal Quest 8" x 40" Freshwater Reverse Osmosis Membrane (CQE-RC-040862, the 8040 element size) is a freshwater RO element for systems built around 8" x 40" membrane pressure vessels. It is sold as one element, for operators, service companies and installers maintaining larger commercial and industrial RO trains on fresh municipal or well water.
At a glance
- 8040 format for 8" x 40" membrane pressure vessels
- Freshwater class: for fresh municipal and well water; brackish water and seawater desal 8" x 40" elements are sold separately
- Planned service life of 2 to 3 years; actual life depends on feed water quality, system configuration and usage
- One element per order line, with no pressure vessel, so you buy exactly the count your train needs
What you are looking at
An 8040 is the large-format spiral-wound element used in bigger RO plants: 8" in diameter and 40" long. Leaves of membrane, separated by mesh feed spacers, are rolled around a central permeate tube. Because area grows with diameter, an 8" element carries far more membrane than a 4" element of the same length, which is why large systems use them to keep the number of vessels down. Several elements are usually loaded end to end inside one pressure vessel, each sealed against the vessel wall by its brine seal so feed water cannot bypass it.
How an 8040 element works
Pressure and cross-flow
The high-pressure pump drives feed water past the membrane surface at a pressure greater than the osmotic pressure of its dissolved salts. Water passes through the membrane into the permeate channels and spirals to the center tube, while dissolved ions stay in the feed stream. The concentrate continues to the next element in the vessel and finally to drain, sweeping the surfaces as it goes.
Why the class matters
Freshwater, brackish water and seawater elements are built for very different salt loads and operating pressures. A freshwater element in brackish feed will not reach the permeate quality the system was designed for, and a seawater element in fresh feed wastes pump energy. Match the class your system was designed and projected for.
Reading performance
Rejection is feed TDS minus permeate TDS, divided by feed TDS. Track it with feed pressure, differential pressure and permeate flow, corrected for water temperature, because colder water lowers output.
What it reduces
Primary target: dissolved salts and minerals (TDS) in fresh feed water: the hardness, sodium, chloride and sulfate ions that cause scale, spotting and process problems downstream.
Also held back: any particle that reaches the membrane is far too large to pass, but particles and colloids foul the surface, so they belong to the pre-filters.
Not designed to handle: oxidizers such as free chlorine, which damage RO membranes; heavy sediment, iron, manganese or organics without pretreatment; or brackish and seawater feeds. Where the feed tends to scale, Crystal Quest Membrane Antiscalant is injected into the feed ahead of the cartridge filter to control scale-forming minerals and silica.
Why Crystal Quest
- All three classes in the 8040 size: freshwater, brackish water and seawater desal.
- Commercial RO experience: Crystal Quest designs and supports municipal, commercial and industrial treatment, so we can help you read your log and choose the right element.
- Over 1,000,000 people served since 1994. Crystal Quest builds under ISO 9001 quality management, has made water filtration in the USA for over 30 years and offers lifetime support by phone, email or chat.
Where it fits
- RO systems with 8" x 40" membrane pressure vessels designed for freshwater feed.
- Not for Crystal Quest whole house, Mid-Flow or High-Flow RO systems: those use 2.5" or 4" elements. See the 4" x 40" Freshwater Reverse Osmosis Membrane.
Confirm the element class, size and count against your system's replacement list or design projection before ordering. RO membranes are not returnable under our refund policy; contact us and we will check the match with you.
Low energy, standard 8040 format
This is a low-energy freshwater element in the standard 8040 (8" x 40") format used in 8" membrane pressure vessels. Freshwater elements are built for the lower pressures of fresh municipal and well water, so the high-pressure pump does less work than it would with brackish or seawater elements. Several elements usually share one vessel, joined by interconnectors. A shared format name is a good start, not a guarantee: confirm the element class, brine seal and permeate tube ends against your current elements or your system's design projection, or contact us before ordering.
Storage and handling
Keep each element in its sealed packaging until you are ready to install it, store it indoors out of direct sunlight, and never let it freeze. Once an element has been installed and wetted, do not let it dry out. If your system will sit idle for a season, Membrane Preservative is used to protect the elements against damage from bacterial growth.
Common questions
Which systems use an 8" x 40" element?
Systems built around 8" x 40" membrane pressure vessels. Check your system's replacement list or contact Crystal Quest to confirm before ordering.
Is this an 8040 RO membrane?
Yes, 8" x 40" is the 8040 format. Format alone does not guarantee a match, so confirm the class and your system's design before you order.
Freshwater, brackish or seawater?
Crystal Quest sells 8" x 40" elements in freshwater, brackish water and seawater desal classes. Choose the class your system and feed water are designed for.
How long does the element last?
About 2 to 3 years. Actual life depends on feed water quality, system configuration and usage.
Should I replace every element in the vessel at once?
Usually yes. Replacing the full set keeps the elements in a vessel sharing the load evenly. If only part of a train is underperforming, call us and we will help you read your log first.
Does it include a pressure vessel?
No. This listing is one membrane element.
Technical specificationsManufacturer material
Specifications for your selection
Single
- SKU
- CQE-RC-040862
- Diameter (width)
- 8.0 in
- Length (height)
- 40.0 in
- Replace every
- 2 to 3 years
- Membrane type
- Thin-film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis element
- Application
- Freshwater (low energy), for feed water up to about 2,000 ppm TDS
- Element size
- 8" x 40"
- Part number
- CQE-RC-040862
- Replacement interval
- 2 to 3 years; actual life depends on feed water quality, system configuration and usage
- Rated production
- 12,500 GPD at 150 psi, 550 ppm feed, 77°F (25°C), 15% recovery; actual output drops with colder or saltier water
- Nominal salt rejection
- 99.5% (99% minimum)
- Test conditions
- 550 ppm feed, 150 psi, 77°F (25°C), 15% recovery
- Operating pressure
- Rated maximum: 600 psi; suggested operating range: 100 to 150 psi
- Pressure note
- 600 psi is the element's structural limit; low energy elements are designed to make their rated flow at about 150 psi
- Maximum temperature
- 113°F (45°C)
- pH range
- Rated 2 to 11; suggested 5 to 11 for continuous operation; cleaning 2 to 12
- Free chlorine tolerance
- 0.1 ppm maximum. Remove chlorine and chloramine before the membrane with carbon pre-filtration (Crystal Quest whole house RO systems include this).
- Silt density index
- Less than 5 SDI
- Maximum pressure drop
- 15 psi per element
- Pressure vessel
- Not included
- Format
- Standard 8040 element; confirm class, brine seal and tube ends against your current elements
- Storage
- Keep sealed until installation, out of direct sunlight; do not let it freeze, and do not let an installed element dry out
Performance curves
Rated 12,500 GPD at 77°F (25°C), 150 psi, 550 ppm feed.
Data for Figure 1
| Feed temperature | 100 psi | 125 psi | 150 psi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40°F (4°C) | 3,830 | 4,870 | 5,900 |
| 50°F (10°C) | 4,740 | 6,020 | 7,310 |
| 60°F (16°C) | 5,830 | 7,400 | 8,970 |
| 70°F (21°C) | 7,100 | 9,020 | 10,900 |
| 77°F (25°C) | 8,120 | 10,300 | 12,500 |
| 85°F (29°C) | 9,250 | 11,700 | 14,200 |
| 95°F (35°C) | 10,800 | 13,700 | 16,700 |
Values in GPD (gallons per day).
Data for Figure 2
| Feed pressure | 50°F (10°C) | 60°F (16°C) | 77°F (25°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 psi | 902 | 1,110 | 1,540 |
| 50 psi | 2,180 | 2,680 | 3,730 |
| 75 psi | 3,460 | 4,250 | 5,930 |
| 100 psi | 4,740 | 5,830 | 8,120 |
| 125 psi | 6,020 | 7,400 | 10,300 |
| 150 psi | 7,310 | 8,970 | 12,500 |
Values in GPD (gallons per day).
Crystal Quest engineering data. Typical values calculated from the element's rated output at standard test conditions; actual output depends on feed water, recovery and element condition.
Element specifications
| Specification | Value |
| Membrane type | Thin-film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis element |
| Application | Freshwater (low energy), for feed water up to about 2,000 ppm TDS |
| Element size | 8" x 40" |
| Part number | CQE-RC-040862 |
| Service life | 2 to 3 years* |
Element operating limits
| Rated production | 12,500 GPD at 150 psi, 550 ppm feed, 77°F (25°C), 15% recovery; actual output drops with colder or saltier water |
| Nominal salt rejection | 99.5% (99% minimum) |
| Test conditions | 550 ppm feed, 150 psi, 77°F (25°C), 15% recovery |
| Operating pressure | Rated maximum: 600 psi; suggested operating range: 100 to 150 psi |
| Maximum temperature | 113°F (45°C) |
| pH range | Rated 2 to 11; suggested 5 to 11 for continuous operation; cleaning 2 to 12 |
| Free chlorine tolerance | 0.1 ppm maximum. Remove chlorine and chloramine before the membrane with carbon pre-filtration (Crystal Quest whole house RO systems include this). |
| Silt density index | Less than 5 SDI |
| Maximum pressure drop | 15 psi per element |
| Pressure vessel | Not included |
*Service life is an estimate. Actual life depends on feed water quality, system configuration and usage. Rejection, production, test conditions and operating limits are from the element data sheets. The 600 psi rating is the element's structural limit. Low energy elements are designed to make their rated flow at about 150 psi. Never exceed the lower of these limits and your pressure vessel's or system's own ratings.
Maintenance & careManufacturer material
- When: plan on every 2 to 3 years; actual life depends on feed water quality, system configuration and usage.
- How to tell: replace when rejection or normalized permeate flow stays down after the pre-filters are changed and a cleaning has been tried.
- Install: follow your system's loading direction, seat each brine seal, and flush the new elements to drain as your system directs before sending permeate to service.
- Protect it: keep pretreatment, chlorine removal and antiscalant dosing on schedule, and log performance from day one.
Budget the change before it is urgent. Choose Subscribe and Save above for 7% off on the schedule you choose.
CompatibilityManufacturer material
For RO systems whose documentation calls for an 8" x 40" freshwater element. Match the element diameter, length, application class and quantity to your system.
Check your system's replacement list for the element size and quantity. If it is not at hand, contact Crystal Quest to confirm an 8" x 40" freshwater element is right before ordering.
What this review is based on.
Elorova researched the public Crystal Quest product listing, its published configuration data, source photographs and linked documents. The source page was checked on .
We have not purchased or installed this product, conducted a laboratory evaluation, or independently confirmed the manufacturer’s treatment and certification claims. We do not copy retailer star ratings into an Elorova rating.
Original Crystal Quest product listingOur research is a snapshot. Check the merchant’s current documentation, warranty, configuration, price and delivery terms before deciding. Read our editorial policy.
