Industrial Applications of Reverse Osmosis System

The process of reverse osmosis (RO) has dramatically changed through the years—what was deemed a far-reaching concept in the past has evolved into one of the most effective water filtration solutions today. Despite how complex it may sound, RO is basically a simple process.

RO explained

In osmosis, a lower-concentrated solution will seep through a semi-permeable membrane into the side with higher concentration. As the name suggests, RO is just a reversal of that process, wherein a large amount of osmotic pressure is applied to push the solvent from the area of greater concentration and filter it out toward the less concentrated solution. This leaves a higher concentration of solute on one side, and only solvent on the other.

Making Potable Water from Brackish Groundwater

Water is one resource that’s indispensable and something that no one can live without. Yet surface water sources have been gradually depleting both due to long-term drought conditions and fresh groundwater aquifers being over-pumped, thus brackish groundwater is now being considered as the next best available water source for states with a fast-growing population.

Harmful Contaminants Filtered Out by RO Membranes

Many industrial manufacturers understand that freshwater is a scarce resource, which is why a majority of those in the industrial sector use their own water supply. In order to ensure the water that is used in their manufacturing process is pure, many choose to use reverse osmosis (RO) membranes.

RO membranes are a vital filtration technology. Their semipermeable nature allows water to pass through effortlessly, yet trap harmful contaminants that may be present in water. Some of the most harmful contaminants an RO membrane can filter include:

Finding Good Industrial Reverse Osmosis Membranes

Reverse osmosis (RO) has become one of the most widely used water purification technologies around the world. Modern industries are finding more and more uses for RO by the day. The main component of the RO system that makes it so useful is the reverse osmosis membrane, which is a semi-permeable sheet where water passes through to remove any impurities and contaminants. Since it is such an important component, one should always try to find quality reverse osmosis membranes using these guidelines:

Cleaning Out the Reverse Osmosis Membrane

At the heart of any reverse osmosis system is its membrane. This is why it is essential that it gets cleaned every now and then to ensure that it continues to work well and bring quality water. The recommended number of times it needs to be cleaned a year is anywhere from 1 to 4 times and this will depend on the feed water quality.