What is Reverse Osmosis Technology – The Science Behind Clean Water
When it comes to filtered water, the most common thing you will hear is “Reverse osmosis (RO)” technology. Many bottled water companies and local suppliers claim that they treat their water through this filtration technique.
However, common individuals are not familiar with RO technology and how it contributes to making the water clean and safe. So, if you are one of those individuals, then continue reading, as this will explain the science behind the Reverse osmosis filtration technique.
What is Reverse Osmosis?
Reverse osmosis is a purification technique in which a special semipermeable membrane is used to eliminate contaminants from water.
In natural osmosis, water molecules move from an area with less salt to one with more salt through a semipermeable membrane. But in reverse osmosis, pressure is applied to push the water molecules through the membrane against the natural flow to purify the water.
However, RO is just a technology that will only become useful when paired with some kind of filtration system. These systems are widely referred to as “Reverse osmosis filters.”
The Science Behind Reverse Osmosis Technology
The reverse osmosis purification process is based on scientific principles of osmosis, membrane filtration, and fluid dynamics.
- Osmosis & Membrane Permeability
Osmosis is basically a natural process of solvent molecules in which water moves from a semipermeable membrane from a low solute concentration area to a high solute concentration area. This happens to equalize the concentration levels on both sides of the membrane.
In reverse osmosis, the semipermeable membrane allows the passage of water molecules but blocks contaminants like ions, salts, bacteria, and organic molecules.
The size of the membrane pores determines what gets filtered out based on the contaminant size. Pressure is then applied to force water through the membrane against the natural direction of osmotic flow, overcoming the osmotic pressure to purify the water.
- The Filtration Process of Membrane
The semipermeable membrane (that has tiny pores in it) is a key component. Typically made of thin-film composite material, it consists of multiple layers that allow only water molecules to pass through while blocking other contaminants.
The membrane’s selective permeability is determined by the size of its pores, smaller than common impurities like ions, salts, bacteria, and organic materials. During filtration, applied pressure drives water through the membrane while the pore structure prevents contaminants from passing, resulting in purified water.
- The Responsibility of Pressure
Pressure plays an important role in the reverse osmosis purification process. A pump applies pressure to overcome the natural osmotic pressure that drives water from a lower salt concentration to a higher one.
The pressure counteracts this flow and forces the water molecules through the semipermeable membrane against their concentration gradient. It takes significant pressure, typically provided by an electric pump, to drive the water through the membrane pores while preventing dissolved ions, salts, bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants from passing through.
Fluid dynamics principles ensure that pressure is distributed evenly throughout the system to separate water from impurities effectively.
5 Benefits of Reverse Osmosis (RO) Technology
There are a number of benefits of RO technology; some of the major ones are discussed below.
1. Great efficiency at removing impurities:
There is no such filtration technique available that is more effective and accurate than RO filtration. This technology eliminates up to 99% of contaminants and impurities from the water. The contaminants and impurities usually include:
- Chemicals.
- Viruses.
- Heavy metals.
- Sediment.
- Dissolved salts
And many more…
The elimination of these not only makes the water clean and safe to drinking, cooking, and cleaning purposes.
2. Enhanced taste & smell of the water:
The presence of hazardous impurities and contaminants also affects the taste and smell, making it quite irritating to drink. RO technology efficiently all these, which will result in water that tastes and smells better.
When the water tastes and smells good, it will encourage people to drink the maximum amount of water and maintain good health.
3. Energy Efficiency:
As compared to other purification methods, RO technology is more energy efficient. Although it does require some electricity to operate, but not as much as other technologies. This makes RO filtration systems a highly suitable option for both large households and business organizations who are looking for energy-efficient filtration systems to save electricity bills.
4. Environmental Benefits:
The use of the Reverse osmosis purification technique will greatly help in reducing the use of plastic water bottles, which will result in a good environment. The RO filtration systems provide a consistent supply of filtered water in both household and commercial places.
5. Highly versatile:
The RO filtration technology is highly versatile. This means, it can efficiently treat any kind of whether it is tap water, well water, spring water or any other. This versatility makes them an ideal option for a wide range of applications, from residential uses to commercial uses and many more.
So, these are some of the useful benefits of reverse osmosis technology.
Downsides of RO Technology:
Apart from the benefits, there are also some downsides associated with reverse osmosis filtration; some of the major ones are as follows:
1. Wastewater production:
Wastewater production is one of the main downsides of RO technology. During the filtration process, a large amount of wastewater is produced by reverse osmosis, which is totally inappropriate, as water is a natural source.
2. Higher cost and frequent maintenance needs:
Water filtration systems that operate on RO technology usually cost more than other types of water filters. This is because of its efficiency in removing contaminants and impurities. Apart from this, filters that operate on reverse osmosis require regular maintenance for optimal performance. The frequent maintenance will further increase the overall cost.
Final Thoughts
Reverse osmosis (RO) is a popular filtration technology that removes a number of impurities from the water. The process involves passing the water through a semipermeable membrane (containing tiny holes). The membrane efficiently captures contaminants and provides completely safe and clean water.
