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Did
you know?
Reverse osmosis is the finest water filtration method known. This process will
allow the removal of particles as small as ions from a solution. It is used
to purify water and remove salts and other impurities in order to improve the
color, taste or properties of the fluid. R.O. uses a membrane that is semi-permeable,
allowing the fluid that is being purified to pass through it, while rejecting
other ions and contaminants from passing.
This technology uses a process
known as crossflow to allow the r.o. membrane to continually clean itself. This
is the reason of why an r.o. element can last many years before clogging or
need replacement. This
water purification process requires a driving force to push the fluid through
the membrane, and the most common force is household water pressure or pressure
from a booster pump. The higher the pressure, the larger the driving force and
efficiency.
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Role of Reverse Osmosis in Water Purification
The
discovery and development of membrane water treatment processes (ultra
filtration, electrodialysis, and reverse osmosis) began in the 1920s,
but these did not really become practical in water treatment for 40 years.
Rapid technological developments of these processes have taken place since
1960, and today they are invaluable adjuncts to both water and waste treatment
technology-yet all these membrane technologies, and more, are routinely
performed by the human kidney.
Reverse
osmosis provides a very important unit process for use by the present
day point-ofÂuse water treatment professional. Together with filtration
and ion exchange, which can be used in pretreatment or post-treatment,
reverse osmosis dramatically extends his expertise and really rounds out his technological
capabilities.
The reverse osmosis rejection table demonstrates
the ability and versatility of a reverse osmosis-activated carbon system
at a water pressure of 50 psi.
First, such membranes
constitute the finest particulate filter known, which is shown by the
100% removal of turbidity and the virtually 100% removal of asbestos.
They show an 88% removal of total dissolved solids, with corresponding substantial
ability to remove many other cations and anions listed in the EPA Drinking
Water Regulations from 30% removal for silver and 40% removal for nitrate
to 98% removal for sulfate.
Likewise, the ability
of RO/carbon to remove dissolved organics is exceptional.
In a paper by Hanes, Bratina and Brown entitled, "Lead Removal in Home
Water Purifiers," presented at the Annual Conference of the American
Water Works Association, Atlantic City, New Jersey, June 27, 1978, the
authors show that a reverse osmosis household unit operating at normal
household water pressure reduced the lead level from an influent of 762
micrograms per liter to a mean lead concentration of 22 micrograms per
liter (97% removal). Then, the activated carbon unit further reduced the
22 microgram per liter RO effluent to a mean lead level of 5 micrograms
per liter (99% removal for both reverse osmosis and activated carbon)
Healthy and Convenient!
Our Featured Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System
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