subject: Reverse Osmosis Process and Uses [print this page] Reverse Osmosis Process and Uses Reverse Osmosis Process and Uses
The Process of Reverse Osmosis
Osmosis is a natural process of water filtration when water of 2 different types of concentration are seperated by a special type of filter. Reverse Osmosis is just the opposite process of osmosis, when a high pressure is applied and pushed through a special filter which seperates the water from a high concentration to a lower concentration.
Reverse Osmosis process is usually done by using 3-6 different filters, each filtering out different types of chemicals that are in the water. The whole R.O. system is connected to a cold water pipe which is located in the area at which the system will be installed. Chemicals that are filtered out include salt, chlorine, ions, aswell as other chemicals an nutrients. After the filtration process, water is let out by a faucet, and the water which comes out from this faucet is called permeate.
Filter that are used for the R.O. system are made up of a dense barrier, which seperates the chemicals from the water. The membrane is designed in such a way that it usually only allows liquid to pass through the dense layers of the filter, and prevents solutes, such as chlorine, ions, and other chemicals from passing through the membrane.
Between 30-250 psi is needed to push fresh water through the filter, and 600-1000 psi for sea water. The Reverse Osmosis process is best known for removing salt and other minerals from sea water, only to produce fresh water at the other end. Since the 1970's, the process has been used on fresh water for medical, industrial, and household purposes, to give people drinking the water, a healthier life. The bad taste in water is also removed by R.O. systems, giving the water a more neutral taste.
Reverse Osmosis systems are also used by NASA astronaughts that venture to outa space. The astronaughts can only take a certain amount of water with them to space, and when the water is finished, another water source is used. This source is urine from these astronaughts. The astronaughts urinate into the R.O. system, and at the other end will come fresh drinking water from which all chemicals, colours, etc are filtered and removed, only to produce water that can be fully re-used again.
Ozonation is added now days to reverse osmosis water that creates an even healthier drinking water for animals, people, etc. Researchers say that by adding ozone in the R.O. water can help prevent diffrent kinds of ilnesses that are becoming more and more common in todays life. Ilnesses include cancer, growths,arthritis, muscle aches, common ilnesses, etc.
