WATER

REVERSE OSMOSIS

THEORY

REVERSE OSMOSIS

Where the solvent flow form low conc solution to higher conc
solution, through the semi permeable membrane, unit difference
in water levels creates a sufficient pressure to counteract (act
against & make of less effect) the original flow is called as
osmosis.
The difference in water levels represents osmotic pressure
of the solution.
The reversal of solvent flow, from higher conc solution to
lower conc solution through a semi permeable membrane, by
applying an external pressure slightly higher than the osmotic
pressure of higher conc solution is known as reverse osmosis.
Thus in reverse osmosis we separate water from its
contaminants rather than contaminants from water and which can
be remove particles in the size range of 0.0001-0.001micron.

Diagram

WATER

REVERSE OSMOSIS

THEORY

Advantages
1) It has the most efficient means of removing ionic as well
as non ionic, colloidal and high molecular weight
organic matter.
2) For waters with total dissolve solids of 200 or more,
reverse osmosis is less expensive than ion exchange.
3) It is simple to operate and maintain.
4) The maintenance cost depends on the replacement of
the semi-permeable membrane. The life time of the
membrane is two years.
Industrial Application
1) Drinking water.
2) Humidification.
3) Ice-making.
4) Boiler water.
5) Biomedical applications.
6) Laboratory applications.
7) Photography.
8) Pharmaceutical production.
9) Kidney Dialysis.
10) Cosmetics.
11) Animal feed.
12) Battery water.
14) Waste water treatment.
15) Haemodialysis.

WATER

REVERSE OSMOSIS

THEORY

ULTRAFILTRATION
It is a cross-flow separation process. Here liquid flow
tangentially along the membrane surface, thereby producing two
streams
1) The stream of liquid that comes through the membrane
is called permeate (pass into every part).
2) The other liquid stream is called concentrate.
It is a separation process using membrane with pore size in the
range of 0.01-0.1micron & it is normally operated in the pressure
range of 15-50 psig (Pound per square inch gage).
Polluted water (proteins, fats, water, sugar & salt
solution)
Concentrate stream (proteins, fats)
--------------------------------------------------UF = 0.01- 0.1 & Press. 15-50 kg/cm2
--------------------------------------------------Permeate stream (water, sugar & salt)
In cross-flow separation, therefore, the membrane itself does
not act as a collector of ions, molecules or colloids but it act as a
barrier to these species.
It will remove high molecular weight substances like colloidal
materials, organic & inorganic polymeric molecules. It will not
remove low molecular weight organic & ions like Na, Ca, Mg, &
SO4. Because the osmotic pressure differential across the
membrane surface is negligible.
Low applied pressures are sufficient to achieve high flux
rates from ultra-filtration membrane. (Flux is defined as the
amount of permeate produced per unit area of membrane surface
per unit time.) It is expressed as GFD (Gallons per square foot
per day). Ultra-filtration membrane can have extremely high
3

WATER

REVERSE OSMOSIS

THEORY

fluxes, but in most practical applications the flux varies between

50-200 GFD at an operating pressure of about 50 psig.
Reverse osmosis only produces between 10-30 GFD at 200-400
psig.

Industrial applications
1. It is used to separate suspended solid from solution.
2. Paint recovery in the automotive industry.
3. It is widely used in the fractionation of milk, whey & in
protein fractionation & protein isolation.
4. Removal of colloids.
5. Also
used
in
power,
food,
pharmaceutical,
biotechnology & semiconductor industries.