REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEMS

WHAT IS OSMOSIS?

Osmosis is the transportation of a fluid, (in

this case water), through a semipermeable
membrane. From a less concentrated
solution to a more concentrated solution.
 WHAT IS REVERSE OSMOSIS?

Osmosis is the transportation of a fluid, (in

this case water), through a semipermeable
membrane. From a concentrated solution
to less concentrated solution.

HOW ??
 Osmosis

Higher Lower
concentration concentration

Semi-permeable
Membrane
 Osmosis

Level rises
Difference in
level is
Osmotic
Pressure

Water Flow
Reverse Osmosis

Pressure
Can force (reverse)
osmotic flow to
lower-concentration
side

Semi-permeable
Membrane
Reverse Osmosis Applied
Pressure
Feed Water

Concentrate
Flow Fresh water

Semi-permeable
Membrane
 Water Contaminants
Class Typical Example

Suspended solids Dirt, clay, colloidal materials

Dissolved organics Trihalomethanes, synthetic organic

chemicals, humic acids, fulvic
acids
Dissolved ionics (salts) Heavy metals, silica, arsenic,
nitrate

Microorganisms Bacteria, viruses, protozoan cysts,

fungi, algae

Gases Hydrogen sulfide, methane, radon

Conventional “dead-end” Filtration

Feed

Barrier media

Permeate or
Filtrate
 Crossflow Filtration

Feed Concentrate

Membrane

Permeate
Ultrafiltration
Nanofiltration
Reverse Osmosis
Spiral Wound
 Brine Seal

Reject

Feed RO Membrane
Water Element Product

Pressure
Vessel
 Membrane Schematic

Feed Permeate

Pump

Concentrate
Reverse Osmosis Recovery

 Recovery: the percentage of feed water

that passes through the membrane as
product water. (i.e. how efficiently water
is being used to make product water)
Reverse Osmosis Recovery
 Example: A membrane is making 10 m3 per day as
product, while 40 m3 go to drain. What is the
recovery?

 Feed Water = product + reject = 10 + 40 = 50

 Recovery = product/feed = 10/50 = 20%

 Note: at 50% recovery, reject water TDS is double

that of the feed water