Applications of Reverse Osmosis

What is Osmosis?

The movement of solvent from a region with high solute concentration to a region with low solute concentration through a semi-permeable membrane until the concentration of solute becomes the same on both sides is called Osmosis....

What is Reverse Osmosis?

The movement of a solvent through a semi-permeable membrane in order to remove dissolved or suspended solute particles from it is called reverse osmosis. This is achieved with the help of additional force that makes the water go through the membrane, leaving behind all impurities....

Difference Between Osmosis and Reverse Osmosis:

Reverse Osmosis is different from Osmosis in the way that osmosis takes place naturally from a higher concentration to a lower concentration of solute until it becomes the same on both sides. However, in the case of reverse osmosis, the natural flow is reversed with the help of an external force. This external force, unlike in the process of osmosis, is greater than the osmotic pressure, thus making the water go through the semi-permeable membrane and leaving behind all the impurities....

History of Reverse Osmosis:

In 1748, Jean-Antoine Nollet observed the process of osmosis via porous membranes for the first time. Later, in the 1950s, that is after around 200 years of discovery of the process, the UCLA university studied about osmotic desalination. However, the result obtained was not economically feasible....

Principle of Reverse Osmosis:

The principle of reverse osmosis is backed up by two processes – selective permeability and external pressure. The external pressure overcomes the osmotic pressure and makes the water flow in opposite directions while the use of a semi-permeable membrane allows the separation of water from contaminants....

Process of Reverse Osmosis:

The various steps involved in reverse osmosis are as follows-...

Applications of Reverse Osmosis:

Reverse Osmosis is useful in a number of places. Some of these include-...