Reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis (pronunciation: rɪˈvɜːs ɒsˈmoʊsɪs) is a water purification technology that uses a semipermeable membrane to remove ions, molecules, and larger particles from drinking water.
Etymology
The term "reverse osmosis" is derived from the process of osmosis being reversed. Osmosis is a natural process that equalizes the concentration of solute on both sides of a membrane, while reverse osmosis uses pressure to reverse this process.
Process
In reverse osmosis, an applied pressure is used to overcome osmotic pressure, a colligative property, that is driven by chemical potential differences of the solvent, a thermodynamic parameter. This process is best known for its use in desalination (removing the salt and other impurities from sea water to get fresh water), but since the early 1970s, it has also been used to purify fresh water for medical, industrial and domestic applications.
Related Terms
- Osmosis: The process of gradual or unconscious assimilation of ideas, knowledge, etc.
- Desalination: The process of removing salt and other minerals from seawater.
- Semipermeable membrane: A type of biological or synthetic, polymeric membrane that will allow certain molecules or ions to pass through it by diffusion.
- Water purification: The process of removing undesirable chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids, and gases from water.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Reverse osmosis
- Wikipedia's article - Reverse osmosis
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