Knowledge

RO, or reverse osmosis, is a commonly used water treatment process. It leverages the power of semi-permeable membranes to eliminate various impurities from water such as minerals, salts, and other organic and inorganic particles. RO is an effective way to treat water and ensure safe drinking quality.

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In this article, we will explore the fundamentals of how reverse osmosis and water treatment systems work and outline the advantages of industrial water filtration systems.

What is industrial reverse osmosis?

Reverse osmosis is a process used to remove dissolved chemical particles from the water and is widely used in industrial and commercial water filtration systems, and in various other industries.

RO

Industrial reverse osmosis(RO) systems are the removal of water impurities at the molecular level. It is by applying pressure to the high-concentration solution to force the water molecules to pass through the semi-permeable membrane from the solution side to the freshwater side in the opposite direction.

What is the reverse osmosis process?

Osmosis is the natural process by which a liquid, such as water, flows from a dilute solution to a concentrated solution as it passes through a semipermeable membrane. The semi-permeable membrane only allows small particles to pass through and blocks all large particles.

RO PROCESS

In contrast, reverse osmosis is the process of pressurizing a high-concentration solution to allow liquid to flow from a low-concentration solution (freshwater) to a high-concentration solution (seawater). This reverse osmosis process often occurs in industrial reverse osmosis systems.

Semipermeable membranes are typically made from substances like cellulose acetate, polymethacrylate, and polyamide. In which, only solvents or water are permitted, Ions, minerals, and other water-containing molecules cannot flow through.

Industrial applications of reverse osmosis

Reverse osmosis equipment is required for most manufacturing applications, such as the desalination of seawater, and the production of ultrapure water processes in the electronics, pharmaceutical, and energy production industries.

Desalination of brackish Water

Brackish water includes mixed fresh and saltwater that contains more than 1000 mg/L of dissolved salts. For industrial and drinking water applications, the salinity of usable water generally is not higher than 500 mg/L. Reverse osmosis technology is being applied to the desalination of brackish water.

brackish Water

Desalination of seawater

The salt content of seawater is as high as 30,000 mg/L, but marine industrial applications and marine transportation have to rely on seawater, and even in some areas the only water source is seawater. In order to be able to use fresh water, a high-pressure reverse osmosis system with a special membrane has appeared, applied in seawater desalination.

seawater

Boiler feed water

Industrial boilers have relatively high water quality requirements, and hard water should not be used. The use of hard water at high temperatures will cause scaling, heat transfer defects, and other problems that affect the life cycle of the boiler. Therefore, in the boiler system, the supply and delivery of softened water are used for the boiler system by the reverse osmosis system.

Chemical plant

Wastewater treatment

Due to problems with membrane fouling, reverse osmosis usage in wastewater treatment is constrained by high operational costs. Reverse osmosis is often used as a final process to reduce chemical, bacterial, and dissolved impurities. Industrial wastewater is pre-treated through a reverse osmosis system before being discharged, allowing the water to be reused and reducing water consumption.

waste water

Clean-Up Rinse

Chemicals present in hard water, such as magnesium and calcium salts, can cause scaling, hard surface spots, and even surface bleaching of equipment being rinsed. Therefore, it is necessary to use non-salt water in industrial manufacturing, equipment cleaning, surface rinsing, and other applications. The flushing water needs to be filtered by a reverse osmosis system to prolong the service life of the product.

Clean-Up

The Benefits Of Reverse Osmosis In Industrial water treatment systems

Environmental benefits

In reverse osmosis systems, there are no harmful chemicals in the process of producing permeate, and the reduction of harmful wastewater is one of the main environmental benefits of RO systems.

Cost-effectiveness

Unlike the continuous rise in the price of alkaline solutions, the cost of reverse osmosis membranes has declined. Moreover, modern water filtration systems do not consume much energy, and the operating costs of the system are relatively low.

Health and safety benefits

The main safety advantage of using a reverse osmosis system to produce water is the absence of hazardous chemicals. Reverse osmosis equipment replaces traditional equipment such as chemical treatment, avoids certain dangers, and provides a safer working environment for staff.

Maintenance benefits

The RO system exists independently and is very convenient for maintenance and replacement. The system is also self-cleaning, requiring no active maintenance by staff. The RO membrane is used for a long time, and the replacement is simple and direct.

It is precise because of these advantages that reverse osmosis has been widely used in various industries. It is more cost-effective and operates more efficiently with less risk. Reverse osmosis can be used in both industrial and commercial processes.

What is the best industrial water filtration system?

First of all, it is necessary to analyze the raw water, and then clarify the required water quality requirements and standards. Different industrial water filtration systems are effective in removing impurities, solids, and chemicals depending on the raw water quality.

Each filtration system has its advantages and disadvantages, and the specific ones can be assembled and used according to the required water quality requirements. Proper handling and management of water resources can help protect the environment and promote ecological cycles.

There are many solutions to purifying raw water, and most systems solve more than one problem. Below are two of the most popular.

Ultraviolet light is used for bacterial control, ensuring that organisms cannot reproduce. UV light does not affect color, taste, or pH and can be used to remove chlorine, chloramines, ozone, bromine, and many organic pollutants.

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A reverse osmosis system is a method of producing purified water by passing a semipermeable membrane and removing impurities as it passes through. It requires no chemicals, is less expensive to replace membrane parts, and is a greener solution for industrial water treatment.

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The advantages of industrial water treatment

Industrial water filtration systems are important for equipment corrosion control and scaling prevention. Industrial equipment is expensive, and direct use of untreated water will cause equipment loss and increase unnecessary repair and maintenance costs.

Industrial water filtration systems can help remove solids and minerals that cause damage and corrosion, providing many benefits to industrial processes. The specific advantages are as follows:

Provide good quality water (cleaned or recycled)

Industrial wastewater contains harmful substances that can pollute the natural environment. As long as untreated water is not for direct use, whether it is industrial or domestic water.

Protect Environment

Wastewater contains a large amount of waste material, including many chemical components. The water discharged from the industry contains certain harmful chemical substances. Only after the water is treated and discharged can it not cause environmental pollution.

Keep disease away

People cannot live without water, and impure water quality can cause many diseases. Untreated water is prone to produce some bacteria and germs, endangering animals and plants.

Generate energy

Water can also generate electricity, so industries can treat water while running on the electricity it generates in the process.

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Conclusion

Water is treated by an industrial water treatment system to make it more suitable for a particular use, such as consumption, industrial production, or even disposal. Reverse osmosis is an extremely important water treatment process from which most industrial applications benefit.

With years of filtration experience, Brother Filtration manufactures all kinds of filter products including RO membranes, and provides professional solutions for water treatment. If you have any questions about water treatment systems and want to find a better solution. Contact us now, we will never let you down.

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