10/1/2018 What is Reverse Osmosis & How does it work? - Pure Aqua, Inc.

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Home (https://www.pureaqua.com/) Resources (https://www.pureaqua.com/resources/) What Is Reverse Osmosis (RO)?

WHAT IS REVERSE OSMO S IS ( R O ) ?

 Reverse osmosis is a hot topic in the water treatment industry. With the lowest energy requirements, some of the highest recovery rates, and one of the best rejection rates on
the market, it's no wonder people are interested in learning more about it. What is the de nition of reverse osmosis, though? How does it work? Let's take a look into the heart
of a Pure Aqua RO System (https://www.pureaqua.com/reverse-osmosis-ro-water-treatment-systems-industrial-commercial/) and break it down for you to understand.

 As anyone could guess, it is the process of osmosis backwards. Osmosis is the passage of water through a protein membrane (like our skin, or the inside of a plant cell) to
equalize the concentration of particles dissolved in the water. The protein membrane allows water to pass through, but molecules larger than water (things like minerals, salts,
and bacteria) cannot. Water ows back and forth until the concentration is equal on both sides of the membrane, and an equilibrium is formed. 

Let's apply this knowledge to water puri cation. We want to drink water from a lake or stream, but it contains too high concentration of contaminants like salt, minerals, and
bacteria, that make it undrinkable. By applying pressure to water as it passes through a membrane, the water can be forced to move away from the membrane rather than
attempting to form an equilibrium like normal. This against- ow motion is where the "reverse" in "reverse osmosis" comes from. A pump works well for this process. Water is
forced through the membrane, which like a super- ne particle lter, blocks an extreme majority of contaminants from coming through.
As a puri cation process, it has a number of advantages as well as disadvantages. In water treatment, TFC membranes can usually remove between 96 and 99% of most
contaminants, including salts and minerals, dyes, particles, bacteria, and hazardous metals. Because of the way reverse osmosis works, however, you can never truly remove
all of a contaminant. You may purify down to a fraction of a fraction of a percent, but the contaminant can never be truly eliminated with reverse osmosis. Treatment systems
also requires a high-grade pump, because the rejection rate is primarily dependent on the pressure applied to the membrane. That being said, smaller units have smaller ratios
of permeate (clean, puri ed product) to waste water. This makes media ltration or other conventional ltration more effective in smaller scales (like residential settings).
 
Now that we've answered the biggest question about Membranes Systems by Pure Aqua (https://www.pureaqua.com/reverse-osmosis-ro-water-treatment-systems-industrial-
commercial/), let's take a closer look at how we build our advanced water treatment systems (https://www.pureaqua.com/customized-water-puri cation-systems/) and how
they work.

How does a Reverse Osmosis System work?

What are the basic components of a Reverse Osmosis System?
What types of Commercial/Industrial applications do RO systems serve?
What types of water sources does Rerverse Osmosis Treat?
Is Pretreatment Necessary?
Is it necessary to get a water analysis?
What determines the precise pretreatments for a particular RO?
Does the feed water need to be softened by the RO?
What is Dechlorination used for?
Is acid injection necessary?
What does Antiscalant do?
Do all reverse osmosis systems require Chemical Cleaning?
Summary
Request a quote.

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What is reverse osmosis? RO Basics | www.Pur…

 
 
 

How does an RO System work?

(https://www.pureaqua.com/reverse-osmosis-ro-water-treatment-systems-industrial-commercial/)

Now that we know how Reverse Osmosis as a process works, let's take that and apply it to a real, working TWRO or BWRO System. If it only needed the membranes and a
pump, it certainly wouldn't be so big, right?

A) Pre-Chlorination Dosing System

If the feed water contains traces of heavy metals or contaminated, it is high recommended to dose some chlorine to change the dissolved heavy metals to physical form, the
media lter will be able to lter most of it.

B) Raw Water Storage Tank

Although some RO Systems (https://www.pureaqua.com/reverse-osmosis-ro-water-treatment-systems-industrial-commercial/) can draw water right out of a well or pipe feed,
most systems start with a large tank that stores the contaminated water. Not having enough feed water can damage a pump, so having a large storage tank for your intake
water is an easy way to make sure your pump lasts for as long as possible.

C) Feed Water Pump

A commercial or industrial pump (https://www.pureaqua.com/commercial-water-pumps/) provides the initial pressure for the Treatment System. This motor usually provides
enough water pressure to get through any pretreatment as well as the RO membranes, but if it doesn't a booster pump may be necessary farther down the line.

D) Multi-Layer or Media Filter

As much as we hate to admit it, there are some things that membranes can't purify. Nitrates, a common contaminant found in fertilizers and animal waste, are a good example
of particles that dissolve too well in water for reverse osmosis to catch them. Things like foul odor and taste usually aren't prevented by reverse osmosis, either. A Multi-Layer
lter can be lled with media that speci cally targets the things your RO System can't catch. If you need to eliminate these contaminants, a Multi-Layer Filter is a must. An
example of MMF or multi media lters is our MF-1000 Series (https://www.pureaqua.com/water-media- lters- ltration-systems/).

E) Activated Carbon Filter

Activated carbon lters are good solution to reduce organic, bad taste, smell and chlorine from the water.

F) Automatic Water Softener

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Automatic water softeners are designed to remove water hardness, calcium and magnesium ions, for small RO systems, we usually recommend water softeners instead of
the antiscalant chemical dosing. 

G) Antiscalant Chemical Dosing System

For larger RO systems, we use antiscalant dosing systems to dose our PA0100 (https://www.pureaqua.com/pa0100-antiscalant/)antiscalant RO chemical, which helps in
preventing membranes fouling. Please refer to our chemical dosing pumps series for more information CDS-Series (https://www.pureaqua.com/water-chemical-dosing-
systems/).

H) Reverse Osmosis System

We nally have our Reverse Osmosis System. If a booster pump is necessary, it will typically be just before this step. The Reverse Osmosis System can produce up to one
million gallons of product water a day from a steady intake, as well as a sizable amount of waste. Usually the waste water can be dumped down the drain, but check with your
local water authorities in case it needs to be handled with care.

I) Product Water Storage Tank

The permeate from the RO puri cation system will usually go to a large tank, where it is held for use. If it didn't, the system would need to be running in order to have access to
fresh water, which can be inconvenient. Sometimes, an RO treatment System pumps water directly into a well or aquifer for recharging instead of being used in many of the
normal industries or applications it is used in.

J) Post-Chlorination Dosing System

If the permeate water is intended to be stored for more than one day, it is highly recommended to dose some chlorine to maintain clean and non contaminated water.

K) Product Water Pump (Re-pressurization)

This pump repressurizes the permeate water to the point of use ends. This is selected based on the overall travelling distance and required head. This pump must be selected
in stainless steel to prevent any contamination to the permeate water.

L) Product Water UV Sterilizer

The UV sterilizer is placed after the storage tank, and as a nal disinfection device. Most of the time, we either use post chlorination as a disinfectant agent, or ultraviolet
sterilization.

What are the basic components of a Reverse Osmosis System?

(https://www.pureaqua.com/reverse-osmosis-ro-water-treatment-systems-industrial-commercial/)

A Reverse Osmosis System is built of ve basic parts:

1) Pressure Vessels & Membranes
Obviously, a Reverse Osmosis System wouldn't get very far without membrane elements. The proteins that make up membrane elements vary depending on the kind of intake
water and ending clarity. There are membrane elements for brackish water, seawater, hospital-grade disinfection, and membranes designed to remove speci c contaminants
to name a few. If there is a water treatment need, you can be sure there is certainly a membrane element for the job. The size of the task (municipal, commercial, or industrial)
will determine the size and number of membranes in a system. There can be anywhere from a single two and a half inch membrane (like in an under-sink Reverse Osmosis
System) to hundreds of eight inch membranes all working together (a typical reverse osmosis plant).
2) Reverse Osmosis Skid
The best way make your Reverse Osmosis system as durable as possible is with a powder coated, carbon steel frame to mount all of your components on. It's resistant to the
elements, designed for the heavy vibration of high-pressure pumps, and  mounts to the ground to ensure that it will last a lifetime.

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3) Cartridge Filter
Most Reverse Osmosis Systems come with a cartridge lter to ensure that no particles large enough to damage the membranes come anywhere near them. This cartridge is
usually a ve micron spun polypropylene lter, but can vary upon request. The cartridge comes in a durable casing that can handle the pressure from the main feed or booster
pumps.
4) Reverse Osmosis High Pressure Pump
Without a high-grade pump, the rejection rate for a Reverse Osmosis System isn't viable in most commercial or industrial settings. It is vital to the system to ensure that the
pump is matched to the membrane quantity and size appropriately. Usually, the higher the horsepower on the intake pump, the better the rejection and recovery rates of
permeate.
5) Control Panel
Lastly, the Reverse Osmosis System has to be controlled by a human operator. At Pure Aqua, we use advanced PLCs or a solid-state microprocessor depending on how
advanced the controls need to be. The controls can also be used to manage multiple systems simultaneously, effectively making a one-man water production plant.
Reverse Osmosis Systems can have a number of other components built onto or into them as extra components as well. The entire skid can be built into a containerized
system, for example, so your Desalination by RO System is always on the go. There are a number of supplemental skids that can be attached to an RO System as well, for
tasks like membrane cleaning, pretreatment, chemical dosing, and a number of other jobs as necessary.
 

What types of commercial/industrial applications do RO systems serve?

If there is a necessity for water treatment, chances are a Reverse Osmosis System can do the job. There's a wide array of industries that bene t from having high-purity water,
as well as a large number of applications where water treatment is required. Because of the extreme volumes of water required, a Reverse Osmosis System is often the ideal,
economical solution, requiring less energy than most large-scale treatment methods. Because they consume less energy, a Reverse Osmosis System is often the
 environmentally friendly solution as well. At Pure Aqua, we pride ourselves as being a go-to source for information and service helping you solve your municipal, commercial,
or industrial water treatment needs.

Pretreatment of Boilers
Food and Beverage Services
Industrial wastewater puri cation
DI water pretreatment
Hotels and Resorts
Ice making
Car washes
Pure ethanol
Dairy industry
Maple syrup
Pharmaceuticals
Water Bottling
Hospitals
Agriculture
Humidi cation

 
 

What types of water sources does Reverse Osmosis treat?

Reverse Osmosis is an ideal water treatment solution in most types of water. Generally speaking, all major water sources from a treatment standpoint can be broken down
into three major categories: tap water, also known as municipal sources, groundwater, which includes brackish water, and saltwater. The biggest distinction between these
three types is the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) content of each type. As a rule of thumb, the American Health Association requires that drinking water is under 1,000 PPM TDS.
Tap water typically comes through a pre-existing infrastructure like city pipes or a damming system. Reverse osmosis is often used in a tap water environment to reduce
hardness, or the debris deposited in water from traveling in metal pipes. Total dissolved solids is often a target of water puri cation in tap water systems. This type of Reverse
Osmosis Systems are ideal in places like power plants, pharmaceuticals, laboratories, and hospitals, where an extreme purity of water is crucial to the industry. Tap water
typically has a TDS of under 1,000 PPM.
Underground reservoirs of water are often brackish or highly brackish, meaning they contain large volumes of salt, but not enough to be considered salt water. Groundwater
reverse osmosis is very common, and one of the best uses of a Reverse Osmosis System to date. Groundwater is most often puri ed for the agriculture industry, the mining
industry, and for residential use. Groundwater is also a prized target of the bottling industry, because the unique mineral combinations often have an appealing taste. Brackish
water usually has a TDS of 5,000 PPM or less, but can come in concentrations of up to 12,000 PPM.
Salt water reverse osmosis (sometimes referred to simply as desalination) is the turning of saltwater into drinking water. Ocean water has up to 45,000 PPM TDS. Typically, for
environmental reasons, a bore hole is dug in the ocean for this kind of reverse osmosis, but an open intake is more cost effective. The biggest uses of desalination come in
providing water in areas that lack a regular supply of fresh water.
 

Is pretreatment necessary?

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(https://www.pureaqua.com/customized-water-puri cation-systems/)

If you work with an RO, you understand that the feed water must be preconditioned to protect the membranes from fouling and premature failure. An RO membrane functions
much like a cross ow lter. The membrane is constructed of a porous material that allows water to pass through the membrane, but rejects up to 99% of the dissolved solids
at the membrane surface. The dissolved salts are concentrated in the Reverse Osmosis reject water, or brine stream, where they are discharge to waste.

As the RO System continues to operate, the dissolved and suspended solids in the feed water tend to accumulate along the membrane surface. If these solids are allowed to
build up, they eventually restrict the passage of water through the membranes, resulting in a loss of throughput. (The throughput capacity of the membranes is commonly
referred to as the ux rate, and is measured in gallons per square foot of membranes surface area per day.)

Early in the development of membranes systems, little was known about which impurities in the Reverse Osmosis feed water are likely to cause fouling and a corresponding
reduction in ux. Today, many of these troublesome impurity treatments have been identi ed, and preventive treatments have been devised that greatly reduce membranes
fouling, thus prolonging the life of the RO plant.

(https://www.pureaqua.com/commercial-brackish-water-reverse-osmosis-bwro-systems-600-15000-gpd/)

Autopsies of failed membranes modules have revealed a build-up of foulants caused by mineral scales such as calcium carbonate; colloidal materials like clays and silica;
dead and living microorganism; carbon particles; and chemical attach by oxidizing agents like chlorine, ozone, or permanganate. Likewise, dissolved metals like iron and
aluminum, whether naturally occurring or added as a coagulant, can cause premature fouling and failure of the membrane.

Is it necessary to get a water analysis?

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(https://www.pureaqua.com/content/pdf/water-analysis-questionnaire-for-water-treatment-projects-by-pure-aqua-inc.pdf)

A detailed chemical analysis of the RO feed water is an absolute necessity for identifying potential foulants. This should include a measurement of the hardness (calcium and
magnesium), barium, strontium, alkalinity, pH, and chlorine. The data from the chemical analysis can be used by the RO equipment designers to determine the optimum
membrane array that will both minimize the tendency of scale and deposit formation and maximize the recovery and ux rate.

For example, the Langelier Stability Index (LSI), a measure of the calcium carbonate scaling tendency of the water, is computed from the water analysis to determine the
maximum permissible concentration of dissolved minerals in the reject stream before scale deposition becomes a problem. Because of the number of variables that must be
considered, these calculations are di cult to do with pencil and paper. Fortunately, the membranes manufacturers have developed computer programs that make these
computations fast and easy to perform where the user can project the performance of membranes at actual feed conditions.

Although a water analysis is helpful in predicting the tendency of dissolved minerals to cause problems in the RO System, it does not always forecast the fouling tendency of
colloids and other nely dispersed suspended solids. The Silt Density Index (SDI) is a useful tool for quantifying the fouling tendency of the feed water. This test is conducted
by ltering a sample through a 0.45 micron (µm) lter and measuring the time required to collect a unit volume of ltrate. An index number is calculated from this data.
Traditionally, a SDI value of less than 3.0 is desirable for RO feed waters. The SDI measurement has certain limitations in that it does not model the cross ow design of an RO
membrane.

What determines the precise pretreatments for a particular RO?

(https://www.pureaqua.com/reverse-osmosis-pre-treatment-unit/)

In one word: analysis. Every source of water is different, and you never know what's in your water until you have it analyzed. The water analysis, LSI, SDI, or CFI values are used
to determine the precise pretreatment requirements for a particular  RO System. Since water supplies vary considerably from one location to another, each pretreatment
requirement will be different. On average, most Reverse Osmosis Systems need an antiscalant injector or water softener to prevent damage to the membrane.

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Does the feed water need to be softened by the RO?

Ion exchange is a popular method for reducing the potential for mineral scale formation on the membrane surface. Ion exchange softening uses sodium to replace scale-
forming ions such as calcium, magnesium, barium, strontium, iron, and aluminum to prevent damage to the membrane elements.. The sodium forms very soluble salts, which
are readily rejected by the Reverse Osmosis System and do not readily form mineral scales on the membrane surface. A sodium-cycle softener is regenerated with sodium
chloride brine. The spent regenerant, along with the softener rinse water, must be discharged to waste. It is because of this that ion exchange is recommended for
applications that have high metal contents in the treated water.

What is dechlorination used for?

Generally speaking, chlorination is a double-edged sword when it comes to Reverse Osmosis Systems. As a method of disinfection, chlorination is not only e cient and
practical, but it is cost-effective as well. The only problem is that chlorine is too caustic for membrane elements, and can cause serious damage. Dechlorination is a kind of
chemical injection that adds a chemical that forms salts with chlorine, making it readily rejected by the membrane elements. In this circumstance, dechlorination is a must as
far as water treatment is concerned. Without dechlorination, reverse osmosis membranes are not only ineffective when it comes to chlorinated water, but the chlorine will
simply destroy the protein membrane.

Is acid injection necessary?

(https://www.pureaqua.com/reverse-osmosis-ro-water-treatment-systems-industrial-commercial/)

Just as acidic solutiosn aren't good for membranes, caustic solutions are equally damaging to membrane elements. Acid injection may be incorporated into the RO
pretreatment system to control pH and minimize the scale-forming tendency of the feed water. Acid injection is indicated if the scale-forming tendency of the brine stream is
above +0.3 as measured by the LSI. Either sulfuric or hydrochloric acid can be used for this purpose. However, sulfuric acid is less costly, and is more commonly used.

What does an antiscalant do?

Antiscalants have been shown to be effective in extending the intervals between chemical cleanings of the RO membranes. These products are generally formulated to
include inorganic phosphates, organophosphonates, and dispersants. Use Antiscalant products that have been approved by the membrane manufacturer, and follow all
direction in applying and controlling the product dosage. Some Antiscalant contain negatively charged polymers and dispersants that can react with cationic polymers that
might be dosed up stream prior to the media lters. The Antiscalant must be compatible with these polymers; otherwise, the reaction product will foul the membranes.

Do all reverse osmosis systems require chemical cleaning?

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Despite all efforts to protect the RO System from fouling and loss of ux, eventually the membranes will require chemical cleaning. A well-designed RO System will include
provisions for a cleaning skid to facilitate the cleaning process. The skid should include a chemical tank, solution heater, recirculating pump, drains, hoses, and all other
connection and ttings required accomplishing a complete chemical cleaning of the RO modules.

Various chemical cleaning agents are available for maintaining RO membranes. The type and amount of foulant will dictate the most effective cleaning agent. Acid cleaners’
best remove mineral scale deposits. Hydrogen peroxide is commonly used to clean and sanitize membranes to correct or prevent biofouling problems. In some cases, a mild
solvent such as methanol is used. Because of the number of variables involved in the selection and application of these cleaning agents, contact the membrane manufacturer,
equipment supplier, or a quali ed chemical consultant for speci c advice and recommendations on how to accomplish an effective cleaning.

The operation of the RO System should be carefully monitored to predict when the membranes would require cleaning. As a rule of thumb, cleaning is indicated when the
normalized ux rate decreases by 10%. Under ideal condition, assuming that the RO pretreatment system is properly designed and operated, the frequency between
membrane cleanings should be 3 months or more. Cleaning every 1 to 3 months is considered a fair performance, and suggests that some improvements in the pretreatment
system should be considered. Cleaning frequencies every month or more indicate a change in raw water quality, a problem with the pretreatment system, or a problem with the
operation of the RO unit.

What is Reverse Osmosis? | www.PureAqua.com

Summary

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10/1/2018 What is Reverse Osmosis & How does it work? - Pure Aqua, Inc.

(https://www.pureaqua.com/reverse-osmosis-ro-water-treatment-systems-industrial-commercial/)

Reverse osmosis is a reliable method for producing high-purity water. However, most water supplies require some form of RO pretreatment such as softening, media ltration,
activated carbon, or chemical injection to protect the membranes from premature fouling or failure. The pretreatment requirements will vary from location to location, but the
overall objective remains the same: to maintain the design ux rates, minimize the membranes cleaning frequency, and prolong the useful life of the RO equipment.

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