| The words 'Reverse Osmosis' have become | | | | used in the home and on a much larger scale |
| increasingly frequent in our vocabulary. For | | | | in desalination plants in some desert areas. |
| some people the words conjure up distant | | | | Much of the Middle East is now serviced by |
| memories of school chemistry lessons but how | | | | huge desalination plants, providing clean |
| many of us know that in the present day, it | | | | fresh drinking water to households and to |
| is a process which can be simply incorporated | | | | farming communities for the growing of crops. |
| into everyday life as a lifestyle choice and | | | | |
| in the common pursuit of a healthier life. | | | | Uses of Reverse Osmosis |
| | | | |
| What is Reverse Osmosis? | | | | On varying scales in the 21st century, this |
| | | | filtering process is used in increasingly |
| Osmosis is a natural process occurring in | | | | different fields. It is now very much less |
| both plants and the human body where semi | | | | expensive and more accessible to a range of |
| permeable membranes in the human body can be | | | | users. For example; |
| found both in the digestive tract and in the | | | | |
| lungs. It is where water from a dilute | | | | * Families. Units can easily be installed |
| solution becomes a solute, a more | | | | under the sink in a kitchen to provide pure |
| concentrated solution having passed through a | | | | drinking water |
| semi permeable membrane. | | | | |
| | | | * Businesses are turning to plumbed in water |
| Semi-permeable membranes are very thin layers | | | | coolers in their offices as they are simple |
| of material (cell membranes are | | | | to use, cost less than bottled water and do |
| semi-permeable) which allow some things to | | | | not require floor storage for bottles |
| pass through them but prevent other things | | | | |
| from passing through. For example, cell | | | | * The armed forces use a basic reverse |
| membranes will allow small molecules like | | | | osmosis filter in their jungle and desert |
| water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, amino acids, | | | | packs so that their soldiers can clean the |
| glucose etc. to pass through. Cell membranes | | | | drinking water to lesson the risks of water |
| will not allow larger molecules such as | | | | borne diseases, |
| protein, starch, sucrose etc. to pass | | | | |
| through. | | | | * Submarines. It is a process used on |
| | | | submarines to ensure a regular supply of |
| Reverse Osmosis is where the natural | | | | clean water when the vessel is submerged for |
| occurring process is reversed by applying | | | | many months on end. |
| pressure to the fluid on the solute side of | | | | |
| the semi permeable membrane. This means that | | | | * Car washes. Due to the low mineral content, |
| water entering through a unit is purified and | | | | it is often used in the last rinse in car |
| up to 96% of contaminants, heavy metals, | | | | washes |
| turbidity etc are removed producing high | | | | |
| quality water for a vast range of users. | | | | * The food industry and in particular, in the |
| | | | chemical and pharmaceutical industries use |
| Origins | | | | the process extensively. |
| | | | |
| The whole process began in the 1940's, funded | | | | * Tropical fish. The filters are used in the |
| by the Kennedy administration in the US. The | | | | aqua marine industry and in the keeping of |
| aim was to find a way of making pure water | | | | tropical fish. |
| from saline water. This was linked to the | | | | |
| Space program and the idea that once on the | | | | * The medical community particularly kidney |
| moon, vegetation could be planted. | | | | dialysis units |
| | | | |
| Since the late 1950's scientists have been | | | | * Alcohol. The increasing use in the |
| able to develop synthetic membranes that can | | | | production of alcoholic spirits |
| duplicate some of what nature does so well. | | | | |
| The process was refined when a semi permeable | | | | This process has revolutionized water purity |
| membrane was engineered, capable of rejecting | | | | and where the technology was once only |
| salt and allowing the flow of water to pass | | | | available for industrial use due to its |
| through at a reasonable rate. | | | | expense, it is now accessible to everyone who |
| | | | chooses water purity for optimum health. |
| This had an enormous impact worldwide, being | | | | |