Industrial Chemistry and Water Treatment

Membrane Technology-Nano Filtration and Reverse Osmosis

Osmosis is a phenomenon during which a solvent (usually water) passes through a semipermeable barrier from the side with lower solute concentration to the acute solute concentration side. To reverse the flow of water (solvent), a pressure difference greater than the pressure difference is applied as a result, separation of water from the compound occurs as pure water flows from the high concentration to the low concentration. Reverse osmosis membrane separations are governed by the properties of the membrane utilized in the procedure. These properties based on the chemical nature of the membrane material (almost always a polymer) as well as its physical structure. Membranes occupy through a selective separation wall. Certain substances can pass through the membrane, while other substances are caught.Membrane filtration is used as another flocculation, sediment purification techniques, adsorption, extraction and distillation. The choice of membrane depends upon the nature of the input of water and it is essential to be able to use the most suitable one in any particular set of circumstances.