Reverse osmosis which is also commonly referred to as RO is a type of filtration method used for the removal of molecules and ions from a certain solution.
Principle:
To break down the process further, due to the presence of a membrane, large molecules of the solute are not able to cross through it and they remain on the pressurised side. The pure solvent, on the other hand, is allowed to pass through the membrane. When this happens the molecules of the solute start becoming concentrated on one side while the other side of the membrane becomes dilute. Furthermore, the levels of solutions also change to some degree. In essence, reverse osmosis takes place when the solvent passes through the membrane against the concentration gradient. It basically moves from a higher concentration to a lower concentration.
Process:
Osmotic pressure is the minimum pressure required to stop solvent flow through the semipermeable membrane. Therefore, when the solution side (the side where the solute concentration is high) is subjected to a pressure greater than the osmotic pressure, the solvent particles on the solution side move through the semipermeable membrane to the region where the solute concentration is low. Such inverse solvent movement through the semipermeable membrane is called reverse osmosis.
Answers & Comments
Answer:
Reverse osmosis which is also commonly referred to as RO is a type of filtration method used for the removal of molecules and ions from a certain solution.
Principle:
To break down the process further, due to the presence of a membrane, large molecules of the solute are not able to cross through it and they remain on the pressurised side. The pure solvent, on the other hand, is allowed to pass through the membrane. When this happens the molecules of the solute start becoming concentrated on one side while the other side of the membrane becomes dilute. Furthermore, the levels of solutions also change to some degree. In essence, reverse osmosis takes place when the solvent passes through the membrane against the concentration gradient. It basically moves from a higher concentration to a lower concentration.
Process:
Osmotic pressure is the minimum pressure required to stop solvent flow through the semipermeable membrane. Therefore, when the solution side (the side where the solute concentration is high) is subjected to a pressure greater than the osmotic pressure, the solvent particles on the solution side move through the semipermeable membrane to the region where the solute concentration is low. Such inverse solvent movement through the semipermeable membrane is called reverse osmosis.