The principle of Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a fundamental concept in water purification and separation processes. Based on the provided reference, the core idea revolves around applying external force to counteract natural movement.
The Core Principle
According to the reference "Principle of Reverse Osmosis" (03-May-2023), the principle of RO is concisely stated:
The principle of RO is that when pressure is applied on one side of the membrane, the solvent molecules will move from the side with high pressure to the side with low pressure.
This movement is contrary to the natural osmotic flow, hence the term "Reverse Osmosis."
The Role of Pressure
The reference further explains the relationship between applied pressure and the movement of solvent molecules:
As the pressure increases, more and more of the solvent molecules will be forced to move through the membrane.
This highlights that the effectiveness and rate of separation in RO are directly influenced by the pressure differential maintained across the semipermeable membrane. Sufficient pressure is required to overcome the osmotic pressure and push the solvent (typically water) away from the higher concentration of solutes.
In essence, RO utilizes applied pressure to force solvent molecules through a specialized semipermeable membrane, separating them from dissolved solutes or contaminants.
