What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a Reverse Osmosis System
You Can Also read this post on the water treatment article original source : http://on-water.us
Water treatment World is a very interesting thing to be discussed, because water is something that is always needed in our lives.
And this time we will discuss about the two types of water treatment that are very well known and widely used. What we discuss this time is a comparison between the Reverse Osmosis System with demineralization System Using Cationic and Anionic Resin.
Each treatment has advantages and disadvantages, We will discuss together today.
Reverse Osmosis System : The Simple and Powerfull Water Treatment
Reverse Osmosis system already has a fairly long history. Starting from the discovery by a scientist named Jean Antoine Nollet, on a semi-permeable membrane.
And continued by the university of florida in 1950, where they managed to get clean water from sea water using RO membrane for the first time.
And the research and development continue until at 1977 Cape Coral, Florida became the first county in the US that use RO systems in large scale.
What is so Great About Reverse Osmosis System?
Reverse osmosis systems are widely used throughout the world. As in America, Dubai, and Australia and others. Here are some of the advantages of the Reverse Osmosis System compared to demineralization System:
1. RO is Easier to Install and Operated
Easier to install and Operated. Unlike demin systems that require a lot of preparation and regeneration. RO system requires only a little part to be completely beroprasi. If a demin systems require regeneration process with chemicals, another case with RO systems. RO can survive and provide a stable permeate results in the long term. RO Membrane if well maintained and can last up to two years, and even up to 3 years if given the cleaning process every 3 months.
2. RO membrane has a Great Range of Separation
Membrane separation RO has a fairly wide range. RO membrane can be used to purify water with a salinity high enough, ie, with TDS over 40,000 mg /L.
Unlike the case with demin systems that require water entering the air TDS below 1000 mg / L. RO system can easily separate the minerals and salts from the water, so we get pure water.
Recomended To Read : How To Select Reverse Osmosis Membrane
3. Easy to Replace and Fix
As more and more use of RO systems, is now easier for users to correct RO RO system are damaged. Because spare parts are now easily obtainable. You can easily buy or housing RO membrane at home supply stores such as Walmart. Or you can buy it on websites like Amazon or ebay.
4. RO doesn’t need Tons Of Chemical To Regenerate
RO does not require the use of chemicals during operation. Unlike systems that require Demin NaOH and HCl when regenerated. RO does not require regeneration at all, except when cleaning the RO for just once in each three months using citric acid and NaOH.
5. RO permeate Water is free from bacteria and Virus
If you want the water is free of bacteria and viruses, then the RO is the best choice. With the membrane density below 0.0001 Micron RO membrane capable of separating bacteria and viruses from water. So you will get the water clean and pure and free from disease.
Ok,, That’s about the good thing about Reverse Osmosis System. Then what are the bad thing about it?
The disadvantanges of using RO
Nothing is perfect, all must have advantages and disadvantages. And these are the disadvantages of using Reverse Osmosis System.
1. RO System Need Pretreatment For Hypochlorite and Chlorine
Most of today’s RO membrane made by Polyamide. And polyamide are particularly vulnerable rusah if exposed to chlorine or chlorine.
RO membrane tolerance levels for very low chlorine. Limit of chlorine that can be accepted by the RO membrane is below 20 ppm.
So to overcome this, very advisable to install carbon filter as a pretreatment before water enters into RO system. So that all the chlorine has been absorbed by carbon and RO membrane safe from damage due to chlorine
Recomended To Read : Can We Consume Rain Water?
2. If you have Limited Water Feed, Just Forget RO
reverse osmosis will remove approximately 50–60% of your water. And if you only have water in small amounts, it is not advisable to use RO.
But if your water comes from the sea or river. Or your local water costs low enough, then the RO could be the right choice
3. Please Consider, RO used a lot of Electricity
RO requires high energy consumption. This is because the Reverse Osmosis system uses high-pressure pump to make the water made it through the membrane. So, if you are in an effort to save on electricity costs RO may not be suitable for you.
That’s all for today article on The advantages and disadvantages of using Reverse Osmosis System.
I hope we can meet again in the next article
PS:
If you want to learn more detail about RO, I suggest you to check this book.
