Reverse osmosis

About: Reverse osmosis is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 20780 publications have been published within this topic receiving 299185 citations. The topic is also known as: RO.

Membraneless water filtration using CO2

Abstract: Water purification technologies such as microfiltration/ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis utilize porous membranes to remove suspended particles and solutes. These membranes, however, cause many drawbacks such as a high pumping cost and a need for periodic replacement due to fouling. Here we show an alternative membraneless method for separating suspended particles by exposing the colloidal suspension to CO2. Dissolution of CO2 into the suspension creates solute gradients that drive phoretic motion of particles. Due to the large diffusion potential generated by the dissociation of carbonic acid, colloidal particles move either away from or towards the gas-liquid interface depending on their surface charge. Using the directed motion of particles induced by exposure to CO2, we demonstrate a scalable, continuous flow, membraneless particle filtration process that exhibits low energy consumption, three orders of magnitude lower than conventional microfiltration/ultrafiltration processes, and is essentially free from fouling.

Treatment of composite polyamide membranes to improve performance

Abstract: Composite polyamide reverse osmosis membranes are treated with an aqueous chlorinating agent at a concentration of 200 to 10,000 ppm for a time sufficient to improve flux, lower salt passage and increase the stability to base. In a preferred embodiment the membrane is treated with heated water at temperature of 40 °C to 100 °C before being exposed to the chlorine treatment.

Process and apparatus for recovering usable water and other materials from oil field mud/waste pits.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for removing usable water and other components from drilling mud/waste mixtures containing water, solids, hydrocarbons and dissolved salt. Solids are separated from waste water resulting in recovery of a water stream containing hydrocarbons and dissolved salts. This stream is then separated into a recoverable hydrocarbon stream and a water stream containing dissolved salts. A reverse osmosis means is then utilized for separating the water stream containing dissolved salts into a permeate stream of environmentally safe water for reuse and a concentrated brine stream.

Water desalination plant and system for the production of pure water and salt

Abstract: The present invention discloses a desalination plant that operates with a sea water or brackish water feed and produces a concentrated and selectively improved salt reject stream and a pure water permeate stream from a first treatment section that is arranged to produce primarily water at high recovery using membrane desalination processes. The reject stream from the first treatment line has a component distribution that is substantially reduced in native di- and polyvalent scaling ions, essentially depleted of sulfate, has substantially higher total dissolved solids than a traditional sea water reverse osmosis reject, yet is suitable for thermal treatment processes. The system may be enhanced by monovalent salt components. The unit may be integrated with a second treatment section, in which the first reject stream is further concentrated, purified, and processed to produce a high purity salt product.

Physicochemical criteria for reverse osmosis separation of alcohols, phenols, and monocarboxylic acid in aqueous solutions using porous cellulose acetate membranes

Abstract: Reverse osmosis data of 32 different alcohols and phenols and 22 different monocarboxylic acids in aqueous solutions in the concentration range 0.0001 to 0.007M (∼100 ppm in most cases) have been studied using porous cellulose acetate membranes at 250 psig. Solute separation data for alcohols and phenols are correlated with Δνs (shift in the OH band maximum in the IR spectra), and those for the monocarboxylic acids are correlated with Ka (dissociation constant) and the degree of dissociation of the molecule. Solute separation decreases with increase in Δνs for alcohols and phenols. The solute separation-versus-Ka correlation for acids passes through a minimum, and solute separation always increases with increase in the degree of dissociation. The separation data are also correlated with Taft and Hammett numbers which represent the effect of the substituent group on the polar effect of the molecule. The product rate data show a general tendency to decrease with decrease in solute separation in all cases. These results show that, with respect to the systems considered, solute separation in reverse osmosis is governed by the hydrogen bonding ability of the organic molecule when it is essentially undissociated and by electrostatic repulsion of ions when the molecule is partially or completely dissociated. Thus, data on Δνs for alcohols and phenols, and those on Ka and degree of dissociation for monocarboxylic acids, constitute precise physicochemical criteria for reverse osmosis separation of the above solutes in aqueous solutions using porous cellulose acetate membranes.