What is reverse osmosis?

Reverse osmosis is a water purification process that involves applying pressure to water as it flows through a semipermeable membrane. This membrane allows only certain molecules, such as water, to pass through while blocking larger molecules and contaminants, including salts, minerals, and other impurities. The result is that the purified water is separated from the contaminants, which are left behind on the other side of the membrane.

The effectiveness of reverse osmosis comes from the principle of osmosis itself, where water naturally moves from an area of lower solute concentration to one of higher solute concentration. By applying pressure in the opposite direction, reverse osmosis reverses this natural process, leading to a higher quality of purified water. This method is commonly used in various applications, including drinking water purification, desalination of seawater, and in industrial processes where high-purity water is required.