Reverse Osmosis
What is reverse osmosis?
Reverse osmosis is commonly used for drinking water, in water treatment and wastewater treatment, or often in industries such as manufacturing, power production, agriculture, food production, or the military. At RODI Systems, our containerized RO systems allow remote populations and locations the ability to use reverse osmosis to create potable water. New technological developments in solar powered RO systems continue to further enhance the ways in which containerized RO systems can aid remote areas in the production of RO water. Our containerized systems are also used in numerous industrial plants as they are compact and require very little space inside the facility.
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LEARN MORE ABOUT RODI SYSTEMS: THE RO EXPERTSProducts and SolutionsWe are an international leader in the design and fabrication of high performance water treatment systems utilizing Membrane Filtration, Reverse Osmosis, Electrodeionization and other best available water treatment technologies. Our products help process more than 1.5 billion gallons of water every day!
Industries and ApplicationsRODI Systems provides international solutions for a wide range of industrial applications including Food and Beverage Processing, Power Generation, Oil and Gas Production, Textile Dyeing, Mining, Aquarium Life Support, Metal Finishing, and Desalination. |
Reverse osmosis is also a standard method used in the process of desalination. With its low energy consumption, reverse osmosis provides a lower-energy alternative than other forms of desalination, rendering it an excellent option for the desalination of brackish water or seawater.
Learn more about desalination here >
How do reverse osmosis systems work?
In general, reverse osmosis systems operate via the following three key stages: pre-treatment, reverse osmosis via the RO membrane, and post-treatment.
A rendering of the RO media filter pretreatment from RODI Systems.
Pre-treatment
In the pre-treatment stage, various treatment methods are used to remove contaminants that would otherwise foul or damage the RO membrane. Pre-treatment can involve any number of processes including clarification, filtration (both media and membrane) and various types of chemical treatment. The pre-treatment steps are used to remove silt, bacteria, oxidizable metals, certain organic compounds, and other contaminants before the water flows into the reverse osmosis membrane module, in order to keep the RO membrane from being damaged or fouled. The actual pretreatment steps used will be governed by the particular application and will vary depending upon the feed water quality. Pretreatment may be the single most important part of an RO system. In many cases, it is not unusual for the pretreatment system to cost more than the RO itself.
In the pre-treatment stage, various treatment methods are used to remove contaminants that would otherwise foul or damage the RO membrane. Pre-treatment can involve any number of processes including clarification, filtration (both media and membrane) and various types of chemical treatment. The pre-treatment steps are used to remove silt, bacteria, oxidizable metals, certain organic compounds, and other contaminants before the water flows into the reverse osmosis membrane module, in order to keep the RO membrane from being damaged or fouled. The actual pretreatment steps used will be governed by the particular application and will vary depending upon the feed water quality. Pretreatment may be the single most important part of an RO system. In many cases, it is not unusual for the pretreatment system to cost more than the RO itself.
Reverse Osmosis via the RO membrane
After pre-treatment, the water is then moved through the reverse osmosis membrane by means of a high pressure pump. The semi-permeable RO membrane will remove any remaining suspended solids (including bacteria and viruses) along with dissolved contaminants, including dissolved salts and large organic molecules, and can even remove materials as small as individual ions.
After pre-treatment, the water is then moved through the reverse osmosis membrane by means of a high pressure pump. The semi-permeable RO membrane will remove any remaining suspended solids (including bacteria and viruses) along with dissolved contaminants, including dissolved salts and large organic molecules, and can even remove materials as small as individual ions.
Post-treatment
In some cases, the permeate (product) from the RO process will require post-treatment before it can be used for its intended purpose. In the case of desalination for potable water, the permeate may require chemical treatment to make it less corrosive. It will also require disinfection. In high purity applications, the RO permeate may need substantial post-treatment to remove any remaining trace ions or dissolved gases.
In some cases, the permeate (product) from the RO process will require post-treatment before it can be used for its intended purpose. In the case of desalination for potable water, the permeate may require chemical treatment to make it less corrosive. It will also require disinfection. In high purity applications, the RO permeate may need substantial post-treatment to remove any remaining trace ions or dissolved gases.
What are the benefits of reverse osmosis?
Reverse osmosis has long been considered one of the best methods for purifying water due to its ability to remove such a wide range of contaminants including dissolved solids. If applied correctly, it has proven to be cost effective and dependable. It is energy efficient, compact, and relatively easy to operate as compared to other desalination technologies.
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In particular, containerized RO systems bring the technology to create a safe water source to remote or difficult-to-access areas, giving access to clean water in the regions who need it most.
Additionally, the highly purified water created by RO is also used in a number of industrial applications as well, including oil and gas production, mining, power generation, desalination, and food and beverage production |
Containerized systems built by RODI Systems
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Learn more about the different industries RODI Systems has produced water treatment systems for >
Systems in the field and the visible results of a RODI reverse osmosis plant.
The technology used in RODI Systems’ reverse osmosis plants
Reverse osmosis removes up to 99.8% of contaminants in water in order to create clean, potable water, but the quality of the individual components used in any RO system is the key to creating a truly high-performing, cost-effective system. Particularly when it comes to portable, containerized RO systems, it’s imperative that every component is top-of-the-line in order for the system to successfully operate.
At RODI Systems, we’ve engineered the highest-performing products to ensure that at every stage your RO system is operating as effectively and cost-efficiently as possible, with minimal installation or effort from you. (Learn more about our high-quality products here)
At the heart of any RO system is the membrane. At RODI Systems, we only use membrane from well-known, trusted suppliers such as Hydranautics, Toray, and DowDuPont among others. In regard to pretreatment, we are an authorized North American distributor of state-of-the-art silicon carbide ceramic microfiltration membranes from Cembrane. These microfiltration membranes are more durable, and their modular design allows for more flexibility in compact systems. Life of a Cembrane membrane can easily exceed ten years.
Additionally, a high-performing RO controller can save you money and time by accurately monitoring and controlling the processes in each stage. By creating one custom controller for your containerized RO system, RODI Systems will effectively allow you to replace multiple meters, instruments, and controllers -- saving you time and hassle. Our AquaLynx® custom controllers are individually designed and programmed for each RO system, providing peak performance for your specific needs.
At the heart of any RO system is the membrane. At RODI Systems, we only use membrane from well-known, trusted suppliers such as Hydranautics, Toray, and DowDuPont among others. In regard to pretreatment, we are an authorized North American distributor of state-of-the-art silicon carbide ceramic microfiltration membranes from Cembrane. These microfiltration membranes are more durable, and their modular design allows for more flexibility in compact systems. Life of a Cembrane membrane can easily exceed ten years.
Additionally, a high-performing RO controller can save you money and time by accurately monitoring and controlling the processes in each stage. By creating one custom controller for your containerized RO system, RODI Systems will effectively allow you to replace multiple meters, instruments, and controllers -- saving you time and hassle. Our AquaLynx® custom controllers are individually designed and programmed for each RO system, providing peak performance for your specific needs.
With our experience and state-of-the-art technology, we know what it takes to build an efficient, containerized RO system for use across all industries. Let us create the best RO system for your needs and contact us today to request a quote for your project.
