Osmosis - what is it? Purification by reverse osmosis

Requirements for the characteristics of drinking water in recent decades have increased significantly. This does not mean that people began to consume more quality liquid, however, the technology of filtration and water treatment really became more effective. At the same time, not always such devices operate on fundamentally new technologies - often developers base cleaning systems on the principles that surround us in nature. Such phenomena include osmosis. What is it and what benefit can it bring to an ordinary person? This is a technological process that allows to filter water in natural conditions. There are different approaches to the technical implementation of osmosis, but its goals remain the same - getting clean and safe for drinking water.

Principle of osmosis

This process can take place in systems where the mobility of dissolved elements is less than the level of activity of the solvent. Usually, experts more clearly demonstrate this phenomenon using a semipermeable membrane. It is important to consider that such membranes can be called semi- impermeable only for some particles. Now you can more accurately answer the following question: osmosis - what is it? In essence, this is the process of separating some substances from the environment in which they were before separation by means of a membrane. For example, if such a membrane is used to separate a pure solvent and solution, then the concentration of the first in the medium will be lower, since a certain fraction of its molecules are replaced by particles of dissolved substances.

What is the peculiarity of reverse osmosis?

The process of reverse osmosis is an advanced filtration technology for various media. Again, it is worth returning to the principle on the basis of which osmosis acts - what is this in its final form? This, for example, sea water, which was cleared of salt. In the same way, it is possible to filter from other contaminants. To do this, reverse osmosis is applied , in which the medium is pressurized and causes the substance to pass through the cleaning membrane.

Despite the high efficiency of such cleaning, the producers could achieve significant success in the technological development of this concept only in the last decades. Modern purification by reverse osmosis involves the use of the finest membranes, which do not allow even particles to pass in the form of low-molecular impurities - by the way, their size can be up to 0.001 microns.

Technical Implementation

Despite the apparent complexity, reverse osmosis is realized in fairly compact devices. The basis of such systems is formed by filters, which can be several. In the traditional design, cleaning begins with prefilters. Then follows a combined post-filter, which can perform additional functions of the air conditioner or mineralizer. The most advanced models involve the inclusion of highly selective membranes - this is the most effective and expensive system. Osmosis in this design provides not only multi-stage cleaning, but also softens water. Filters are also supplied with cartridges, special ceramic cranes, storage tanks with the possibility of reservoir replacement and a lid.

During the passage through such a filter, water is purified from dissolved and mechanical impurities, chlorine and its compounds, herbicides, aluminum, petroleum products, pesticides, fertilizer elements, phenols, heavy metals, and also from viruses and bacteria. The effect of such cleaning can be seen without special analysis. Conventional tap water, for example, gets rid of odor and unpleasant tastes. Moreover, this mineralization function provides the composition with enrichment with natural minerals, among which are useful ions.

Manufacturers and prices of filters

Perhaps, in Russia there are no better known water filters than the products of "Aquaphor". The company produces ultra-compact automatic systems that realize high-quality cleaning with the enrichment of useful elements. A special feature of the offer "Aquaphor" is the efficiency and practicality of systems that provide fast osmosis. The price of such devices is 8-9 thousand rubles. Also, the products of the brand "Geyser" - in particular, the "Prestige" series are also very popular. Such filters combine high-quality cleaning and ease of operation. By the way, the resource of the reverse osmosis membrane of such a system is 10 times longer than the life of standard cartridges. A full set of such a filtration complex costs about 10 thousand rubles. Demand on the domestic market and overseas systems with reverse osmosis, among which is the Japanese products Toray. Developers offer direct-flow devices that do not require the presence of a tank and are provided with a separate crane.

Reviews about filters based on osmosis

In general, reviews about such systems are positive, as their merits can be assessed not even by an expert. For the most part, these are compact filters that do not require special maintenance and at the same time differ in the cleaning speed. Actually, for practicality and convenience in operation and like such devices a mass consumer. With regard to the quality of cleaning, in this case, many trust the technology, which is highly appreciated by reverse osmosis. Reviews of the owners themselves note that the liquid does not externally have foreign impurities and is close to the spring water. The only thing that makes skeptical about filters of this type is the cost. Yet these are costly systems, which in this case require regular replacement of non-expensive filters.

Critique of reverse osmosis

Negative-minded in relation to reverse osmosis specialists, as a rule, argue their position with thorough cleaning. The fact is that the filtration process eliminates not only harmful impurities and elements, but also useful substances, among which magnesium and calcium. Also, doctors note the negative impact on the body of desalinated water, which produces osmosis. The responses of the supporters of filters of this type emphasize that the composition of water is in no way able to exert any significant influence on the presence of salts in the body.

Conclusion

After getting acquainted with the proposals of reverse osmosis in the modern market, many may have the idea of using bottled water as an alternative to expensive cleaning systems. But here it is important to recall all the virtues that osmosis possesses - what is it in practical use in an ordinary house? This compact device, which provides high-quality water treatment. But the most important thing is that bottled water in its mass is subject to the same filtration principles. That is, in the long term, the use of compact filters for osmosis proves to be more profitable and financially.