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Who invented Reverse Osmosis?
The desire to desalinate seawater inspired scientists to develop an effective, but inexpensive method of purifying water. Research was done since the late 1940’s and in 1959 a significant breakthrough was made. Prof Samuel Yuster and two of his students, Sidney Loeb and Srinivasa Sourirajan produced the first functional synthetic RO membrane made of cellulose acetate polymer at UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles). The new membrane was capable of rejecting salt and passing purified water at reasonable flow rates. The impact of this discovery has been felt worldwide. In June 1965 the world’s first reverse osmosis plant came into operation in Coalinga, a farming community near Fresno, California. The plant turned 20 000 litres of brackish well water to potable water per day.
What are Reverse Osmosis Membranes made of today?
The most common reverse osmosis membrane materials are polyamide (PA) thin film composites (TFC) and cellulose acetate (CA). Membrane material is usually spiral wound around a collection tube. RO membranes are rated for their ability to reject impurities from contaminated water. This is called the rejection rate (% rejection) of total dissolved solids (TDS). We at Absolutely Water prefer to install patented and FDA[2] approved PA (Thin Film Composite) membranes in all our purifiers and dispensers. PA membranes have higher rejection rates (>95%) and superior strength and durability over CA membranes. PA (TFC) membranes are more resistant to microbial attacks, handles a wider pH range and TDS rejection (1 500 – 2 000 ppm) than CA membranes.
RO Membranes are also capable of rejecting organic pollutants such as volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and trihalomethanes (THMs) which are carcinogenic disinfectant by-products usually formed as the result of the chlorination of water.
The flux, or capacity of a RO membrane indicates how much water can be produced per day. Domestic RO membranes produce between 185 litres (50 gal membranes), 290 litres (80 gal membranes) and 370 litres (100 gal membranes) per day. We at Absolutely Water also stock systems with two 200 gal membranes (1 500 litres per day), conveniently for domestic catering, restaurants, guest houses, schools, clubs, bottling, etc.
Why use Reverse Osmosis purified water?
Reverse osmosis has become the water purification method of choice for drinking water in many households and bottling plants throughout the world. No wonder, as reverse osmosis has become the best and most efficient method to purify polluted and undesirable water into pure and tasty water. The US EPA[3] has recognised membrane processes such as Reverse Osmosis as a ‘best available technology’ (BAT) for meeting a wide variety of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) regulations.[4] The process of reverse osmosis and the quality membranes Absolutely Water employs are the most advanced technology to purify drinking water and are able to remove poisons like insecticides, herbicides, dioxin, endocrine disruptors and heavy metals, as well as pathogenic bacteria and viruses.
Filter systems which consist of sediment and carbon filters only, with or without Ultra Violet Light Disinfection, can not remove all poisonous contaminants (such as highly toxic heavy metals, nitrates and viruses) effectively.
To protect you and your family from any water borne diseases and pollution install a domestic reverse osmosis system today!
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