What is Reverse Osmosis primarily used for?

Reverse Osmosis (RO) is primarily used for removing solutes from a solution using membrane pressure. In this process, water is pushed through a semi-permeable membrane that allows only water molecules to pass while rejecting larger molecules and ions, including salts, bacteria, and other impurities. This mechanism is crucial in numerous applications, especially in water purification systems, such as in hemodialysis, where the removal of excess solutes from the blood is essential for patient care.

The effectiveness of reverse osmosis in creating purified water comes from its ability to separate contaminants based on size and solubility, making it a vital technology in ensuring the quality and safety of water for consumption or medical use. This makes it a cornerstone technique in processes requiring high purity, such as in dialysis machines, where patients rely on it to remove toxins and maintain electrolyte balance.