Osmotek, Dirving Forces and Fouling

DRIVING FORCES AND FOULING
"...direct osmosis requires low pressure pumps and vessels (25 psi), has minimal membrane cleaning requirements, and achieves significantly higher concentrations."

	<< NEXT PAGE >>
A common membrane separation driving force is hydraulic pressure. It is applied to a solution in a chamber and pushes clean water through the membrane. Hydraulic pressure-driven processes are nonselective. When all components in a solution are pushed against the membrane, it fouls.
Direct Osmosis uses osmotic pressure as a driving force which pulls rather than pushes water through a membrane. Osmotic pressure is highly selective. It pulls water molecules with great force while larger molecules (foulants) are hardly attracted. A separation is achieved in both cases, but direct osmosis requires low pressure pumps and vessels (25 psi), has minimal membrane cleaning requirements, and achieves significantly higher concentrations.
Page 4
Back to Osmotek Directory Home \| Directory \| Contact \| Rim Systems \| << NEXT PAGE >> OSMOTEK, INC. P.O. Box 1882 Corvallis, OR 97339 tel. 541 - 753 - 1297 fax 541 - 752 - 6630