What is Osmosis?
Osmosis is a process on which almost all natural metabolic processes are based. If two solutions of different concentrations are separated in a system by a semi-permeable (semipermeable) membrane, the more concentrated solution always tends to dilute.
This process (osmosis) lasts until osmotic equilibrium is reached. In the reverse osmosis process, the direction of the osmotic flow is reversed. To do this, pressure must be applied to the concentrated solution. This pressure must be significantly greater than the osmotic pressure that arises from the natural concentration balance.
What is reverse osmosis?
With reverse osmosis, tap water is forced through a semi-permeable, laser-perforated membrane with ultra-fine pores. A molecular separation process takes place.
The water molecules can pass through the membrane, while the dissolved substances such as salts, lime, nitrate, heavy metals, radioactive particles such as cesium, organic compounds (dioxins, THMs, PAHs), pesticides and drug residues (estrogens, antibiotics, etc.) up to 99% are retained, depending on the molecule diameter. Chlorine and bad taste are also neutralized.
Like many high-tech products, this technology was developed in the 1960s on behalf of NASA, which needed a drinking water recycling system for manned space flights. The most important area of application today is large-scale seawater desalination, for example in the Gulf States. Other areas of application include the food industry (processing fruit concentrates into fruit juices), medicine (dialysis), inexpensive drinking water treatment (large-scale projects in India, Brazil and other developing countries), and the bottled water industry (especially in Mexico and the USA, through Pepsi-Cola, among others).
In the USA, reverse osmosis water has long since found its way into supermarkets and is also delivered to your home in large balloons upon request. Only reverse osmosis water is used for the so-called "water coolers" that can be found in most offices. Cruise ships have long had reverse osmosis systems for seawater desalination on board in order to be independent of the questionable water quality in some countries, with long storage times with correspondingly large storage tanks and the risk of contamination. The entire American army is supplied only with reverse osmosis water when they are abroad. The persistent rumor about "battery water" - which can lead to death if consumed constantly - is still being spread again and again today by many ignorant people, including doctors, and finds its followers.
