Similarities & Differences - Reverse Osmosis & Nanofiltration

Similarities & Differences - Reverse Osmosis & Nanofiltration

Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration are separation technologies used to remove contaminants from aqueous streams. Recently, by applying effective technologies into Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration systems, they have become more efficient and affordable for treating wastewater, brackish water, sewage and effluents for a wide range of industries.
They are membrane filtration technologies which help in applying pressure to a liquid stream, flowing it through a semipermeable membrane in order to remove dissolved solids. Their functioning resembles the existing other filtration technologies, yet they can remove even smaller particles, such as:

  • Heavy metals
  • Dissolved organics
  • Oil
  • Pesticides 
  • Agricultural chemicals, etc.

Both benefit from Pretreatment
By applying pretreatment to aqueous streams, both the membranes can have a long life span with relatively lower maintenance costs. This is achieved by constantly allowing feed water to flow across the surface of the filtration membrane, which results in the rejection of problematic substances through the waste streams, rather than scaling onto the membrane.

Both are used in place of conventional treatment systems
Conventional wastewater treatment systems involve several steps, such as: 

  • Coagulation
  • Flocculation
  • Sedimentation
  • Clarification
  • Ion Exchange
  • Filtration

While they are effective in removing dissolved solids, they involve such a complex series of steps that often require a large area to function and investment. On the other hand, Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration are widely accepted as they are compact, efficient, effective and environment-friendly.

How Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration are different from each other?
While they both are very similar in functioning, they can be differentiated based on the size of particulates that each is able to separate. 
Reverse Osmosis - It is the finest of all membrane filtration systems, capable of removing particles as small as 0.1 nm. There are several applications of Reverse Osmosis, including 

  • Desalination, for generating potable water from seawater or brackish water
  • Treating industrial wastewater

Nanofiltration - It helps in slightly coarser filtration than Reverse Osmosis, with the ability to remove particles as small as 0.002 to 0.005 μm in diameter. It is a relatively recent technology, developed mainly for the generation of potable water. It helps in the removal of contaminants such as pesticide components, organic macroparticles, large ions such as calcium sulphate while retaining minerals and smaller ions such as sodium chloride that Reverse Osmosis would otherwise reject.
 

When it comes to wastewater management for your company, as per your tailored needs think of us! Roserve - A cost-effective way to reuse and recycle the water with the application of effective technologies such as Reverse Osmosis, Nanofiltration, etc. LEASE wastewater treatment equipment with us and grow your business while meeting environmental regulations, all at the same time. A One-Stop-Shop for all your wastewater management woes!!! Follow us on FacebookInstagram, and LinkedIn for more updates and announcements.

 

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