Reverse Osmosis vs. Filtration: Here’s the Difference
You have multiple water filtration options for your industrial water supply; today, we’re looking at reverse osmosis vs. filtration. Both are types of water filtration, but they work differently.
Today’s blog examines how industrial water filters work and the differences between reverse osmosis and filtration. Keep reading to learn more.
How Do Industrial Water Filters Work?
You’ll want a water filtration system, reverse osmosis or filtration, to ensure that your facility runs smoothly.
It’s imperative to have some type of water filtration because, without it, the water could foul or corrode. This happens when contaminants fill the water. The efficiency of your equipment reduces, so it cannot properly process the water. Contaminated water isn’t safe for use anywhere without first being filtered.
Not only do you want impurities removed from your water, but you want your operating system to be free of contaminants that could clog it and require repairs or replacement.
Untreated water can cause scale buildup, foul your boiler, reduce heat efficiency, score your shafts and bearings, and corrode your pipes.
When properly installed and operated, your water filtration system will filter out most minerals and solids with its semi-permeable membrane or barrier.
Options for Purifying Industrial Water
There are many options for water filtration for industrial systems, but not all are created equal.
Options include:
Pipeline/basket strainers
Automatic self-cleaning strainers
Ultraviolet purification
Bag filter
Reverse osmosis
Separators
Coolant filtration systems
The system you use depends on your needs, which we’ll discuss later in this blog.
How is RO Used in Industrial Processes?
An RO water filter can be used in the following industrial processes:
Automotive - Water is critical in the automotive industry, whether you’re producing, maintaining, or cleaning a vehicle or vehicle elements.
You need an RO water system to purify the resulting wastewater from producing and maintaining cars, as that water might contain metals, oils, grease, and chemicals from paint residue.Food and beverage - Water is used in nearly every part of the food and beverage industry, from being an ingredient in meals and beverages to a cleaning tool to meet food hygiene standards.
Additionally, pure water is necessary for sterilization to prevent harmful bacteria from spreading. According to Food Manufacturer, the food and beverage industry uses approximately 430 million liters of water every day.Aerospace - The aerospace industry uses an exact system for all its cleaning and production processes, making water an absolute necessity.
For example, it takes 13,000 liters of water for quarterly airplane cleanings. Those 13,000 liters become wastewater that, if purified, can be used repeatedly to clean other airplanes. Filtering the water would also prevent harmful cleaning agents and grime from being flushed down the drain.
Pharmaceutical - The pharmaceutical industry uses a lot of water because of the chemical used to make medical products for people and animals. The pharmaceutical industry is also responsible for many chemical-based products like cleaning agents.
An RO or water filtration system could purify that water, allowing it to be re-used, and reducing how much water is used.Agriculture - Tons of regulations govern the agricultural industry to prevent disease, especially for foods like milk or eggs.
Water is part of growing crops, cleaning and sterilizing equipment, and cooling and storing fresh foods. It takes billions of liters of water to produce one year’s worth of milk.
A filtration system allows many of those liters to be purified for reuse, cutting down on the overall water used in the agricultural field.Finishing - Finishing is part of many industries; the amount of water used depends on which sector you work in, but it’s always a lot, whether it’s chemical, mechanical, or a smart finish. Products like oils and other substances will end up in the water, requiring filtration for reuse.
Industrial - The industrial sector involves manufacturing and industrial plants, which use a lot of water for production and cooling products and equipment.
So much water is used in the industrial sector that there are often shortages and hefty surcharges for mass water use. Installing an industrial water filtration system would significantly reduce how much water is used, saving a lot of money.
Which is Better? Reverse Osmosis or Filtration
To know which type of filtration is better, it’s essential to understand how each system works.
Reverse osmosis works by filtering the water with a semi-permeable membrane capable of filtering out everything, all the way down to the molecular level. RO removes dissolved chemicals and salts.
A water filter lets water through the filter. The particles in the water float to the surface, attaching to the filter. When the filter gets full, it can no longer purify the water and must be replaced. RO doesn’t allow water through the membrane like filtration but instead has the water flow across the membrane’s surface.
Both forms of filtration are highly effective. The difference is that they filter different things. Water filters remove the following:
Volatile organic compounds
Solvents
Fuel oil
Polychlorinated biphenyls
Dioxins
Radon
Radioactive material
Herbicides, pesticides, and organic contaminants
Disinfectants
Bad taste and odor in tap water
As you can see, water filters remove organic compounds. However, they don’t remove other contaminants, like minerals, which can cause your water to be hard and allow heavy metals in. RO filtration systems remove:
Calcium
Magnesium
Salts and nitrates
Copper
Lead
Mineral content
Fluoride
Protozoa
Viruses
Salmonella
Shigella
E. coli
While RO water filters remove all those contaminants, they only reduce arsenic, and they don’t eliminate organic chemicals like Benzene, Toluene, Trihalomethanes, and VOCs.
The type of filtration system you use depends on what you need to have removed from your industrial water supply. Many industries choose a combination of filters for maximum purification.
Get Your Water Filtration System from J.Mark Systems
When choosing between reverse osmosis vs. filtration, J.Mark Systems is your industrial water treatment solution.
We’ve simplified the filtration process to provide efficient turnkey systems for managing water in industrial processes. With over 40 years of experience installing hundreds of different filtration systems, you can trust us to give you exactly what you need.
Contact us today for your free water optimization audit and learn more about what J.Mark Systems can do for you.