ROdesalination

ROdesalination, also known as reverse osmosis desalination, is a water treatment method that uses semi-permeable membranes to remove salts and other impurities from saline water. By applying pressure greater than the water’s natural osmotic pressure, dissolved ions are rejected by the membrane while fresh water permeates through, producing potable or lower-salinity water. It is widely used for seawater and brackish groundwater, with capacity ranging from small-scale to municipal facilities.

A typical RO plant comprises pretreatment to remove particulates and scale-forming elements, high-pressure pumps, membrane modules (often spiral-wound polyamide), energy recovery devices to reduce energy use, a permeate treatment stage, and concentrate handling. Seawater desalination commonly achieves 25–50% recovery, with brackish water plants reaching 60–85% depending on water quality and membrane configuration. Operating pressures are higher for seawater (roughly 40–80 bar).

Post-treatment may include remineralization and disinfection to meet drinking-water standards. The main advantages of RO desalination are its ability to produce consistent, high-quality water and its modular scalability; drawbacks include energy intensity, brine disposal challenges, membrane fouling, and chemical use in pretreatment.

Origins trace to mid-20th century research; modern plants benefited from advances in thin-film composite membranes and energy-recovery technologies. Economic viability depends on energy costs, capital expense, and brine management policies, and some projects incorporate renewable energy or co-location with power plants to reduce environmental impact.