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Reverse Osmosis Vs Nanofiltration Membrane Process - What Is The Difference
Reverse Osmosis Vs Nanofiltration Membrane Process - What Is The Difference
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Reverse osmosis (RO) and Nanofiltration (NF) are physical separation technologies used to remove contaminates from liquidClose streams. In recent years,
RO/NF technologies have become more efficient and affordable (http://www.waterworld.com/articles/print/volume-23/issue-5/awwa-exhibitors/new-
nanofiltration-ro-systems-offer-simplified-use.html) for use across a variety of industrial applications, including potable water generation and the
treatment of brackish water, seawater, and wastewater.
If you’re wondering what filtration options might be available for separation and/or potable water generation at an industrial facility, you might be
asking “What are the differences between reverse osmosis and nanofiltration?”
The following article will simplify the differences between RO and NF by first focusing on their similarities:
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5/5/22, 4:38 PM Reverse Osmosis vs Nanofiltration Membrane Process: What Is the Difference?
When process streams are sufficiently pretreated, RO/NF membranes can have a long service life and require relatively little maintenance. This is
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because feed water constantly flows across the surface of the filtration membrane in what is called crossflow filtration, which results in rejected
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substances being swept away with the waste stream, as opposed to caking onto the membrane.
While
ASK RO and NF are
AN ENGINEER fairly(http://info.samcotech.com/ask-an-engineer)
TODAY efficient purification technologies, both demand energy to move water across their membranes. This is because their fine
pores result in a high concentration of salts and other compounds on the retentate side of the membrane, and as a result, enough pressure must be
applied that the water is able to overcome the osmotic pressure that causes water to resist flowing through the membrane.
Reverse osmosis
RO is the finest of all membrane filtration systems, with extremely small pores capable of removing particles as small as 0.1 nm. RO has existed since
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the 1950s, and is used chiefly for desalination, as in potable water generation from seawater (http://www.samcotech.com/project-briefs/oil-producer-
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sustains-offshore-operations-leveraging-samco-reverse-osmosis-technology-potable-water-generation-sea/) or brackish water sources. Other
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applications of RO include filtering process water for industrial applications, such as in the printing industry, in order to sustain optimal equipment
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performance. RO membranes are very efficient at removing all ions, large and small.
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Nanofiltration
NF delivers slightly coarser filtration than RO, with the ability to remove particles as small as 0.002 to 0.005 μm in diameter. NF is a relatively recent
technology that was developed mainly for potable water generation. NF removes harmful contaminates, such as pesticide compounds and organic
macromolecules, while retaining minerals that RO would otherwise remove (http://www.aquaclearllc.com/technical-info/reverse-osmosis-vs-
nanofiltration-and-other-filtration-technologies/). Nanofiltration membranes are capable of removing larger divalent ions such as calcium sulfate, while
allowing smaller monovalent ions such as sodium chloride to pass through.
For more information or to get in touch, contact us here (http://www.samcotech.com/contact/) to set up a consultation with an engineer or request a
quote (http://info.samcotech.com/get-a-quote). We can walk you through the steps for developing the proper solution and realistic cost for your RO/NF
treatment system needs.
Head on over to our blog to learn more about industrial filtration and process separation technology. Some articles that might be of specific interest to
you include:
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Does Your Facility Need a Reverse Osmosis or Nanofiltration System? (https://www.samcotech.com/does-your-facility-need-reverse-osmosis-or-
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How Do You Choose the Best Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Membrane System for an Industrial Facility?
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Reverse
Osmosis and Nanofiltration Membrane Filtration Systems: Common Problems and How to Fix Them
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