Department of Chemical Engineering

Lab Report
Course: CH-353 L

Experiment: Reverse Osmosis

Group Members: Massab khan, Hamza Kashif, Hammad Ahmed

Reg no: 2021289, 2021199, 2021187

Lab Engineer: Sahibzada Mansoor Ahmad

 Catalog
Department of Chemical Engineering .........................................................................................................................1
Lab Report ...................................................................................................................................................................1
Course: CH-353 L ....................................................................................................................................................... 1
Experiment: Reverse Osmosis .................................................................................................................................... 1
Group Members: Massab khan, Hamza Kashif, Hammad Ahmed .............................................................................1
Reg no: 2021289, 2021199, 2021187 ......................................................................................................................... 1
Lab Engineer: Sahibzada Mansoor Ahmad ............................................................................................................... 1
LAB NO. 3 ......................................................................................................................................................... 1
Reverse Osmosis ..................................................................................................................................................................2
Objective : .......................................................................................................................................................... 2
Introduction : ......................................................................................................................................................2
Fundamental principles of reverse osmosis ....................................................................................................... 2
Membrane separation process ............................................................................................................................ 2
1. Microfiltration ..................................................................................................................................................................2
Benefits of Reverse Osmosis ............................................................................................................................. 2
Advantages of Reverse Osmosis ........................................................................................................................ 3
Disadvantages of Reverse Osmosis ................................................................................................................... 3
Procedure : ......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Readings: .......................................................................................................................................................... 4
Discussion: ......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Contributions: ...................................................................................................................................................................... 5

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LAB NO. 3

Reverse Osmosis

Objective :

1. familiarity with the reverse osmosis principles.

2. The impact of different parameters on reverse osmosis

Introduction :

Fundamental principles of reverse osmosis

Osmosis is the process of solvent molecules (typically water) moving from a location of lower
solute concentration to a region of greater solute concentration via a semi-permeable membrane,
thereby bringing the concentrations back to equilibrium. The membrane drives the flow by allowing
solvent to pass through but not solute. In a basic arrangement, a membrane separates two solutions
with varying concentrations, and water flows to dilute the solution that is more concentrated. This
process keeps going until the concentration gradient is balanced and equilibrium is reached.

Membrane separation process

Small particles like viruses and ions are removed from water using membrane separation techniques
like ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis. They function by producing gradients of pressure or
concentration across a membrane. Water is purified using reverse osmosis, which utilizes pressure
to force water through, and ultrafiltration, which divides particles into different sizes.
1. Microfiltration
2. Ultrafiltration
3. Nano filtration
4. Reverse osmosis

Benefits of Reverse Osmosis

Numerous kinds of suspended and dissolved chemical particles, as well as biological organisms
(like bacteria), can be successfully removed from water using this method.
There are several uses for this method in the treatment of liquid discharges or pollutants.
In order to stop illnesses, it is used to cleanse water.
It aids in the desalination of saltwater.
In the medical area, it is advantageous.
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Advantages of Reverse Osmosis

The undamaged membrane rejects pyrogen materials, viruses, and bacteria. In this regard, the
quality of RO water is similar to that of distilled water.
The units that are available are space-efficient and somewhat small. They work great for at-home
dialysis.
The membrane can last for little more than a year or two under normal use conditions before
needing to be replaced.
It is possible to periodically completely sterilize the RO system using formalin or another sterilant.

Disadvantages of Reverse Osmosis

Among the drawbacks of RO systems are the following:

The pH tolerance of cellulose acetate membranes is restricted. When the temperature rises above
35°C, they deteriorate. Bacteria may easily infect them. Eventually, they begin to hydrolyze.
Temperatures above 35°C are intolerable to polyamide membranes. Their resistance to free chlorine
is low.
Chlorine is intolerant to thin-film composites. For high flux polysulfones to work well, the feed
water must be deionized or softened.

Procedure :

1. Make sure all of the connections are tight while setting up the reverse osmosis machine on a
sturdy platform.

2. To collect the filtered water, place a clean beaker beneath the reverse osmosis unit's exit valve.

3.Pour tap water into one beaker and saline solution at a specified concentration into another.

4. Measure and note the starting pH of each solutions using a pH meter. Likewise, test and note the
initial conductivity of each solution using a conductivity meter.

5. To let tap water pass through the reverse osmosis device, open the valve.

6. Fill the beaker beneath the exit valve with the filtered water.

7. Make sure the system has stabilized in between runs as you repeat the procedure with the saline
solution.

8. For both tap water and saline solution, measure and record the final pH and conductivity of the
filtered water.

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9. Determine the efficacy of reverse osmosis in eliminating contaminants by computing the
percentage decrease in conductivity for every solution.

Readings:

Pressure = 20 bar

Time Count Permeate Retentate Raw Water

Coductivity flow-rate Coductivity flow-rate Coductivity

3 1075 0.319 6.25 6.74
6 780 0.32 6.45 6.7
9 607 0.32 6.88 6.6
12 418 0.332 6.8 6.57
15 413 0.332 6.92 4.53
18 363 0.334 6.54 4.39

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Discussion:

The filtered water's pH stayed rather neutral, suggesting that reverse osmosis did not materially
change the water's pH.
The filtered water's conductivity was much lower than that of the saline solution and tap water,
indicating that ions and contaminants had been removed via reverse osmosis.
Reverse osmosis is an efficient technique for purifying water, particularly for eliminating ions and
dissolved solids, as demonstrated by the experiment.

Contributions:
Objectives and Introduction: Hammad Ahmed
Graphs and tables: Hamza kashif
Procedure and Discussion: Massab khan

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