RO systems: Difference between revisions
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A home RO water system is a convenient way to obtain pure water that can be adjusted to serve as the basis for any style of beer or wine. Reverse osmosis (RO) purification involves forcing [[water]] through a membrane using pressure, which removes minerals and other impurities.<ref>[https://www.dupont.com/water/technologies/reverse-osmosis-ro.html Reverse osmosis (RO).] DuPont website. Accessed October 2020.</ref> The pressure required for this process is usually applied via municipal water pressure or sometimes with a pump. RO is a type of crossflow filtration, having two output streams: one with the purified water and one that carries away the waste water containing a high concentration of minerals.<ref name=filmtec>[https://www.dupont.com/content/dam/dupont/amer/us/en/water-solutions/public/documents/en/45-D01504-en.pdf FilmTec™ reverse osmosis membranes technical manual.] Dupont website. Updated April 2020. Accessed October 2020.</ref> A good system typically removes at least 95% of the dissolved solids, and in some cases up to 100%.<ref>Kunze W. Hendel O, ed. [[Library|''Technology Brewing & Malting.'']] 6th ed. VBL Berlin; 2019.</ref><ref name=hob>Taylor DG. Water. In: Stewart GG, Russell I, Anstruther A, eds. [[Library|''Handbook of Brewing.'']] 3rd ed. CRC Press; 2017.</ref><ref name=water/><ref name=hbtrog/> However, as little as 20% of the feed water may be captured as filtered water (i.e. for every 1 gallon collected, 4 gallons go down the drain), and this can be a concern in areas where water availability is limited and/or water disposal is problematic.<ref name=filmtec/><ref name=water/><ref name=bmp5>Eumann M, Schaeberle C. Water. In: Bamforth CW, ed. [[Library|''Brewing Materials and Processes: A Practical Approach to Beer Excellence.'']] Academic Press; 2016.</ref> | A home RO water system is a convenient way to obtain pure water that can be adjusted to serve as the basis for any style of beer or wine. Reverse osmosis (RO) purification involves forcing [[water]] through a membrane using pressure, which removes minerals and other impurities.<ref>[https://www.dupont.com/water/technologies/reverse-osmosis-ro.html Reverse osmosis (RO).] DuPont website. Accessed October 2020.</ref> The pressure required for this process is usually applied via municipal water pressure or sometimes with a pump. RO is a type of crossflow filtration, having two output streams: one with the purified water and one that carries away the waste water containing a high concentration of minerals.<ref name=filmtec>[https://www.dupont.com/content/dam/dupont/amer/us/en/water-solutions/public/documents/en/45-D01504-en.pdf FilmTec™ reverse osmosis membranes technical manual.] Dupont website. Updated April 2020. Accessed October 2020.</ref> A good system typically removes at least 95% of the dissolved solids, and in some cases up to 100%.<ref>Kunze W. Hendel O, ed. [[Library|''Technology Brewing & Malting.'']] 6th ed. VBL Berlin; 2019.</ref><ref name=hob>Taylor DG. Water. In: Stewart GG, Russell I, Anstruther A, eds. [[Library|''Handbook of Brewing.'']] 3rd ed. CRC Press; 2017.</ref><ref name=water/><ref name=hbtrog/> However, as little as 20% of the feed water may be captured as filtered water (i.e. for every 1 gallon collected, 4 gallons go down the drain), and this can be a concern in areas where water availability is limited and/or water disposal is problematic.<ref name=filmtec/><ref name=water/><ref name=bmp5>Eumann M, Schaeberle C. Water. In: Bamforth CW, ed. [[Library|''Brewing Materials and Processes: A Practical Approach to Beer Excellence.'']] Academic Press; 2016.</ref> | ||
Terminology: | Terminology: | ||
'''Permeate''' - The purified water that passes through the RO membrane. | *'''Permeate''' - The purified water that passes through the RO membrane. | ||
'''Concentrate''' - The waste water that does not pass through the RO membrane. It contains relatively higher amounts of dissolved solids (e.g. salts). | *'''Concentrate''' - The waste water that does not pass through the RO membrane. It contains relatively higher amounts of dissolved solids (e.g. salts). | ||
'''Recovery rate''' - The percentage of permeate collected from the water entering the system. | *'''Recovery rate''' - The percentage of permeate collected from the water entering the system. | ||
'''Rejection rate''' - The percentage of dissolved solids removed by the filter. | *'''Rejection rate''' - The percentage of dissolved solids removed by the filter. | ||
'''Total dissolved solids (TDS)''' - The mineral content of the water, expressed as parts per million (ppm, which is effectively the same as mg/L). | *'''Total dissolved solids (TDS)''' - The mineral content of the water, expressed as parts per million (ppm, which is effectively the same as mg/L). | ||
[[File:RO-filtration.png]] | [[File:RO-filtration.png]] |