Membrane Desalination

Water Treatment and Reverse Osmosis desalination plants are used for treating a wide variety of water compositions, be they tap, brackish or sea water. These Reverse Osmosis (R.O.) plants combine the accumulated know-how and experience that have kept IDE a market leader for the past forty years. In 2005, IDE completed the construction and start up of the world largest SWRO plant in Ashkelon, Israel, with an annual capacity of 100 Million cubic meters (80 MGD). Osmosis When two aqueous solutions of different concentrations are separated by a semi-permeable membrane, water will diffuse through the membrane into the concentrated solution. This phenomenon is called osmosis. The semi-permeable membrane allows water to pass through it, but prevents the passage of salts (ions) and other molecules from the concentrated solution. Osmotic EquilibriumThe osmotic flow continues until osmotic equilibrium is reached. The resulting pressure differential between the diluted and concentrated solutions is called the osmotic pressure. Reverse OsmosisWhen a pressure higher than the osmotic pressure is mechanically applied to the concentrated solution, pure water will flow through the membrane to the diluted solution, leaving dissolved salts and impurities behind. This phenomenon is called reverse osmosis.